Field measurements and CFD simulation of a room in an elderly care center in Lithuania to evaluate air quality and thermal comfort

Kaunas University of Technology, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Studentu str. 48, 51367, Kaunas, Lithuania

^* Corresponding author: mantas.dobravalskis@ktu.edu

Abstract

Aging is one of the biggest challenges that our society will face in the next decades to come. Multiple sources predict that the number of elderly people will rapidly increase in a lot of regions around the world. In Europe alone it is estimated that the number of elderly people will increase by up to 5 times in the next 30 years. With a growing number of elderly people, the importance of taking care of them also grows. Therefore, we need to make sure that the conditions they live in are suitable for their specific needs: both comfort vise and health vise.

To evaluate the current situation and issues in elderly care centers field measurements were taken in ECC in Kaunas, Lithuania. During these measurements, data were collected about temperature and relative humidity at multiple rooms in the care center. Gathered data was analyzed and major issues were noticed. The second stage of this study included CFD simulations of one of the rooms that ECC residents live in. Currently, this building only has natural ventilation in all of its rooms. Mechanical ventilation was simulated to see how it would impact air quality and thermal comfort in such rooms. Two main types of ventilation were simulated: mixing ventilation and displacement ventilation. Both methods were compared to natural ventilation and each one was evaluated as a potential solution for solving current issues in elderly care centers. It is also important to make sure that the solution chosen is sustainable and can be widely implemented.