An examination and analysis of residential applications of under floor air distribution systems using a realistic test environment and methodology to assess thermal performance for heating and cooling conditions

Under Floor Air Distribution systems hold significant potential for improving residential heating and cooling efficiency and effectiveness. A versatile, realistic residential UFAD system testbed is essential to research establishing the feasibility and commercial potential for these systems. This research work established an operating testbed and a complete testing and analysis methodology for assessing residential UFAD system thermal performance. The testbed supported experiments examining multiple diffuser configurations under both heating and cooling conditions. This research also examined the potential for integrating numerical methods with experimental data from a realistic residential test facility. Analysis of the collected experimental data showed excellent air distribution performance for nearly all diffuser configurations. Experimental data measured minimal temperature stratification and showed UFAD system heating performance equal to cooling performance. This research established Wyoming's first permanent residential UFAD system test environment supporting a broad range of future research.