Stratification of Heat in Atrium Spaces Kevin Spring

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Stratification of Heat in Atrium SpacesKevin
Spring

• Environmental Technologies III
• Professor Adil Sharag-Eldin Ph.D.

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Goodyear Polymer Center

• Located on the University of Akrons campus in
  Akron Ohio

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Building Information

• Designed by Richard Fleischman Associates
• Constructed in 1990. Finished in 1991
• 146,000 total square feet of space in the
  building
• It is the home of the College of Polymer Science
  and Polymer Engineering
• The building consists of 2 glass towers, one 12
  stories and the other 9 stories.
• They are connected by Atrium spaces between the
  two towers.
• 50 research laboratories
• 3 teaching laboratories, 2
• formal classrooms
• 213-seat Goodyear Tire Rubber

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Area of Interest

• Each tower has a series of Atrium spaces,
  alternating sides and heights.
• 5 story, 4 story, and 3 story and 2 story atriums
  within the building.
• Tops and bottoms are on the same level

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Area of Interest
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Hypothesis

• The mechanical system of the building is
  designed to adequately keep the atrium space at a
  constant temperature through all five floors of
  open lobby and atrium space.

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Testable Hypothesis

• It is inevitable that air will stratify in an
  open volume. This stratification may cause
  unfavorable conditions on upper lobbies of the
  atrium space.

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Research Method

• Weekly visits for six weeks to record temperature
  and relative humidity on all five floors of the
  space
• Comparison to outdoor weather for Akron, Ohio at
  time of visits.
• Hobo data logger for 48 hour period to examine a
  daily cycle.

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Weekly Temperature Readings
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Temperature Comparison
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Hobo Data First Floor
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Hobo Data Fifth Floor
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Conclusion

• The atrium space is kept at a relatively
  constant temperature by the buildings mechanical
  system. However, Stratification of the air in
  the atrium may cause unoccupied lobbies on floors
  two, three, and four to become warm and our
  stuffy.