New method of coupling multizone and CFD for building simulation

Existing prediction tools of indoor environment such as Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and multizone models each have their advantages but also their limitations. Therefore combining the two models could avoid their respective drawbacks and improve the accuracy of prediction of indoor air quality. This paper presents a coupling method which uses pressure differences output from a multizone model to link with CFD. The method is then applied to an example case with air infiltration and exfiltration, an open door, ventilation and a contaminant source. The outlined method models both small openings and large ones such as doors and windows and will be useful in the conception and design of advanced ventilation systems for residential and small office buildings at an improved accuracy with less computational burden.