Improvement of the hygrothermal efficiency numerically using CFD modeling in a full-scale ventilated room with Moroccan climates

Abstract

The objective of this work is to examine the humidity and the heat transfer distribution in a full scale aerated room in a steady and turbulent flow regime under winter conditions and for six different Moroccan climate types. To assimilate winter conditions, the floor is considered as a heating source and is stabilized at a high temperature (T_H)_, on the other hand, all other walls are subjected to convection heat transfer mode with an external temperature as a function of the climatic region and a surface transmission coefficient required by the Moroccan Agency of Energy Efficiency (AMEE). Four configurations are treated basing on the outlet and inlet openings position on the vertical walls for introducing and extracting air. Computational fluid dynamics was used to resolve the physical processes numerically. The developed physical model was validated on the basis of humidity and temperature distribution of the indoor environment. The primary objective of this study is to analyze the impact of ventilation on the distribution of humidity and temperature, and to seek the best configuration (size and position of entry/exit openings) that provides thermal comfort, as well as the impact of the thermal requirements imposed by the AMEE on residential thermal comfort in the studied Moroccan climatic zones. This work has allowed to find the optimal ventilation configuration during the winter season by analyzing several comfort indicators in the room.