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Displacement Ventilation: Underfloor Air Distribution Systems
This technology is often recommended in place of the conventional variable air volume (VAV) distribution system because it provides maximum occupant comfort while also conserving energy.
Instead of using conventional, overhead ductwork to heat and cool the occupied space, a raised floor system introduces air into the room at floor level through diffusers mounted in the raised floor tiles. As the air enters a room, it mixes with a portion of the room air and then moves upward into the occupied zone due to the natural buoyancy effect caused by heat given off by the occupants and electrical office equipment and lighting. Return air grilles located above the occupied zone remove the hot air from the room.
The advantages of this technology are:
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Improved HVAC efficiency of approximately 10-percent as compared to a conventional VAV system by reduced motor/fan energy due to reductions in ductwork lengths and sizes. |
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Significant reduction in cooling load associated with lower building height because less ductwork is required in the ceiling space. Floor-to-floor heights can be reduced by up to five-percent. |
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The cost savings realized by reduced fan sizes and ductwork can offset the additional cost of the raised floor system. |
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Due to the natural buoyancy of the air, a portion of the heat gain from the occupants, building envelope, lights and office equipment is removed from the space before it adversely affects the temperature of the occupied zone. |
Underfloor air systems can be used in a variety of applications, including open office spaces, space with high floor-to-floor cavities and geometrically complex spaces such as atriums, auditoriums, performance halls and other large gathering spaces.
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