Computation Fluid Dynamics Modeling of Tiny House Ventilation for the Evaluation of Indoor Air Quality

The 'Tiny House' (TH) is a class of residential construction with floor areas less than 400 ft(2)(37 m(2)). The design of THs pose certain unique challenges for maintaining appropriate indoor environmental quality and resultant energy consumption that have not been previously researched. This research focuses on the evaluation of the Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) of a 187 ft(2) (17 m(2)) TH constructed on Montana State University's campus, by utilizing Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). The objectives of this research are to evaluate the effectiveness of the ventilation system that is currently implemented in the TH. The effectiveness of the ventilation system is evaluated by simulating cooking activities within the house and by observing the resultant particulate distribution. Physical measurements of the TH were used to create a virtual model in which cooking events could be simulated and the distribution of particulates could be evaluated. The parameters necessary to construct an accurate model, such as food particle mass, were obtained via literature reviews and used as inputs for the COMSOL software being used to complete the modeling. Results from the experiment will be used to inform recommendations for appropriate ventilation systems and ventilation rates to ensure adequate IAQ in THs. Results indicate that a higher volumetric flow rate, larger vent (to keep a reasonable velocity), and increased proximity of the vent to the cooking surface are needed to effectively remove cooking particulates in the current TH.