Optimizing air inlet designs for enhanced natural ventilation in indoor substations: A numerical modelling and CFD simulation study

Journal article


Zhang, H., Wang, L., Yang, P., Liu, Y., Zhu, C., Wang, L. and Zhong, H. (2024). Optimizing air inlet designs for enhanced natural ventilation in indoor substations: A numerical modelling and CFD simulation study. Case Studies in Thermal Engineering. 59, p. 104408. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.csite.2024.104408
AuthorsZhang, H., Wang, L., Yang, P., Liu, Y., Zhu, C., Wang, L. and Zhong, H.
Abstract

This paper investigates the ventilation and heat dissipation performance of a 110 kV indoor substation under natural ventilation conditions using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The objectives are to evaluate the influences of air inlet design parameters including location and size, and transformer load, on the airflow distribution, temperature field, and cooling efficiency. The study finds that staggered opposite inlets optimize cooling uniformity without airflow attenuation. Compared to a single inlet, the maximum transformer temperature is reduced by 1.3 °C and energy utilization increases by 9.1 % with staggered inlets. Increasing the inlet length ratio initially improves cooling until an optimal point (The length ratio is 1.10), while reducing the inlet height ratio decreases airflow and efficiency. With load increasing, the intake airflow rises but at a reduced rate, and the temperature difference can exceed 15 °C under high loads. In summary, optimizing inlet design enhances natural ventilation performance in indoor substations, but limitations exist at high loads, indicating supplemental mechanical ventilation may be required.

KeywordsComputational fluid dynamics; Numerical simulation; Indoor substation cooling; Natural ventilation; Heat dissipation; Air inlet design
Year2024
JournalCase Studies in Thermal Engineering
Journal citation59, p. 104408
PublisherElsevier
ISSN2214-157X
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.csite.2024.104408
Web address (URL)https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214157X24004398?via%3Dihub
Publication dates
Online07 May 2024
Publication process dates
Accepted16 Apr 2024
Deposited31 May 2024
Publisher's version
License
File Access Level
Open
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