Computational analysis of a new biomimetic active ventilation paradigm for indoor spaces
International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow
ISSN: 0961-5539
Article publication date: 27 April 2023
Issue publication date: 22 June 2023
Abstract
Purpose
Ventilation of indoor spaces is required for the delivery of fresh air rich in oxygen and the removal of carbon dioxide, pollutants and other hazardous substances. The COVID-19 pandemic brought the topic of ventilating crowded indoors to the front line of health concerns. This study developed a new biologically inspired concept of biomimetic active ventilation (BAV) for interior environments that mimics the mechanism of human lung ventilation, where internal air is continuously refreshed with the external environment. The purpose of this study is to provide a detailed proof-of-concept of the new BAV paradigm using computational models.
Design/methodology/approach
This study developed computational fluid dynamic models of unoccupied rooms with two window openings on one wall and two BAV modules that periodically translate perpendicular to or rotate about the window openings. This study also developed a time-evolving spatial ventilation efficiency metric for exploring the accumulated refreshment of the interior space. The authors conducted two-dimensional (2D) simulations of various BAV configurations to determine the trends in how the working parameters affect the ventilation and to generate initial estimates for the more comprehensive three-dimensional (3D) model.
Findings
Simulations of 2D and 3D models of BAV for modules of different shapes and working parameters demonstrated air movements in most of the room with good air exchange between the indoor and outdoor air. This new BAV concept seems to be very efficient and should be further developed.
Originality/value
The concept of ventilating interior spaces with periodically moving rigid modules with respect to the window openings is a new BAV paradigm that mimics human respiration. The computational results demonstrated that this new paradigm for interior ventilation is efficient while air velocities are within comfortable limits.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This publication is part of a research work by Shahar Grossbard towards a PhD at Tel Aviv University. This research was supported by the Rosetrees and Stonegate Trusts. Gil Marom and Shahar Grossbard contributed equally to this work.
Conflict of interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Citation
Marom, G., Grossbard, S., Bodek, M., Neuman, E. and Elad, D. (2023), "Computational analysis of a new biomimetic active ventilation paradigm for indoor spaces", International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, Vol. 33 No. 8, pp. 2710-2729. https://doi.org/10.1108/HFF-12-2022-0698
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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