Study of Securing Required Ventilation Rates and Improving Mechanical Ventilation Systems for Underground Parking Lots

Abstract

This study presents ventilation guidelines for underground parking lots for building designers. The guidelines are classified into those for natural ventilation and those for mechanical ventilation. CONTAMW was used to study the natural ventilation of underground parking lots. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) was used to study the ventilation efficiency of the mechanical ventilation system. The study results are as follows: 1) Underground parking lots had the lowest seasonal natural ventilation rates in the period between winter and summer when the difference between the indoor and outdoor temperatures was small. 2) In an apartment building, the required ventilation rate for the underground parking lots could be secured for up to 40 parked cars by natural ventilation alone, regardless of season. 3) In business facilities, the required ventilation rate could be secured for up to 38 parked cars when the difference between the indoor and outdoor temperatures was 3°C in the period between winter and summer. 4) In the case of the mechanical ventilation of the underground parking lots, the best ventilation efficiency was observed with a downward air supply system of jet fans in combination with an air supply near the floor and an air exhaust near the ceiling.