Moisture movement: A study using tracer gas techniques and CFD modelling

Abstract

The moisture distribution within a space and the degree to which moisture movement can be modelled using tracer gas techniques and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models are examined. The validity of these methods to study moisture migration is examined experimentally in an environmental two-zone test chamber. It is found that molecular diffusion plays a very small role in airborne moisture movement. Thus airborne moisture migration is primarily affected by air movement. The major influences are the shape of the buoyant plume and the position of air supply and extract in relation to the moisture source location.