Flow analysis of condenser cooling air delivery via building light well

The provision of split-type air-conditioners at multi-storey residences is becoming a modern trend in Hong Kong. Building reentrant is so far the most popular location for placing the condensing units. However, heat energy dissipated by these condensing units could significantly degrade the condenser performance, especially for those units at the upper floor levels. An expected better way of placing the condensing units is by providing a plant room at individual domestic flat to house the condensing units. The condenser cooling air is led into the room through an intake louver at an external wall and the leaving air is then discharged to a light well at the building core, or vice versa. This paper reports some current findings based on the numerical approach. Effects of alternative designs are compared.