Energy Saving Potential of Personalized Ventilation Applied in an Open Space Office under Winter Conditions

Abstract

(no english version) Mixing and displacement air distribution are the main ventilation principles applied in both residential and non-residential buildings. Recently, personalized ventilation when the fresh air is delivered directly to the occupants at a high ventilation effectiveness has become an alternative. Despite of this fact, little research has been carried out to quantify the energy saving potential of personalized ventilation. This study aimed to quantify the effect of ventilation effectiveness and control strategy on the energy performance and thermal comfort for an open plan office equipped by different types of ventilation systems, including mixing ventilation with constant air volume, demand control ventilation and personalized ventilation. A model was created in a program for dynamic energy simulations TRNSYS, representing one floor of a typical office building divided into four zones with different orientations and a core. Space heating and cooling were provided by ceiling fancoil units recirculating the room air, thus the tasks of ventilation and air conditioning were provided by two separate systems. The potential of personalized ventilation to save energy for fans and for the heating coil of the ventilation system presented about 70% compared to constant air volume mixing ventilation, however, the overall saving was only 20% when also the energy demand for space heating was considered. The energy benefit of demand control ventilation and personalized ventilation depends on the energy need for space heating and cooling, system configuration and operation, and occupancy.

Mixing and displacement air distribution are the main ventilation principles applied in both residential and non-residential buildings. Recently, personalized ventilation when the fresh air is delivered directly to the occupants at a high ventilation effectiveness has become an alternative. Despite of this fact, little research has been carried out to quantify the energy saving potential of personalized ventilation. This study aimed to quantify the effect of ventilation effectiveness and control strategy on the energy performance and thermal comfort for an open plan office equipped by different types of ventilation systems, including mixing ventilation with constant air volume, demand control ventilation and personalized ventilation. A model was created in a program for dynamic energy simulations TRNSYS, representing one floor of a typical office building divided into four zones with different orientations and a core. Space heating and cooling were provided by ceiling fancoil units recirculating the room air, thus the tasks of ventilation and air conditioning were provided by two separate systems. The potential of personalized ventilation to save energy for fans and for the heating coil of the ventilation system presented about 70% compared to constant air volume mixing ventilation, however, the overall saving was only 20% when also the energy demand for space heating was considered. The energy benefit of demand control ventilation and personalized ventilation depends on the energy need for space heating and cooling, system configuration and operation, and occupancy.