Analysis of Airflow, Thermal Comfort and Energy Efficiency in an Air-Conditioned Sports and Recreation Indoor Stadium

The thermal dynamics of an air-conditioned indoor stadium are challenging due to internal heat sources and heat gain from the building. An effective air conditioning system is essential for maintaining a comfortable environment. This project investigates occupant comfort and energy efficiency in a sports and recreation stadium in Sarawak, Malaysia. SolidWorks Flow Simulation 2022 and Carrier Hourly Analysis Program v5.11 were used to analyse temperature, airflow, and energy consumption. The stadium can accommodate a maximum capacity of 5,000 occupants. Six simulations were conducted to analyze thermal comfort at different supply air temperatures, using predicted mean vote and percentage of dissatisfied persons. The findings indicate that the selected water-cooled packaged unit achieves a sense of thermal neutrality at a supply air temperature of 19 °C. Meanwhile, the influence of fresh air intake on cooling load and energy consumption was examined. With a 10% fresh air intake, the cooling load is 340.4 tons, or 28.01% of the total energy cost. Increasing the intake to 31% raises the load to 453.2 tons, or 31.30% of the energy cost. At 100% fresh air intake, the cooling load reaches 822.7 tons, accounting for 40.69% of total energy costs. After careful evaluation, a 31% fresh air intake aligns with ASHRAE guidelines, ensuring a balance between ventilation standards and practical airflow at 40,440 CFM. These findings help stakeholders implement efficient air conditioning solutions that enhance occupant comfort and energy efficiency, supporting climate action initiatives.