Performance of personalized ventilation combined with chilled ceiling in an office room: Inhaled air quality and contaminant distribution

In a simulated two persons' office room inhaled air quality and contaminant distribution provided with personalized ventilation combined with chilled ceiling, mixing ventilation only, chilled ceiling with mixing ventilation and chilled ceiling with mixing and personalized ventilation was studied. Breathing thermal manikins were used to resemble two occupants at workstations. Room air temperature was kept at 26°C and 28°C. Personalized ventilation supplied air at 25°C. Supplied total flow rate ranged from 26 to 82 L/s. Heat gains of 66-72 W/m² were simulated. Tracer gases simulated pollution from people (exhaled air, bioeffluents) and building materials (wall painting). Personalized ventilation combined with chilled ceiling ensured highest air quality at the workstation under all conditions. Pollutant concentration in the occupied zone away from the workstations did not differ substantially between the tested systems. Chilled ceiling combined with personalized ventilation working as the only air supplying system may be optimal solution in many buildings.