ENHANCED PASSIVE DISPLACEMENT COOLING SYSTEM FOR INDOOR THERMAL COMFORT

Abstract

The energy consumption for cooling buildings has doubled since 2000, making it the fastest-growing end-use in the building sector. Passive displacement cooling (PDC), which eliminates the need for fans to distribute air, has gained increased attention recently due to its favorable thermal performance, indoor air quality (IAQ), acoustic comfort, and energy-saving potential. However, existing PDC systems have certain drawbacks, including the requirement for additional space and materials for air supply ducts, ankle-level draft issues, a low air mass flow rate with a high response time, and limited cooling capacity. This thesis aims to enhance the performance of PDC systems by optimizing the design of finned-tube heat exchangers and air supply ducts under natural convection. This is of utmost importance since PDC systems represent a promising alternative to conventional air-conditioning systems. An improved PDC system can potentially promote the adoption of more sustainable technology for indoor thermal comfort in green buildings.