Diffuse ceiling ventilation

Diffuse ceiling ventilation is a novel ventilation concept where the fresh air is supplied into occupied zone through perforations or slots in the suspended ceiling panels. The large opening area of diffuse ceiling inlet enables the system to supply low temperature air without causing draught. This system has a great potential to make full use of the natural cooling resource of outdoor air, especially in cold and dry climates, such as in Central or Northern Europe. Even though the interest in applying diffuse ceiling ventilation has been growing rapidly, the technical experience in designing the system is still very limited. This article aims to provide an overview of this novel ventilation system in terms of ventilation principle and system characteristics, benefit and limitation, critical design parameters and their impact. Recommendations on designing a diffuse ceiling ventilation system are given at the end.