Effect of air supply mode on airflow distribution in winter train sleeper compartments

Abstract

Few of existing literatures on the airflow distribution of compartments have studied combined applications of radiant heating and air conditioning in winter. Simulation of airflow distribution in 25 T soft sleeper compartments under different heating and ventilation schemes is provided in this paper. Firstly, reliability of the numerical simulation model has been verified by the experimental data in the literature, and the appropriate turbulence model has been selected. Afterwards, numerical simulations are carried out on airflow distribution in those compartments with four ventilation modes under radiant heating conditions in winter. Research results show that as for thermal comfort, task air supply can provide the smallest temperature difference between head and foot positions as well as the best thermal comfort. As for effectiveness of air supply, the ventilation efficiency of louver side air supply is the highest among others. As for effectiveness of pollutant removal, the ventilation efficiency of task air supply is higher than the other three options. These four heating and ventilation schemes are evaluated comprehensively with fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method. Results reveal that task air supply is the mode with best comprehensive performance indices. It is followed, respectively, by louver side air supply, perforated ceiling air supply and louver top air supply.

Keywords:

• Sleeper compartment
• airflow distribution
• thermal environment
• numerical simulation
• radiant heating

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Liying Sun

Jiang Yifan Master student of Harbin Institute of Technology.

Yifan Jiang

Sun Liying Doctor of Engineering, Associate Professor of Harbin Engineering University, Main Research Field: HVAC.