Effect of the air supply angle of swirling diffusers on the air diffusion performance index in a vehicle assembly workshop

Airflow improvement in a large industrial building is one of the most effective ways to improve the thermal comfort of workers. Air Diffusion Performance Indices (ADPI) of an industrial workshop area under different air supply angles (15°, 30°, 45°, 60°, 75° and 90° in summer and 90° in winter) of the ceiling-mounted swirling diffusers were evaluated by on-site measurements and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modelling. The measurement data was used to verify the CFD numerical model. The temperature and velocity field of the working area were simulated and analysed under seven operating conditions of swirling diffusers. The findings showed that in summer, the increase of the swirling air supply angle would increase the air velocity. When the air supply angle was larger than 75°, a draughty wind speed (>0.3 m/s) in the local working area, was produced. When the air supply angle was 30°–75°, the indoor design comfortable temperature range (26°C–28°C) was produced. The ADPIs of the workshop were 100% with the air supply angles of 45° and 60° in summer and 90° in winter, respectively. The research findings should provide a reference for improving the airflow organization in the working area of a tall factory building.