Resolving Stack Effect Problems in a High-Rise Office Building by Mechanical Pressurization
Abstract
:1. Introduction
- (1)
- Field measurements were conducted to identify the magnitude of the pressure difference causing the malfunction of elevator doors in this particular building.
- (2)
- Computer simulations were conducted to identify the proper vertical grouping of floors and the required volume of air for pressurization by the HVAC systems considering the winter outdoor design dry bulb temperature condition in the Seoul area.
- (3)
- The results from the computer simulations were then applied to the actual building by pressurizing the upper part of the building, including floors 40–60. During this phase, the actual volume of air for pressurization was adjusted according to measured pressure differences across the elevator doors.
2. Literature Review
2.1. Stack Effect in High-Rise Buildings
2.2. Previous Studies
3. Methods
3.1. Identifying Stack Effect Problems by Field Measurements
3.2. Computer Simulations of HVAC Operations
3.2.1. Validation of Computer Model
3.2.2. Computer Simulation
3.2.3. Simulation Results
3.3. Field Application and Adjustment
3.3.1. Implementing the Simulation Result in an Actual Building
3.3.2. Actual HVAC Operation
4. Conclusions
- (1)
- From the initial field measurements, the evaluation criterion was established for the pressure difference (ΔP) across the high-rise elevator doors on the first floor to be below 100 Pa to ensure smooth opening and closing of these elevator doors.
- (2)
- The CONTAM computer program was used to find effective HVAC operation schemes. From this procedure, the decided upon scheme was to pressurize the upper zone of the building, from the 40th to 60th floor. Then, further computer simulations were conducted to find a scheme to minimize the total air volume for pressurization (VPA). The scheme selected as the most effective and efficient HVAC operation for this particular building was to pressurize the upper building zone (Floors 40–60) with 105,000 m3/h of VPA.
- (3)
- This optimized pressurization scheme identified by the computer simulation was implemented in the actual building by controlling the dampers and fans in the HVAC system. At first, a simple operation was attempted to bring in outdoor air (OA) while not allowing exhaust air (EA) in order to increase the air pressure in the office rooms. From this procedure, it was found that when the upper zone of the building (Floors 40–60) was pressurized with 109,333 m3/h of VPA under the winter design outdoor temperature condition in heating seasons in the Seoul area, the ΔP across the first-floor elevator door for the high-rise elevator shaft was reduced from 135 Pa to 95 Pa and the elevator door started closing smoothly.
- (4)
- Finally, the actual OA was adjusted to 121,800 m3/h by considering ventilation requirements and about 12,467 m3/h of air was exhausted from the zone.
Author Contributions
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Location | Air Leakage Data | Source |
---|---|---|
Elevator door | EqLA75 1 240 cm2/item(closed) | Tamura [4] |
Stairwell door | EqLA75 130 cm2/item(closed) | Tamura [4] |
Revolving door | EqLA4 2 1020 cm2/item | Measured data |
Swing door | EqLA4 53 cm2/item(closed) | ASHRAE [26] |
Sliding door | EqLA4 100 cm2/item(closed) | ASHRAE [26] |
Door for office room | EqLA4 2.1 m2/item(open) | Measured data |
Exterior wall of lobby | EqLA75 4.88 cm2/m2 (AL/Awall) | Tamura [4] |
Exterior wall of typical floors | EqLA75 3.60 cm2/m2 (AL/Awall) | Tamura [4] |
Cases | Floors for Pressurization | VPA Per Floor [m3/h] | Total VPA [m3/h] |
---|---|---|---|
Base case | None | None | None |
Case 1A | 1–60 | 3000 | 180,000 |
Case 1B | 6000 | 360,000 | |
Case 1C | 9000 | 540,000 | |
Case 2A | 23–37 and 40–60 | 3000 | 108,000 |
Case 2B | 6000 | 216,000 | |
Case 2C | 9000 | 324,000 | |
Case 3A | 40–60 | 3000 | 63,000 |
Case 3B | 6000 | 126,000 | |
Case 3C | 9000 | 189,000 |
Cases | ΔP [Pa] | Total VPA [m3/h] |
---|---|---|
Base case | 141.5 | None |
Case 1A | 121.4 | 180,000 |
Case 1B | 96.9 | 360,000 |
Case 1C | 70.7 | 540,000 |
Case 2A | 116.4 | 108,000 |
Case 2B | 87.6 | 216,000 |
Case 2C | 58.3 | 324,000 |
Case 3A | 117.1 | 63,000 |
Case 3B | 89.3 | 126,000 |
Case 3C | 61 | 189,000 |
Controls | OA Damper (%) | CA Damper (%) | EA Damper (%) | VPA (m3/h) | ΔP 1 (Pa) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Actual HVAC System Operations | 0 | 100 | 0 | 0 | 135 |
10 | 90 | 0 | 27,333 | 110 | |
20 | 80 | 0 | 54,667 | 107 | |
30 | 70 | 0 | 82,000 | 105 | |
40 | 60 | 0 | 109,333 | 95 | |
Computer Simulation | - | - | - | 105,000 | 99.8 |
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Yu, J.-y.; Song, K.-d.; Cho, D.-w. Resolving Stack Effect Problems in a High-Rise Office Building by Mechanical Pressurization. Sustainability 2017, 9, 1731. https://doi.org/10.3390/su9101731
Yu J-y, Song K-d, Cho D-w. Resolving Stack Effect Problems in a High-Rise Office Building by Mechanical Pressurization. Sustainability. 2017; 9(10):1731. https://doi.org/10.3390/su9101731
Chicago/Turabian StyleYu, Jung-yeon, Kyoo-dong Song, and Dong-woo Cho. 2017. "Resolving Stack Effect Problems in a High-Rise Office Building by Mechanical Pressurization" Sustainability 9, no. 10: 1731. https://doi.org/10.3390/su9101731