Optimization of Office Ventilation Strategies Using the FLUENT Component Transport Model: A Numerical Simulation Approach.

In modern society, a significant proportion of time is spent indoors, where exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by various office equipment and materials is common. These harmful gases can cause irreversible health damage upon inhalation. Therefore, reducing the concentration of indoor VOCs has become a topic of great concern. Selecting an appropriate ventilation strategy is an effective and practical method to lower pollutant concentrations. In this study, a typical office and its ventilation system were numerically simulated using the standard k-ε turbulence model and the component transport model in FLUENT. Four scenarios with different inlet airflow velocities and three scenarios with varying inlet airflow angles were evaluated. The concentrations and distributions of VOCs were analyzed at both seated and standing breathing planes as well as within the overall space. It was observed that higher inlet airflow velocities, within the limits of human comfort, accelerated indoor air exchange, reaching dynamic equilibrium more swiftly. Additionally, both the breathing zone and the indoor space exhibit lower average concentrations of VOCs after equilibrium was achieved as the inlet velocity increased. Furthermore, under a constant inlet velocity, an upward 45° airflow angle was found to create more effective indoor air mixing, reduce stagnant zones, and facilitate VOC removal, thereby lowering indoor VOC concentrations. Based on the findings, a ventilation strategy employing a larger inlet airflow velocity combined with an upward airflow angle is recommended to efficiently reduce indoor VOC concentrations, improve air quality, and mitigate health risks. These results provide valuable guidance for the design and implementation of ventilation systems in real-world engineering applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]