Optimization of air-curtain sealing efficiency with respect to heat transfer in naturally ventilated buildings

This study presents results of coupled 3D steady Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations of an isolated naturally-ventilated building with the application of an air curtain to prevent heat transfer across a doorway. The considered parameters include air curtain velocity, width and angle, indoor and outdoor tempera-tures, and wind flow. The results showed that higher temperatures inside the studied building were provided for: (1) higher jet velocities Vac for a jet angle a = 15deg, when jet width wjet is constant; (2) larger jet width wjet, when jet angle a and jet momentum Mac' are constant; (3) jet angle a = 0deg, when jet velocity Vac and jet width wjet are constant. The results also showed that for an air curtain with a = 0deg the air jet slightly bended to the outside that is possibly caused by stagnation-zone flow in front of the building.