Defence of dissertation in the field of HVAC technology, Sami Lestinen, M.Sc. (Tech)

The public examination of the doctoral dissertation of Sami Lestinen, M.Sc. (Tech), will be held on 21 December 2018 at 12.00 at the Aalto University School of Engineering. The title of the dissertation is Indoor airflow characteristics under increased heat load conditions. Field of the dissertation is energy technology, HVAC technology.

A healthy, comfortable and intelligent indoor environment is a key objective in comprehensive well-being. This is also a main target of advanced HVAC technology. The major challenge in ventilation is to provide occupants with clean air for breathing and maintain their thermal comfort.

This study explores indoor airflow characteristics and air movement under the different heat load conditions. The objective was to create a physical basis for characterising indoor airflows and to observe interaction of heat loads and air distribution. This is important, because large-scale airflows have considerable effects on human thermal perception. In addition, the airflow characteristics can be used to assess air velocity conditions while optimising thermal environment and well-being indoors.

The study provided new knowledge by conducting laboratory and field measurements. Numerical modeling was performed to generate detailed data from indoor climate under the given boundary conditions. The study suggests to control airflows at workstations by conducting personalised technology and interior architecture. In large enclosures, the ventilation performance have to be analysed carefully before commissioning. Further research is necessary for advanced ventilation systems and personalised control while evolving healthy and comfortable indoor environments in the future.

Opponents: Professor Pawel Wargocki, Technical University of Denmark, Denmark, and  Professor Ilinca Nastase, Technical University of Civil Engineering of Bucharest, Romania

Supervisor: Professor Risto Kosonen, Aalto University School of Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering

Electronic dissertation: https://aaltodoc.aalto.fi/handle/123456789/49

Doctoral candidate’s contact information:Sami Lestinen, [email protected]