Thermal performance of a personalized ventilation air terminal device at two different turbulence intensities

Abstract

The performance of a circular perforated panel (CPP) air terminal device for a personalized ventilation (PV) system operating under two levels of turbulent intensity (Tu) was examined. The impact of Tu on spatial distribution of the cooling effect on the facial region and whole body were studied through experiments carried out in an indoor environment chamber using a breathing thermal manikin and 24 tropically acclimatized subjects. The PV system was adjusted to deliver treated outdoor air over a range of conditions, which were presented blind to the subjects in a balanced order. Over a 15-min exposure, subjects voted their thermal sensation experienced at the facial region and whole body. At each of the conditions, the near body flow field characteristics and heat loss rate on each of the 26 body segments of the manikin were measured. The results indicate that over the range of PV air supply volume studied, by controlling the temperature and velocity of PV air supply at 15 cm from the face, PV air supplied at lower Tu, when compared against that supplied at higher Tu:•Achieved a larger range of velocities at the face.•Achieved a greater cooling effect on the head region.•Achieved a lower facial thermal sensation, which has potential draft risks (when facial_thermal sensation vote <-1). © 2006.