Recirculation refers to a phenomenon when discharge air from the outdoor unit is drawn back

into the suction.

Air recirculation results in

 Decrease in the efficiency

 Reduced capacity
 May cause unit to shut down on fault
 Shortened lifespan of the outdoor unit

FCA85CVMA + RZAV85CV1 : Sky Air

Air deflectors can be used to divert discharge air

 Up
 Down
 Left
 Right

Disclaimer: The software simulations are intended to assist in computer-aided design and the document is not intended to be a substitute for sound professional engineering judgement, independent design analysis, or independent testing of physical prototypes for product safety and use 2
 CONTENTS
4
EXTENDED 5
EXTENDED + SOLID WALLS 6
EXTENDED + LOUVRED WALLS 7
AIR DEFLECTORS 8
RAISED 9
RAISED + AIR DEFLECTORS 10
GROUPED 11

12
RECESSED 13
RECESSED + MESH FLOORS 14
FLUSH 15
EXTENDED 16
CORNER 17

SUMMARY 19
CFD ANALYSIS GUIDELINES 20

OUTDOOR
Investigation and visualisation into the
airflow performance of various side
discharging outdoor plantroom layouts

3
ROOFTOP

Disclaimer: The software simulations are intended to assist in computer-aided design and the document is not intended to be a substitute for sound professional engineering judgement, independent design analysis, or independent testing of physical prototypes for product safety and use 4
 Notice for the rows with back-to-back
units, the ambient air only enters the
suction side of the units through a small
channel on either ends of the row.

A recommended layout This allows for only a limited number of

as per the engineering units having access to the ambient air.
data book shows this 3x3
arrangement.

Simulation Model

This simulation explores

the potential outcomes
when extending the
above arrangement
beyond the Units in this arrangement which are not
recommended 3x3 layout. close to the row-ends tend to suffer from
recirculation of discharge air.

Top View

Disclaimer: The software simulations are intended to assist in computer-aided design and the document is not intended to be a substitute for sound professional engineering judgement, independent design analysis, or independent testing of physical prototypes for product safety and use 5
 The rows with back-to-back units tend to
suffer more from air recirculation.
Simulation Model

Discharge air from the units on the row

ends tend to get trapped within the solid
A simulation was walls causing air recirculation
performed to investigate
the effects of adding solid
walls to the extended
plant model.

Side View
The units on left column are discharging
directly to the solid wall causing discharge
Surrounding walls are air to rise up after hitting the wall.
modelled as same height
as the units. Ambient air is forced to mix with the
discharge before it reaches the suction
Top View side of the units.

Disclaimer: The software simulations are intended to assist in computer-aided design and the document is not intended to be a substitute for sound professional engineering judgement, independent design analysis, or independent testing of physical prototypes for product safety and use 6
 Simulation Model

Adding louvres instead of solid walls

reduces the amount of discharge air
The following simulation
bouncing back from the walls.
investigates effects of
adding louvred walls to
the extended plant model.

Side View

Louvred walls are For the rows with back-to-back units,

modelled as same height ambient air is forced to mix with the
as the units. discharge before it reaches the suction
side of the units.
Top View

Disclaimer: The software simulations are intended to assist in computer-aided design and the document is not intended to be a substitute for sound professional engineering judgement, independent design analysis, or independent testing of physical prototypes for product safety and use 7
 Simulation Model

A simulation was
performed to investigate
the effects of adding air
deflectors (discharged
upwards) to the extended
plant model.

Side View

With this arrangement where air

deflectors direct discharge upwards, a
greater amount of discharge air is lifted
from the plant space along with
assistance of buoyancy resulting in some
reduction in recirculation.
Top View

Disclaimer: The software simulations are intended to assist in computer-aided design and the document is not intended to be a substitute for sound professional engineering judgement, independent design analysis, or independent testing of physical prototypes for product safety and use 8
 Having an arrangement where the units
Simulation Model
are raised, there is some reduction in
recirculation when compared to the
extended arrangement.

