A SIMPLIFIED MODEL FOR THE PREDICTION OF AIR-TEMPERATURE DISTRIBUTIONIN BUILDINGS

This study presents a zonal model for predicting the air temperature d istribution in buildings. This model is unique in the calculation of m ass air flows between two zones. To do so, we distinguish zones where the momentum is small and for which we calculate the flow rates with t he aid of a pressure field, and the driving zones described using appr opriate specific flow laws. To better understand the consistency of th e model, we used experimental results obtained with a one and then a t wo zone test cell and an experimental atrium with various thermal cond itions. A comparison between computed and measured air temperature dis tributions proves that the model gives a satisfactory prediction of th e physical phenomena. This allows us to consider the integration of th is type of model into a thermal multizone building code in relation wi th thermal comfort, energy consumption and indoor air quality.