The simulation and calculation of indoor thermal environment and the PPD evaluation index affected by three typical air-conditioning supply modes

A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) numerical simulation method was used in this study to simulate the indoor thermal environment affected by three air-supply modes, upper-supply bottom-return mode, upper-supply top-return mode, and bottom-supply top-return mode, in the condition of the fixed point heat source, and explored the change rule of the predicted percentage dissatisfied (PPD) affected by the three air-supply modes. A suitable air-conditioning supply mode might better meet the requirements of human to the indoor thermal environment. The results, based on the calculation and analysis of indoor air distribution, temperature field, and thermal comfort, showed that the mixing degree of supply air and indoor air of upper-supply mode was better than that of bottom-supply mode, and the uniformity of temperature distribution of upper-supply top-return pattern was better. Moreover, in the personal breathing zone (0.8–1.6 m), the pattern of upper-supply top-return obtained the lowest PPD value. It can be seen that the mode of upper-supply top-return is more comfortable according to the evaluation index of human thermal comfort.