The following simulation

investigates effects of
raising the units on to a
perforated platform.

Side View

Allowing for an air path underneath likely

decreases the chance of recirculation.

Top View

Disclaimer: The software simulations are intended to assist in computer-aided design and the document is not intended to be a substitute for sound professional engineering judgement, independent design analysis, or independent testing of physical prototypes for product safety and use 9
 Combining both the raised perforated
platform along with air deflectors in this
arrangement results in discharge air being
assisted away from the plant space as
Simulation Model
well as creating a path beneath the units
for ambient air to reach the suction side
of the units.

The following simulation

is modelled with units on
a perforated raised
platform and air deflectors
directing discharge air
upwards.

Side View

The separation of discharge air and

suction air is more clearly defined in this
arrangement.
Top View

Disclaimer: The software simulations are intended to assist in computer-aided design and the document is not intended to be a substitute for sound professional engineering judgement, independent design analysis, or independent testing of physical prototypes for product safety and use 10
 This grouped arrangement reduces the
maximum length of each row with the
Simulation Model
result that each unit is closer to the row
ends where there is access to ambient
air.

The units are now

grouped in shorter rows
The blanking walls stop the discharge air
with blanking walls at
from recirculating at the row-ends.
the ends of each row
group.

Air deflectors also assist in directing the

discharge air away from the plant space.
BLANKING
WALLS

Top View

Air deflectors directing air

upwards are also included
in this model.

Disclaimer: The software simulations are intended to assist in computer-aided design and the document is not intended to be a substitute for sound professional engineering judgement, independent design analysis, or independent testing of physical prototypes for product safety and use 11
FLOOR BY FLOOR

Disclaimer: The software simulations are intended to assist in computer-aided design and the document is not intended to be a substitute for sound professional engineering judgement, independent design analysis, or independent testing of physical prototypes for product safety and use 12
 Simulation Model

This model investigates

AIR MIXING ZONE
the airflow of a
floor-by-floor plantroom
arrangement.
In a recessed floor by floor arrangement
the ambient air is forced to mix with the
In this study the discharge air before it reaches the suction
plantrooms contain 4 side of the units.
units per floor recessed
into the building with a This mixing causes the suction air to
Top View
louvre at the face of the increase in temperature.
plantroom.
Additionally for floor by floor
arrangements there will often be a stack
effect where the temperatures increase
with each successive level up.

RECESSED
PLANTROOM

PLANTROOMS RECESSED

Disclaimer: The software simulations are intended to assist in computer-aided design and the document is not intended to be a substitute for sound professional engineering judgement, independent design analysis, or independent testing of physical prototypes for product safety and use 13
 Simulation Model

This plantroom is
identical to the recessed
plantroom arrangement
When solid plantroom floors are
except that now the solid
exchanged for mesh floors, the suction
floors have been replaced air from each unit is drawn from the front
with perforated mesh of the plantroom as well as below.
floors.

Top View This means that a portion of the discharge

air from each unit likely recirculates to the
suction side of the unit above.

RECESSED
PLANTROOM +
MESH FLOORS

PLANTROOMS RECESSED

Disclaimer: The software simulations are intended to assist in computer-aided design and the document is not intended to be a substitute for sound professional engineering judgement, independent design analysis, or independent testing of physical prototypes for product safety and use 14
 In a flush floor by floor arrangement the
ambient air is forced to mix with the
discharge air before it reaches the suction
PLANTROOMS
FLUSHED side of the units.

Simulation Model This mixing zone would typically be

smaller than in a recessed arrangement
but still causes the suction air to increase
in temperature.
This model is identical to
the previous recessed
model but has been
pushed forward so that
the plantroom is now
flush with the building Depending on the spacing between the
facade. units and the plantroom side walls, there
may be enough ambient air entering the
Top View
plantroom on the lower levels without
excessive mixing with discharge air.

