CFD Simulation Analysis of Thermal Comfort in a Small Office
1Thermal Energy Engineering, Hanoi University of Science and Technology, Viet Nam
2Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Transport and Communications, Viet Nam
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed:
E-mail: chien.nguyenba@hust.edu.vn (NBC)
E-mail: chien.nguyenba@hust.edu.vn (NBC)
Received: June 09, 2025 | Revised: September 28, 2025 | Accepted: September 30, 2025 | Published: December 2025
Abstract
This study presents a 3D model of a small office to analyze and evaluate thermal comfort in Vietnam. Predicted Mean Vote index (PMV) is used to evaluate thermal comfort satisfaction. Using the CFD simulation, PMV is calculated based on the effects of temperature field, air flow, wind speed, and radiation. And, two different airflow rates of 0.4 m3s-1 and 0.56 m3s-1 were considered. The results show that, at the airflow of 0.4 m3s-1, 70% of users around the areas supply air vents are satisfied, while only most of the people in the return air vent area are not satisfied with the thermal comfort. When the airflow is 0.56 m3/s, the percentage of people satisfied with thermal comfort in areas near the supply air vent increased by 95%, and the thermal comfort in the return air vent area was also improved.
Keywords
CFD; HVAC; Office; OpenFoam; Thermal Comfort
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