AAC
Adaptive Air Curtains
Publieke samenvatting / Public summary
Aanleiding
In retail, shopping center and office premises, heat loss through open doors is a significant component of space heating energy consumption. Air curtains are installed to keep warm air inside. They usually feature only an on/off switch and operation is often sub-optimal. An air curtain adaptive to indoor/outdoor climate will save significant energy.
Doelstelling
The purpose of the project is to develop a proof of concept control strategy for an air curtain that A) is adaptive to indoor/outdoor climate, B) shows economically significant savings in energy consumption of the air curtain and reductions in heat loss and C) shows improved comfort.
Korte omschrijving
In the project the following activities are envisioned: 1 An inventory of the state of the art and end-user needs is created. This includes a workshop involving end-users. 2 A base case will be modelled with computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The results will be matched to base case lab tests. 3 Correlations and an analytical model of air curtain performance will be developed based on the verified detailed model. 4 The correlations and the analytic model will be validated through laboratory tests, including variations of fanspeed, outlet air temperature, width and angle, and indoor/outdoor temperatures and pressures. 5 A proof of concept control strategy will be developed to keep the air curtain in its optimal performance state. 6 The project will conclude with a workshop including end-users where results will be presented and the possible need for an industry standard will be discussed.
Resultaat
The project will provide a proof of concept that contains a lab validated model of an air curtain performance and a control strategy that saves air curtain energy, limits heat loss through the doorway and provides increased comfort. The potential of the model as an industry standard will be investigated. This will improve the Dutch position in the European air curtain market.
In retail, shopping center and office premises, heat loss through open doors is a significant component of space heating energy consumption. Air curtains are installed to keep warm air inside. They usually feature only an on/off switch and operation is often sub-optimal. An air curtain adaptive to indoor/outdoor climate will save significant energy.
Doelstelling
The purpose of the project is to develop a proof of concept control strategy for an air curtain that A) is adaptive to indoor/outdoor climate, B) shows economically significant savings in energy consumption of the air curtain and reductions in heat loss and C) shows improved comfort.
Korte omschrijving
In the project the following activities are envisioned: 1 An inventory of the state of the art and end-user needs is created. This includes a workshop involving end-users. 2 A base case will be modelled with computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The results will be matched to base case lab tests. 3 Correlations and an analytical model of air curtain performance will be developed based on the verified detailed model. 4 The correlations and the analytic model will be validated through laboratory tests, including variations of fanspeed, outlet air temperature, width and angle, and indoor/outdoor temperatures and pressures. 5 A proof of concept control strategy will be developed to keep the air curtain in its optimal performance state. 6 The project will conclude with a workshop including end-users where results will be presented and the possible need for an industry standard will be discussed.
Resultaat
The project will provide a proof of concept that contains a lab validated model of an air curtain performance and a control strategy that saves air curtain energy, limits heat loss through the doorway and provides increased comfort. The potential of the model as an industry standard will be investigated. This will improve the Dutch position in the European air curtain market.