Optimization Analysis of Thermal Distribution in a Confined Balcony Space Under Air-Conditioning Outdoor Unit Operation Using Taguchi-Based CFD Simulation
This study analyzes the thermal behavior and airflow characteristics within a confined balcony space under typical hot and humid climatic conditions in Ho Chi Minh City. A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model was developed and numerically assessed through mesh-independence and convergence analyses, incorporating an external air domain to ensure realistic boundary conditions. The Taguchi method, combined with analysis of variance (ANOVA), was employed to evaluate the influence of four key factors: number of outdoor units, installation position, ventilation opening ratio, and ambient wind velocity. The results indicate that the number of outdoor units is the dominant factor affecting the average balcony temperature, contributing the largest variation. Ambient wind velocity has a moderate influence, while installation position and ventilation opening ratio exhibit relatively minor effects. The consistency between Taguchi and ANOVA analyses confirms the reliability of the findings. Based on the signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio analysis using the “smaller-thebetter” criterion, the optimal configuration was identified as A1-B2-C1-D1. A verification simulation showed that the model converged and achieved an average temperature of 304.24 K, significantly lower than in the initial simulation cases. The findings highlight the importance of controlling internal heat sources and optimizing airflow pathways to improve thermal conditions in confined balcony spaces. This study provides practical insights into the design and installation of airconditioning systems in urban residential buildings.