Enhanced Heat Removal Using Buoyancy-Tracking Exhaust Vents for Moving Heat Sources in Industrial Environments: CFD and Experimental Study
High-temperature and high-pollution mobile sources are frequently encountered in industrial environments. Fixed-position exhaust outlets often fail to promptly remove heat and contaminants when these sources are in motion, leading to local accumulation and reduced indoor air quality. This study prop...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Buildings |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/10/1719 |
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| author | Zhongwu Xie Wei Yin Xiaoli Hao Shaobo Zhang Theofanis Psomas Torbjörn Lindholm Lars Ekberg |
| author_facet | Zhongwu Xie Wei Yin Xiaoli Hao Shaobo Zhang Theofanis Psomas Torbjörn Lindholm Lars Ekberg |
| author_sort | Zhongwu Xie |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | High-temperature and high-pollution mobile sources are frequently encountered in industrial environments. Fixed-position exhaust outlets often fail to promptly remove heat and contaminants when these sources are in motion, leading to local accumulation and reduced indoor air quality. This study proposes a novel mobile exhaust system capable of tracking and dynamically aligning with moving emission sources to improve heat removal and cooling efficiency. Three configurations were evaluated: (1) a fixed exhaust outlet, (2) an exhaust vent moving synchronously with the heat source, and (3) a buoyancy-driven tracking exhaust outlet. Small-scale experiments and CFD simulations using dynamic mesh techniques were conducted. The results showed that the synchronous system reduced ambient temperature by an average of 0.25 to 2.3 °C compared to the fixed outlet, while the buoyancy-tracking system achieved an additional 0.15 to 2.5 °C reduction. The study also introduces a correlation between thermal plume inclination and the Archimedes number, providing a predictive basis for exhaust positioning. Given the similar dispersion patterns of heat and airborne pollutants, the proposed system holds promise for both thermal management and contaminant control in dynamic industrial environments. Furthermore, the system may offer critical advantages in emergency ventilation scenarios involving intense heat or hazardous pollutant outbreaks. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-bde4cf4e73fa44c990dabb6b7429b73a |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2075-5309 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Buildings |
| spelling | doaj-art-bde4cf4e73fa44c990dabb6b7429b73a2025-08-20T02:33:43ZengMDPI AGBuildings2075-53092025-05-011510171910.3390/buildings15101719Enhanced Heat Removal Using Buoyancy-Tracking Exhaust Vents for Moving Heat Sources in Industrial Environments: CFD and Experimental StudyZhongwu Xie0Wei Yin1Xiaoli Hao2Shaobo Zhang3Theofanis Psomas4Torbjörn Lindholm5Lars Ekberg6Building Environment and Energy Application Engineering, School of Civil Engineering, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan 411201, ChinaBuilding Environment and Energy Application Engineering, School of Civil Engineering, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan 411201, ChinaBuilding Environment and Energy Application Engineering, School of Civil Engineering, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan 411201, ChinaBuilding Environment and Energy Application Engineering, School of Civil Engineering, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan 411201, ChinaMeSSO Research Group, Munster Technological University, T12 P928 Cork, IrelandBuilding Services Engineering, Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, 412 96 Gothenburg, SwedenBuilding Services Engineering, Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, 412 96 Gothenburg, SwedenHigh-temperature and high-pollution mobile sources are frequently encountered in industrial environments. Fixed-position exhaust outlets often fail to promptly remove heat and contaminants when these sources are in motion, leading to local accumulation and reduced indoor air quality. This study proposes a novel mobile exhaust system capable of tracking and dynamically aligning with moving emission sources to improve heat removal and cooling efficiency. Three configurations were evaluated: (1) a fixed exhaust outlet, (2) an exhaust vent moving synchronously with the heat source, and (3) a buoyancy-driven tracking exhaust outlet. Small-scale experiments and CFD simulations using dynamic mesh techniques were conducted. The results showed that the synchronous system reduced ambient temperature by an average of 0.25 to 2.3 °C compared to the fixed outlet, while the buoyancy-tracking system achieved an additional 0.15 to 2.5 °C reduction. The study also introduces a correlation between thermal plume inclination and the Archimedes number, providing a predictive basis for exhaust positioning. Given the similar dispersion patterns of heat and airborne pollutants, the proposed system holds promise for both thermal management and contaminant control in dynamic industrial environments. Furthermore, the system may offer critical advantages in emergency ventilation scenarios involving intense heat or hazardous pollutant outbreaks.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/10/1719industrial ventilationhigh-temperature environmentmobile heat sourceexhaust systemscomputational fluid dynamics |
| spellingShingle | Zhongwu Xie Wei Yin Xiaoli Hao Shaobo Zhang Theofanis Psomas Torbjörn Lindholm Lars Ekberg Enhanced Heat Removal Using Buoyancy-Tracking Exhaust Vents for Moving Heat Sources in Industrial Environments: CFD and Experimental Study Buildings industrial ventilation high-temperature environment mobile heat source exhaust systems computational fluid dynamics |
| title | Enhanced Heat Removal Using Buoyancy-Tracking Exhaust Vents for Moving Heat Sources in Industrial Environments: CFD and Experimental Study |
| title_full | Enhanced Heat Removal Using Buoyancy-Tracking Exhaust Vents for Moving Heat Sources in Industrial Environments: CFD and Experimental Study |
| title_fullStr | Enhanced Heat Removal Using Buoyancy-Tracking Exhaust Vents for Moving Heat Sources in Industrial Environments: CFD and Experimental Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Enhanced Heat Removal Using Buoyancy-Tracking Exhaust Vents for Moving Heat Sources in Industrial Environments: CFD and Experimental Study |
| title_short | Enhanced Heat Removal Using Buoyancy-Tracking Exhaust Vents for Moving Heat Sources in Industrial Environments: CFD and Experimental Study |
| title_sort | enhanced heat removal using buoyancy tracking exhaust vents for moving heat sources in industrial environments cfd and experimental study |
| topic | industrial ventilation high-temperature environment mobile heat source exhaust systems computational fluid dynamics |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/10/1719 |
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