Measurement and simulation of indoor air quality and energy consumption in two Shanghai office buildings with variable air volume systems

Two modern office buildings in Shanghai with typical variable air volume (VAV) systems were selected for research. Four separate spaces on a standard office floor in each building facing different directions (north, south, east, and west) were selected for thorough site measurements of outdoor airflow rates and indoor air quality (concentrations of CO2 and PM10) during typical days of the four seasons (summer, autumn, winter, spring). Computer simulations and calculations were also done of outdoor airflow rates and CO2 concentrations in the four-test spaces on an hourly basis for the entire year. In addition to the site measurements, monthly electrical consumption for the two buildings was recorded or estimated. Simulations and calculations were performed of the buildings’ energy consumption and energy cost using two different outdoor air control strategies of a typical VAV system as well as a fan coil unit (FCU) system. The site-recorded data, or estimated data, and simulation results are compared and analyzed. The study reveals that in a VAV system, the outdoor airflow rate distributed to each zone varies greatly, especially during part-load hours, making it difficult to always ensure sufficient outdoor air in each zone and avoid indoor air quality (IAQ) problems. However, this problem can be prevented by using appropriate outdoor air control strategies—e.g. a fixed high level total outdoor airflow rate.