FLUSH AIR MIXING ZONE

PLANTROOM

AMBIENT AIR PATH

Disclaimer: The software simulations are intended to assist in computer-aided design and the document is not intended to be a substitute for sound professional engineering judgement, independent design analysis, or independent testing of physical prototypes for product safety and use 15
 AMBIENT AIR PATH
Simulation Model

AIR MIXING ZONE

This model has the
plantroom of the flush
arrangement but with the
plantroom extended
further beyond the
In an extended floor by floor arrangement
envelope of the building.
the ambient air is allowed to enter
through the sides of the plantroom
without mixing with the discharge air.

Top View

The stacking effect is also reduced with

Louvres are included on this arrangement.
all the walls of the
plantroom which extend
beyond the envelope of
the building.

EXTENDED
PLANTROOM

PLANTROOMS EXTENDED

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 CORNER
PLANTROOMS
Simulation Model

The plantroom in this

model has been shifted
to the corner of the
building allowing for 2
In a corner floor by floor arrangement the
adjacent plantroom walls
ambient air is allowed to enter through
to be full height louvred
the side of the plantroom with maximum
walls.
separation with the discharge air.
Top View

The stacking effect is also reduced with

this arrangement.

CORNER
PLANTROOM

Disclaimer: The software simulations are intended to assist in computer-aided design and the document is not intended to be a substitute for sound professional engineering judgement, independent design analysis, or independent testing of physical prototypes for product safety and use 17
ROOFTOP FLOOR BY FLOOR

* Results displayed in charts are specific to the models selected,

conditions set as well as the building and plantroom dimensions
amongst other inputs

Disclaimer: The software simulations are intended to assist in computer-aided design and the document is not intended to be a substitute for sound professional engineering judgement, independent design analysis, or independent testing of physical prototypes for product safety and use 18
 SUMMARY
 When designing a plantroom, key thing to look for is to have separate
paths for discharge and suction air.
 Increase in suction temperature of a condenser unit reduces capacity of
the unit and also decreases the Energy Efficiency Ratio.
 If suction temperature of a condenser unit is beyond its maximum
operation limit, the unit may shut down on fault.
 Up to 3 degrees of increase in cooling or decrease in heating compared to
the ambient i.e. 20% of air recirculation is a best practice.
 Figure 1 shows the discharge and suction air pathways are both through
the front of the plantroom meaning a possibility of air recirculation.
 Figure 2 shows the discharge air and suction air paths are completely Figure 1. Same path for Discharge and Fresh Air Intake
separated meaning less chance for recirculation.
 Service space guide from the EDB cannot be simply extrapolated to get
same results.
 Installation of air deflectors can help to divert discharge air up, down, left or
right to avoid recirculation.
 These layout studies are for airflow analysis only, for minimum clearance &
service space requirements, refer to EDB & installation manual.
 Side discharge units with ESP less than 10 Pa may not be suitable for
ducting designs.
 If ESP is not supplied in the engineering databook, assume ESP is less than
10 Pa.
 Contact your account manager if unsure of ESP for the units or if you
require a CFD service.

Figure 2. Separate path for Discharge and Fresh Air Intake

Disclaimer: The software simulations are intended to assist in computer-aided design and the document is not intended to be a substitute for sound professional engineering judgement, independent design analysis, or independent testing of physical prototypes for product safety and use 19
 CFD Analysis Guidelines
 The computational analysis is provided as a complimentary
service to project designers.
 Daikin does not provide an outdoor plant layout design
service.

Minimum Required Information

 Project name or reference.

 Project location.
 Outdoor plant plan.
 Outdoor plant section.
 Model and quantity identification

Notes
 The anticipated return period is ten business days however
this will depend on waiting lists and workload.

Disclaimer: The software simulations are intended to assist in computer-aided design and the document is not intended to be a substitute for sound professional engineering judgement, independent design analysis, or independent testing of physical prototypes for product safety and use 20