CFD Validation and Verification of Airflow Characteristics in Indoor Swimming Pool

Abstract

This research examines the impact of air curtain flows on heat and mass transfer within an indoor swimming pool facility, which plays a crucial role in providing both thermal comfort and hygiene. The study utilizes computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations, employing a commercial software package, ANSYS Fluent 17.2, to solve governing equations for energy, species transport, and turbulence closure through the k-epsilon model. A total of over 5.6 million mesh elements were used to generate comprehensive and accurate predictions of flow regimes. The geometry of a semi-Olympic pool located at Bishop's University in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada, with a coarsely trapezoidal shape and dimensions of 34.5 m x 25 m x 8 m, was modeled using SpaceClaim 3D software. The impact of the number and location of ventilation and air conditioning supply was also considered. Results were validated against OpenFOAM software, indicating good agreement. The research provides valuable insights into the effects of air curtain flows on indoor pool environments, which can inform the design and operation of air conditioning systems for indoor pools.