| Computational techniques are an important tool of research for Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) analyses. The two approaches commonly adapted are the Multizone approach and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) approach. Both of these approaches are invaluable in their contributions towards indoor air research.;The primary objective of this thesis was to design an effective technique for coupling the two models, multizone and CFD and implement this technique in a parametric study to determine the suitability of this approach in specific areas of indoor air research.;As a preliminary step to designing this powerful design tool, an in-depth study of the two models was conducted. Several critical areas of application were identified for the two models. PHOENICS performed better when the airflow characteristics were dependent on local influences such as location of flow obstacles, contaminant sources, etc. CONTAM was unable to identify such variations in the intrazonal structure. But CONTAM remains the dominant model in the coupled analysis due to its global approach of analyzing the indoor air quality. Hence the focus of this thesis is to enhance the predicting capabilities of CONTAM so that it is better suited to analyze the details of the indoor environment.;Finally, a technique was developed to enhance the simulating capabilities of the multizone model by incorporating critical data from the CFD model that improved the CONTAM predictions in specific areas of IAQ analysis where the local influences from zones dominate the flow characteristics of occupied spaces. |
