Journal of Korean Institute of Architectural Sustainable Environment and Building Systems ISSN:1976-6483(Print) 2586-0666(Online) 한국건축친환경설비학회논문집

Although natural ventilation is effective in improving indoor air quality in the intermediate season, its effect can be reduced if single-sided ventilation is applied to the room with much depth. In this case, interior zones can suffer from the insufficient ventilation rate, which can result in poor indoor air quality and occupants’ discomfort. This problem may be solved by implementing air circulators, which can diffuse the air in the perimeter zone into the entire space. In this context, the impact of air circulators on the ventilation performance and thermal environment was investigated through field measurement in a lecture room. Air circulators were combined with the mechanical ventilation (energy recovery ventilator) and natural ventilation. Measurement results showed that the air circulator can reduce CO2 concentration by enhancing air diffusion in the entire space, when it is combined with the natural ventilation. In addition, it was found that the combination of air circulators and natural ventilation is effective in providing thermal comfort by increasing air speed, particularly during the intermediate season when the outdoor temperature is relatively high. It can be concluded that the air circulator can be utilized to supplement the single-sided natural ventilation for the room with much depth.