Journal of Advanced Research in Fluid Mechanics and Thermal Sciences 130, Issue 1 (2025) 77-90 77 Journal of Advanced Research in Fluid Mechanics and Thermal Sciences Journal homepage: https://semarakilmu.com.my/journals/index.php/fluid_mechanics_thermal_sciences/index ISSN: 2289-7879 Analysis of Airflow, Thermal Comfort and Energy Efficiency in an Air- Conditioned Sports and Recreation Indoor Stadium Jerry Sung Teck Li 1 , Yeu Yee Lee 1,* , Chong Kok Hing 1 , Charlie Sia Chin Voon 1 , Ngu Chung Hieng 2 1 Faculty of Engineering, Computing and Science, Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus, 93350 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia 2 Jabatan Kerja Raya Sarawak, Wisma Saberkas, Jalan Tun Abang Haji Openg, 93582 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT Article history: Received 29 December 2024 Received in revised form 23 March 2025 Accepted 1 April 2025 Available online 20 April 2025 The thermal dynamics of an air-conditioned indoor stadium are challenging due to internal heat sources and heat gain from the building. An effective air conditioning system is essential for maintaining a comfortable environment. This project investigates occupant comfort and energy efficiency in a sports and recreation stadium in Sarawak, Malaysia. SolidWorks Flow Simulation 2022 and Carrier Hourly Analysis Program v5.11 were used to analyse temperature, airflow, and energy consumption. The stadium can accommodate a maximum capacity of 5,000 occupants. Six simulations were conducted to analyze thermal comfort at different supply air temperatures, using predicted mean vote and percentage of dissatisfied persons. The findings indicate that the selected water-cooled packaged unit achieves a sense of thermal neutrality at a supply air temperature of 19 °C. Meanwhile, the influence of fresh air intake on cooling load and energy consumption was examined. With a 10% fresh air intake, the cooling load is 340.4 tons, or 28.01% of the total energy cost. Increasing the intake to 31% raises the load to 453.2 tons, or 31.30% of the energy cost. At 100% fresh air intake, the cooling load reaches 822.7 tons, accounting for 40.69% of total energy costs. After careful evaluation, a 31% fresh air intake aligns with ASHRAE guidelines, ensuring a balance between ventilation standards and practical airflow at 40,440 CFM. These findings help stakeholders implement efficient air conditioning solutions that enhance occupant comfort and energy efficiency, supporting climate action initiatives. Keywords: Airflow; thermal comfort; energy efficiency; SolidWorks flow simulation 1. Introduction It is imperative to embrace the transition towards green building practices of stadiums due to the significant environmental and societal benefits it offers. By adopting sustainable design, construction, and operation principles, stadiums can minimize their ecological footprint, reduce energy consumption, conserve water resources, and mitigate carbon emissions. Malaysia has high energy demands because its hot climate requires active cooling to maintain comfortable indoor environments [1]. However, this uses a lot of energy, which is a challenge as the country works towards becoming a developed nation. Meanwhile, buildings in Malaysia consume roughly 14.3% of * Corresponding author. E-mail address: yyeu@swinburne.edu.my https://doi.org/10.37934/arfmts.130.1.7790