TC 4.10 Activities

Objectives

A major objective for TC4.10, Indoor Environmental Modeling (IEM) committee is to advance the science of IEM which includes airflow modeling techniques, such as computational fluid dynamics (CFD), multizone airflow modeling, and modeling of other indoor environmental factors such as noise and lighting. IEM has the potential to be a useful tool in providing a comfortable and healthy environment in buildings in an energy efficient way.

For IEM to fulfill its potential, it needs to be applied across the broad spectrum of the HVAC industry including designers and consultants. However, concerns have been expressed that the development and use of such tools has remained in the realm of a small group of researchers. Therefore another objective for TC 4.10 is transferring that technology to the general ASHRAE membership.

Research

One of the ways that TC 4.10 works to advance the science of IEM is through sponsoring ASHRAE research projects. For example, a recently completed project "Numerical Calculation of Room Air Motion" derived a new CFD algorithm specifically for the indoor airflow problem class. This project also demonstrated the performance of the algorithm versus benchmark problems, applied the algorithm to a three-dimensional room geometry, and compared predictions with available experimental data. Other current and proposed project will also contribute to advancing IEM science. For example, a current research project will obtain reliable experimental data for validating multizone models of air and contaminant transport in high-rise buildings through field measurements. Proposed projects would investigate the interaction of room air motion and the human body in confined spaces. This would extend the capability to model such problems and develop an imperfectly mixed room model. This would provide the capability to improve modeling of this type of problem that is too complex for existing multizone models that are too large for CFD. It would also establish a validation basis for CFD modeling of contaminant and particle transport in hospital operating rooms.

Although the utility of research projects to advance IEM science is obvious, those projects also serve the goal of transferring technology and enabling ASHRAE membership to use these tools. One way is through demonstrating their availability thorough various applications. The projects also improve prediction accuracy of models so that the results are of practical use and provide more simplified modeling methods that are easier to use.

Programs

TC 4.10 also supports program activities to achieve its objectives. The program activities are aimed at advancing the science of IEM and have include symposia reporting on research advancements such as evaluation and application of multizone models, on numerical and experimental room air motion studies, and forums intended to stimulate new research topics, such as requirements for validation of air change effectiveness and on state-of-the-art instrumentation for acquiring low-velocity data for CFD validation. Planned program activities to advance IEM science include symposia on methods for characterizing indoor pollutant sources and sinks and on advanced turbulence models for CFD modeling. Recently TC 4.10 sponsored several program activities aimed at transferring IEM technology to ASHRAE membership including a forum on how air flow and thermal modeling can help design engineers and a seminar on fundamental methods of application of CFD to room air flow problems.

How can TC 4.10 help you?

Or, perhaps more accurately, how can you help us help you? TC 4.10 recently sponsored a forum to answer this question. While some helpful suggestions were made that are helping shape the future activities of TC 4.10, the committee would like to better serve the ASHRAE membership. One way this can happen is through establishing contacts with other TCs. Many TCs would like to apply IEM to further their specific goals. Working with TC 4.10 will enable them to prepare better research proposals to obtain desired results. If your committee can benefit from TC 4.10 knowledge, please attend a TC 4.10 meeting or contact a member for assistance.

This page is reproduced from ASHRAE Insights, September 1997 Issue, Technology Corner column.

EDITOR 'S NOTE: The Technology Corner column is a joint activity of TAC (Technical Activities Committee) and TEGA to present technical activities at the Society level to the membership. This technology transfer is to be a two-way process with technical information coming from the Society to help generate ideas for research and other activities from the membership to the Society.

Last updated April 15, 2003