Computational Study of Thermal Comfort and Reduction of CO 2 Levels inside a Classroom

Guillermo Efren Ovando-Chacon, Abelardo Rodríguez-León, Sandy Luz Ovando-Chacon, Martín Hernández-Ordoñez, Mario Díaz-González and Felipe de Jesús Pozos-Texon
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Guillermo Efren Ovando-Chacon: Tecnológico Nacional de México, Instituto Tecnológico de Veracruz, Calzada Miguel Ángel de Quevedo 2779, Veracruz 91860, Mexico
Abelardo Rodríguez-León: Tecnológico Nacional de México, Instituto Tecnológico de Veracruz, Calzada Miguel Ángel de Quevedo 2779, Veracruz 91860, Mexico
Sandy Luz Ovando-Chacon: Tecnológico Nacional de México, Instituto Tecnológico de Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Carretera Panamericana km 1080, Tuxtla Gutierrez 29000, Mexico
Martín Hernández-Ordoñez: Tecnológico Nacional de México, Instituto Tecnológico de Veracruz, Calzada Miguel Ángel de Quevedo 2779, Veracruz 91860, Mexico
Mario Díaz-González: Tecnológico Nacional de México, Instituto Tecnológico de Veracruz, Calzada Miguel Ángel de Quevedo 2779, Veracruz 91860, Mexico
Felipe de Jesús Pozos-Texon: Tecnológico Nacional de México, Instituto Tecnológico de Veracruz, Calzada Miguel Ángel de Quevedo 2779, Veracruz 91860, Mexico

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 5, 1-22

Abstract: Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, guaranteeing thermal comfort and low CO 2 levels in classrooms through efficient ventilation has become vitally important. This study presents three-dimensional simulations based on computational fluid dynamics of airflow inside an air-conditioned classroom located in Veracruz, Mexico. The analysis included various positions of an air extractor, Reynolds numbers up to 3.5 × 10 4 , four different concentrations of pollutant sources, and three different times of the day. The simulations produced velocity, air temperature, and CO 2 concentrations fields, and we calculated average air temperatures, average CO 2 concentrations, and overall ventilation effectiveness. Our results revealed an optimal extractor position and Reynolds number conducive to thermal comfort and low CO 2 levels due to an adequate ventilation configuration. At high pollutant concentrations, it is necessary to reduce the number of students in the classroom to achieve safe CO 2 levels.

Keywords: thermal comfort; CO 2 reduction; ventilation; COVID-19; classroom; turbulent convection; CFD simulations (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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