Federation of European Heating, Ventilation

and Air-conditioning Associations

Address:  www.rehva.eu
Rue Washington 40  info@rehva.eu
 Tel: +32 2 514 11 71
1050 Brussels
 Fax: +32 2 512 90 62
Belgium

Federation of European Heating, Ventilation and Air-conditioning Associations

 Use of REHVA Guidebook Power
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Guidebook.
• Please refer the original author always when making
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is used: info@rehva.eu

Federation of European Heating, Ventilation and Air-conditioning Associations

 Displacement Ventilation
in
Non-industrial Premises

an old principle
with new technology

Federation of European Heating, Ventilation and Air-conditioning Associations

 Rehva Guidebook on
Displacement Ventilation
Aimed at:
 the practising engineer

Discussing:
 what is displacement ventilation?

 what are the benefits

 what are the limitations?

 where should it be used (and not

used)?

The theory is illustrated by case

studies showing how displacement
ventilation can be utilised in
practice

Federation of European Heating, Ventilation and Air-conditioning Associations

 Contents of the book
- Disp.vent in a nutshell
1. Terminology, symbols and
units
2. Basic knowledge about
displacement ventilation
3. Air diffusers
4. Design procedures
5. Energy aspects
6. Automation and control
7. Case studies
• Restaurant
• Cell office
• Auditorium
• Meeting room
• Class room
8. References

Federation of European Heating, Ventilation and Air-conditioning Associations

The basic idea
Warm air rises due to
buoyancy, and carries
the pollutants from
people up towards the
ceiling.

In industry…. ….and non-industrial

premises
Federation of European Heating, Ventilation and Air-conditioning Associations
Man = heat source – in theory

80 – 90 W

The air rises because of the heat

release of the human body

Federation of European Heating, Ventilation and Air-conditioning Associations

Man = heat source – in practice
• Warm, polluted air rises due
to buoyancy.
• Buoyancy is created by the
heat from the body.

Cigar smoke visualises

the rising air, but is is
the heat from the body
that drives the flow.
Federation of European Heating, Ventilation and Air-conditioning Associations
 Air supply

Air
supply
units
The air floats
along the floor like
water and fills the
room from below

Federation of European Heating, Ventilation and Air-conditioning Associations

 Air is extracted at ceiling level

The extract
opening can be
located
anywhere in the
The extract air
highest part of flows along the
the room ceiling

Federation of European Heating, Ventilation and Air-conditioning Associations

 Air supply

The air is
supplied from
wall panels with
low velocity.

The supply air is

colder than the
room air.

Federation of European Heating, Ventilation and Air-conditioning Associations

Air supply can be arranged in
many ways

Plane,
wall-mounted

Circular,
free-standing

Semi-circular,
corner-mounted Floor-
mounted

Federation of European Heating, Ventilation and Air-conditioning Associations

 Be aware of cold draught along
the floor!
• When the supply air is colder than
the room air, it will fall to the floor,
and may cause cold draught. z

• This may avoided by choosing the Typical ~ 2 - 5 cm

right diffuser. depth vx
20 cm v

• Remember:
z
– Choose a diffuser that is suited
for the purpose
– Make sure that the adjacent zone
Velocity
(the “draught zone”) does reach Acceleration
decay
region
places where people are located region
permanently.

Federation of European Heating, Ventilation and Air-conditioning Associations

 Diffuser types - Casino

Air diffusers behind columns

Federation of European Heating, Ventilation and Air-conditioning Associations

 Diffuser types - Atrium

Air diffuser

Federation of European Heating, Ventilation and Air-conditioning Associations

 Diffuser types - Restaurant
Air diffuser

Federation of European Heating, Ventilation and Air-conditioning Associations

 Diffuser types - Department
store

Air diffuser

Federation of European Heating, Ventilation and Air-conditioning Associations

Basic principles – Convection
currents
q The air that rises in the
q convection current must
be replaced by new air.
H This makes a two-layer
q flow, where the
polluted, “used” air
stratifies in the upper
layer.
q
Less supply air lower
the interface between
the two layers.
q
h q

Federation of European Heating, Ventilation and Air-conditioning Associations

 Basic principles – Thermal
stratification
In practice, the air will stratify in many layers,
making the temperature rise from floor to ceiling.

