Based on research results obtained until the FY 2008, the year up to
which “Technical Section on Comfortable Sound Environment of Machines” was
active for attaining human-centered comfortable environment. Our missions
are follows;
1) Development of evaluation methods and research on measures
to achieve comfortable sound and vibration environments for humans.
2)
Technology succession through active exchange with young
researchers/engineers.
3) Provision for a place of information exchange
based on "Participatory Discussion Format" where the discussion involving
professionals from different fields is promoted.
The objective is to develop new numerical methods via research and
information exchange for various problems related to computer simulation in
the field of environmental engineering concentrating on thermal air flow
phenomena. Moreover, the onsite requirements of businesses and offices are
investigated and practical methods are established while elucidating the
possibilities and limitations of numerical methods in actual application.
Although specific research topics are diverse, a certain number of them are
as follows.
1) Standardization of CFD technology for specific problems
2)
Coupling of CFD (micro model) and macro model
3) Urban development using
environmental adjustment function of nature
4) Control and ventilation of
pollutants in street canyons
5) Support for optimum design in air
conditioning fans
6) Investigation of turbulence model for natural
convection field analysis in closed spaces
7) Development of numerical
environmental test laboratory for energy save housing
Smartification and Zero Energy Building (ZEB) are familiar terms. The
large-scale energy systems that those words describe demand optimum design
and management. The operational behavior of these systems should further be
grasped as an integrated composition of different physical phenomenon;
however, finding an experimental approach to analyze this operational
behavior is very difficult and an integrated numerical analysis can
definitely be useful.
This numerical analysis does not need to be a detailed
mathematical model that elucidates individual physical phenomenon based on
hydrodynamics and thermodynamics, but a mathematical model matched to the
scale of each system. In this case, if only simple mathematical models are
used in system simulation, it leads to unreasonable results.
Therefore,
considering the simulation accuracy required from integrated numerical
analysis, this study group has tried to unify and generalize a mathematical
model that covers each element as well as the entire system.
Absorption/adsorption chillers and desiccant air conditioning systems are major technologies that use absorption or adsorption phenomena for energy efficient and environmentally benign systems. To upgrade these technologies and to expand it in wider fields, it is important to build a framework of interdisciplinary research and development including fundamentals of absorption/adsorption phenomena, system design and control, etc. In this context, the research group aims to create the next generation energy and environmental control technologies, which use absorption/adsorption as a key phenomenon. The activities include case studies, investigations on advanced technologies, discussion among engineers and researchers in material development and analysis, heat exchanger technologies, refrigeration and air conditioning systems, energy storage and transportation, system simulation and optimization.
The Technical Section on Energy and Environment Working Fluids focuses on analytical and experimental techniques to evaluate various fluids, such as refrigerants/working-fluids, CO2 absorbents, hydrogen, bio-fuels, and hydrates. Although these fluids are important in environmental engineering, it is difficult to include extensive research requirements for numerous substances and various applications. We aim to discuss and assemble these technologies to observe common technical concepts to enhance our research activities.