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Tools
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Computational Fluid Dynamics:
- CFD methods find flows based on the Navier-Stokes equations of fluid-dynamic motion. Applying CFD to buildings provides
detailed predictions of the airflow and pollutant transport in rooms. We use CFD to investigate airflows in large spaces, to scope
improvements in coarser whole-building models, and as part of an integrated CFD-whole building model.
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Chamber Experiments:
- Experimental chambers are used to perform tests under controlled environmental conditions such as temperature, relative humidity,
and air infiltration.
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Field Experiments:
- Field experiments help characterize airflow and pollutant transport under varying ventilation conditions in buildings of different
size, age, and construction type. The objectives of the field experiments include: 1) measuring the air exchange rate between zones
inside (e.g. rooms, floors, wings) and outside of buildings, 2) determining the rate of mixing within and between zones, and 3)
measuring flow rates of HVAC equipment.
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Multizone Simulation:
- Multizone models find the airflows and pollutant dispersion in a building. They represent a building as a network of well-mixed
spaces, or zones, connected by discrete flow paths such as doors, windows, and ducts. Compared to Computational Fluid Dynamics,
multizone models provide a coarser view of the building, but are able to predict large-scale flows at a much lower cost, both in
computer time and in model setup.
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Integrated Simulation Tools:
- Combining the COMIS multizone model with other simulation tools both extends the multizone model (for example by adding
detailed room models), and brings whole-building airflow predictions to other programs (for example to predict how buildings affect
outdoor transport).
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Algorithm Development:
- New experimental or modeling capabilities sometimes require the development of new algorithms.
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