A sensitivity study of floor and ceiling plenum energy model parameters

Conference · Wed Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1997

OSTI ID:345208

Rock, B A; Wolfe, D J ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Kansas, Lawrence, KS (United States). Architectural Engineering Dept.

ASHRAE research project RP-787 was a computational study of the factors that influence heat transfer in ceiling and floor plenums. The heat transfer phenomena in plenums are complex and include conduction, convection, and radiation modes. The public domain nodal program HLITE was used in the project to find the steady-periodic cooling loads in typical office/plenum spaces. A companion program, VLITE, was used to solve for the radiation view factors. Three-dimensional models of ceiling and floor plenums with six different air distribution schemes were examined. Common fluorescent luminaries were modeled in significant detail. The sensitivity of plenum models to various parameters such as convective heat transfer coefficients, surface conditions, and other parameters was found and is presented in this paper. The required accuracy is given for each variable to which the computer models were sensitive. Recommendations are made for additional research to determine the effects of ceiling and floor plenums on peak cooling loads and for developing design guidelines.

• OSTI ID: 345208
• Report Number(s): CONF-9702141--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
CEILINGS
COOLING LOAD
FLOORS
HEAT TRANSFER
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS
SIZE
SPACE HVAC SYSTEMS
THREE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS