The use of displacement and zoning ventilation in a multipurpose arena

ABSTRACT

This study investigated the performance of ventilation and indoor climate in a multipurpose arena located in Malmö, Sweden, with a seating capacity of 13,000 individuals, and in which a combination of displacement and zoning ventilation was applied. The main objective was to explore thermal conditions, indoor air quality, airflow patterns and air distribution. The measured operating conditions were ice hockey game and training situation. The measurements were conducted to observe the indoor climate and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations were performed to get a generic view of the air distribution and the flow field over the whole arena indoor environment. The results show that air movement was highly case-dependent. However, the experiments indicated an upward flow along the lower seating area and a downward flow along the upper seating area. During the game, the average rise of temperature was around 2 °C in arena with low stratification while using displacement ventilation. The temperature range was 12–17 °C at the lower seating area and 15–17 °C at the upper seating area. The corresponding air-speed level was 0.06–0.36 m/s. The relative humidity was about 30%–40% where a part of the humidity was transferring into the ice sheet. The carbon dioxide concentration increased locally to near 900 ppm indicating reasonable operation of ventilation. The CFD simulations predicted well-mixed conditions in arena, thus supporting the measured low-temperature stratification. Overall, the air movement was significantly affected by supply air temperature, variable airflow rates and retractable stand position (on–off) in the arena enclosure. The results support the use of displacement and zoning ventilation in multipurpose arenas.

KEYWORDS:

• Indoor climate
• air distribution
• displacement ventilation
• zoning ventilation
• measurement
• CFD

Acknowledgments

This study has been conducted at the Aalto University (2015–2016), Tekes RYM SHOK indoor environment programme (2011–2015), Euroacademy on Ventilation and Indoor Climate (2008–2009) and Tekes Arena-IC project (2007–2010) in collaboration with the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health. The authors wish to thank Building Counsellor Mr Reijo Hänninen for the research project and Emeritus Professor Dr Timo Siikonen for guidance during these years. The authors wish to acknowledge the HVAC-group at the Aalto University and the CSC – IT Center for Science for computational resources.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The study has been funded by Granlund Oy, Tekes, Aalto University, Marie Curie Actions, L.V.Y. Foundation, Oy Swegon Ab and partner enterprises.

Notes on contributors

Sami Lestinen

Sami Lestinen is a doctoral candidate at the Aalto University, Espoo, Finland. He has been working with CFD-simulations over 15 years. His research interests are modelling and measurement of indoor environments, and fluid mechanics.

Hannu Koskela

Hannu Koskela is head of laboratory at Turku University of Applied Sciences, Finland. He has been working with ventilation research over 30 years. His main research interests are measurement and modelling of room airflows.

Juha Jokisalo

Juha Jokisalo is senior research fellow at the Aalto University, Espoo, Finland. He has been working with research over 15 years. His main research interests are modelling methods and energy performance of buildings.

Simo Kilpeläinen

Simo Kilpeläinen is laboratory manager at the Aalto University, Espoo, Finland. He has been working with research over 10 years. His main research interests are new technology and experimental research.

Risto Kosonen

Risto Kosonen is professor in HVAC-technology at the Aalto University, Espoo, Finland. He has been working with ventilation research over 30 years. His research interests are air distribution, thermal comfort and air quality together with energy efficiency of buildings.