Height above floor [m]

2,5
2,0
1,5
1,0
0,5
0,0
0 0,2 0,4 0,6 0,8 1 1,2
 - s
Temperature ratio
e - s

Federation of European Heating, Ventilation and Air-conditioning Associations

 Basic principles – Thermal
stratification
Extract 100%
2,5
Height above floor, z [m] 26 °C
2,0

1,5 Occupied zone

50 - 90%
1,0 50 - 90%

0,5 Supply 0%
18 °C
0
0 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Contaminant

Extract 100%
2,5
Height above floor, z [m]

26 °C
2,0

1,5 Occupied zone Breathing zone

90% - 100% < 100 %
1,0

0,5 Supply 0%
18 °C
0
0 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Contaminants

Federation of European Heating, Ventilation and Air-conditioning Associations

 Temperature distribution -
Mixing
normal rooms Extract 24 °C
2,5 16 °C
Height above floor, z [m]

2,0
24 °C
1,5 Occupied zone Less cooling
24 °C
1,0 24 °C is needed to
0,5 Supply 16 °C obtain the
0 desired
16 18 20 22 24 26 temperature in
Temperature [°C]
Displacement the occupied
Extract 26 °C
space
2,5
Height above floor, z [m]

26 °C
2,0

1,5 Occupied zone

23 °C
1,0 24 °C
0,5 Supply 18 °C
18 °C
0
16 18 20 22 24 26
Temperature [°C]

Federation of European Heating, Ventilation and Air-conditioning Associations

Temperature distribution - Tall
rooms
Extract air Extract air
temperature temperature
 = 23°C
e  = 27,5°C
e
Mixing Displacement

Average
temperature
in the
occupied
space
 = 23°C
oz
9°C
9°C

14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 [°C] 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 [°C]

Supply air temperature Supply air temperature

 =14°C
s  =18,5°C
s

The cooling advantage is most

pronounced for tall rooms

Federation of European Heating, Ventilation and Air-conditioning Associations

 Contaminant distribution in
Mixing
normal rooms
Extract 100%
2,5 16 °C
Height above floor, z [m]

2,0
24 °C
1,5 Occupied zone For the same
100%
1,0 100% ventilation
0,5 Supply rate, we may
0 get better air
0 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% quality with
Contaminant

Displacement
displacement
Extract 100% ventilation
2,5
Height above floor, z [m]

26 °C
2,0

1,5 Occupied zone

50 - 90%
1,0 50 - 90%

0,5 Supply 0%
18 °C
0
0 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Contaminant

Federation of European Heating, Ventilation and Air-conditioning Associations

 Little air - less benefit
Extract 100%
2,5
Height above floor, z [m]

26 °C
2,0

1,5 Occupied zone

50 - 90% 20 l/s per
1,0 50 - 90%
person
Supply 0%
0,5
18 °C = very good
0
0 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Contaminant 10 l/s per
person
Extract 100%
2,5
= acceptable
Height above floor, z [m]

26 °C
2,0
< 10 l/s per
1,5 Occupied zone Breathing zone
90% - 100% < 100 % person
1,0
= insufficient
0,5 Supply 0%
18 °C
0
0 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Contaminants

Federation of European Heating, Ventilation and Air-conditioning Associations

 Contamination in inhaled air
Concentration
ratios measured
0,6
at a manikin

0,5

Conc. in air at head level

Conc. in inhaled air
0,4

0,3

0,2

0,1

0,0
0 5 10 15 20 litre/s
Flow rate person

The rising flow around a

Source:
person brings fresh air Mats Sandberg, Sweden
to the breathing zone

Federation of European Heating, Ventilation and Air-conditioning Associations

 Better air
quality: 2,5
One person
in the room

Height above floor [m]

Yes – and No?
2,0 Two persons
in the room
1,5
When there are many 1,0
people, and insufficient air, Three persons
0,5
the contaminants stratify at in the room

lower levels 0,0

0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800
Increase in CO2-concentration

Federation of European Heating, Ventilation and Air-conditioning Associations

 Passive smoking in
crowded rooms with
Displacement Ventilation 3,0
Ambient
2,5
Exposure, seated
2,0 exposure, standing

Height [m]
1,5

1,0

0,5

0,0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6

Concentration ratio c/cR

A standing person’s exposure may

be greater, but people are still Source:
protected by the rising air current Peter V- Nielsen, Denmark
around themselves

Federation of European Heating, Ventilation and Air-conditioning Associations

For protection
against
tobacco
smoke, see
REHVA
Guidebook
no 4:
“Ventilation
and
Smoking”.

