Thermal destratification in buildings
Encyclopedia
Thermal destratification is the process of mixing the internal air in a building to eliminate stratified layers and achieve temperature equalisation throughout the internal space. It is the reverse of the natural process of thermal stratification
which is the layering of differing (normally rising) air temperatures from floor to ceiling.
can be found over a height of 10 metres on average. In extreme cases, temperature differentials of 10°C have been found over a height of 1m. In a destratified building, temperature differentials can be reduced to 1 - 2°C or less from floor to ceiling.
industry and in heating and cooling for buildings and it has been found that "stratification is the single biggest waste of energy in buildings today." By incorporating thermal destratification into buildings energy requirements are reduced as heating systems are no longer over delivering in order to constantly replace the heat that rises away from the floor area, by redistributing the already heated air from the unoccupied ceiling space back down to floor level, until temperature equalisation is achieved. As a result destratification has great potential for carbon emission reductions due to the reduced energy requirement. This is supported by The Carbon Trust
which recommends destratification in buildings as one its top three methods to reduce carbon dioxide
emissions.
Stratification
Stratification is the building up of layers. Stratified is an adjective referring to the arranging of layers, and is also the past form of the verb stratify, to separate or become separated into layers...
which is the layering of differing (normally rising) air temperatures from floor to ceiling.
Temperature differentials
In a stratified building temperature differentials of up to 10 degrees CelsiusCelsius
Celsius is a scale and unit of measurement for temperature. It is named after the Swedish astronomer Anders Celsius , who developed a similar temperature scale two years before his death...
can be found over a height of 10 metres on average. In extreme cases, temperature differentials of 10°C have been found over a height of 1m. In a destratified building, temperature differentials can be reduced to 1 - 2°C or less from floor to ceiling.
Benefits of destratification
This method has the most benefits through its application in the HVACHVAC
HVAC refers to technology of indoor or automotive environmental comfort. HVAC system design is a major subdiscipline of mechanical engineering, based on the principles of thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and heat transfer...
industry and in heating and cooling for buildings and it has been found that "stratification is the single biggest waste of energy in buildings today." By incorporating thermal destratification into buildings energy requirements are reduced as heating systems are no longer over delivering in order to constantly replace the heat that rises away from the floor area, by redistributing the already heated air from the unoccupied ceiling space back down to floor level, until temperature equalisation is achieved. As a result destratification has great potential for carbon emission reductions due to the reduced energy requirement. This is supported by The Carbon Trust
The Carbon Trust
The Carbon Trust is a not for dividend company limited by guarantee created by the UK government to help businesses and public organisations to reduce their emissions of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, through improved energy efficiency and developing commercial low carbon technology...
which recommends destratification in buildings as one its top three methods to reduce carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide is a naturally occurring chemical compound composed of two oxygen atoms covalently bonded to a single carbon atom...
emissions.