The truth about the Air DiffusionPerformance Index (ADPI).pdfVIP

F O R U M The truth about the   Air Diffusion Performance Index (ADPI) Eddy Rusly, M.AIRAH, and Steven Gagliardini, TROX Australia ABSTRACT The performance of an air distribution system within a room/zone can be rated in terms of ADPI (the Air Diffusion Performance Index). Among the several evaluation methods used to design air distribution systems based on flow rate, sound data, isovels and comfort criteria, the ADPI selection method is quite commonly used. The selection process takes advantage of ADPI’s correlation with the ratio of isothermal throw of the diffuser and the characteristic length of the system in the room. This paper clarifies what ADPI is and is not, what is involved in the selection process and how it fares against the industry standards and benchmarks in ventilation and thermal comfort. Several factors that may potentially cause any deviation to the predicted value of ADPI during the design stage are discussed. The post-installation ADPI that reflects the actual ADPI rating for a space has to be assessed and verified on-site. This on-site measurement should be conducted in accordance with a set of guidelines given in the ASHRAE Standard 113. A detailed CFD analysis can also provide an alternative solution to verify the actual “as built” ADPI rating. INTRODUCTION ADPI is defined as a percentage of the measurements taken within an occupied space where the effective draft temperature When considering the criteria involved in designing an air is between -1.5 and +1K, with the air velocity less than 0.35m/s distribution system, thermal comfort of the occupants may (ASHRAE Fundamentals, 2001). An ADPI of 100% implies