Federation of European Heating, Ventilation and Air-conditioning Associations

 Contaminant distribution in tall
rooms
Perfect mixing Displacement
Extract 100% Extract 100%

2,5 2,5
Height above floor, z [m]

Height above floor, z [m]

2,0 2,0

1,5 Occupied zone 1,5

100% Occupied
1,0 1,0 zone

0,5 0,5

0 0
0 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 0 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Contaminant Contaminant
Supply 0% Supply 0%

Federation of European Heating, Ventilation and Air-conditioning Associations

 Auditoria – air supply

Air supply in
front of the room

Air supply under

the seats

Federation of European Heating, Ventilation and Air-conditioning Associations

 Auditoria – air flow pattern

Thermal and contaminant stratification

Federation of European Heating, Ventilation and Air-conditioning Associations

 Auditoria – air flow pattern

Supply air is contained Supply air is floating

between the rows. down the stairways.

Federation of European Heating, Ventilation and Air-conditioning Associations

 Auditoria – temperature
distribution
Extract air temperature
e =26°C
50% 50%
6
Height above floor [m]

5
4
3
appr. 6K
2
1
0
16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27
Temperature [°C]
Supply air Air temperature at
temperature floor level,
s =16°C 
oz21°C

Federation of European Heating, Ventilation and Air-conditioning Associations

 Auditoria – Recirculation
Outdoor air
qp = 6 l/s per pers
cp = 350 ppm
Recirculation air
qr = 4 l/s per pers
cr = 1350 ppm

ce = 1350 ppm

Extract air Cooling

qe = 10 l/s per pers unit
ce = 1350 ppm cexp ~ 900 ppm

Supply air
qCO2 = qs = 10 l/s per pers
0,006 l/s per pers. cs = 750 ppm cs = 750 ppm

Displacement ventilation gives benefits to recirculation in

tall rooms – for details, see the book

Federation of European Heating, Ventilation and Air-conditioning Associations

 Cooled ceiling - high
temperature cooling
Cooled ceiling
Cooled ceiling is ok
2,50
when the cooling
 = 0,6 = 0 output of the ceiling is
2,00
less than 40% of the
Height above floor level, z [m]

 = 0,5
total cooling.
1,50
 = 0,4
Cooled ceilings, or
1,00
cooling convectors,
 = ratio of the cooled
ceiling cooling output to decrease the air
0,50 the total cooling output
(Tan 1998)
quality benefit.
0,00
Mixing ventilation
0,8 1,0 1,2 1,4
should be considered
Relative air temperature as an alternative.
(relative to temp. at 0,1 m above the floor)

Federation of European Heating, Ventilation and Air-conditioning Associations

 Room heating
Short-circuiting:
The warm, fresh air is
pulled into the extract

When the room is At night:

occupied: • Some people recommend
• Don't heat the room heating by the ventilation
by the ventilation air ! air….
Federation of European Heating, Ventilation and Air-conditioning Associations
 Heating by radiator/convector

Warm air from

radiator balances
meets the cold air
from window/wall

Federation of European Heating, Ventilation and Air-conditioning Associations

 Floor heating - low
temperature heating

Floor heating is ok as long as the floor

temperature is moderate
(i.e. less than appr. 25° C)

Federation of European Heating, Ventilation and Air-conditioning Associations

 Useful or useless?
Best suited for:
• Restaurants,
• Meeting rooms,
• Classrooms
• Tall rooms:
– Conference rooms,
– Theatres,
– Supermarkets, etc
Advantages:
• Improved air quality
• Most efficient in tall room
• 1°C – 3°C lower temperature in
the occupied space for a given
supply temperature
Less suited for:
• Where surplus heat is the main
problem, and not air quality.
• Where ceiling heights are lower
than approximately 2,3 metres.
• When the problem is cooling in
low rooms (in offices, consider
mixing and cooling panels)
• Where disturbances to room air
flow is strong.
• Where the contaminants are
colder/denser than the ambient
air.

Federation of European Heating, Ventilation and Air-conditioning Associations

 ..and please remember:
Displacement Ventilation is no miracle,
and should not be used everywhere.

It has lost much of its reputation in

several countries due to incompetent or
over-optimistic use.
Problems:
draught along the floor
diffusers require much wall space

..but used with skill in the right places,

it has definite advantages.

Federation of European Heating, Ventilation and Air-conditioning Associations

 Thank you
for your
attention

Federation of European Heating, Ventilation and Air-conditioning Associations