Simulation of Radiant Cooling Systems in Cleanroom Applications Using Computational Fluid Dynamics

Radiant cooling techniques have rapidly developed in recent years because of their capability to provide a draft-free and thermally homogeneous environment. These specific conditions are required in some cleanroom applications such as hospitals and measurement laboratories. The current study investigates a proposed convective and/or radiant cooling system for a mass measurement laboratory using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The laboratory in this study is in the National Institute of Standards, located in the Mariottia District, Cairo, Egypt. A uniform temperature distribution with draft-free conditions is required to avoid affecting the sensitivity of the measurement devices and the integrity of the measurement process itself. The CFD work is conducted using a commercial software, PHOENICS, which uses the HVAC applications module FLAIR (CHAM Corporation 2008). The results show that radiant cooling techniques are capable of producing more dynamically and thermally stable and comfortable conditions compared to conventional convection HVAC techniques. Radiant cooling is an ideal solution that achieves thermal heat removal with the least possible air movement, as air circulation is caused only by buoyancy forces resulting from density differences.