scholarly journals A Field Study on Thermal Comfort in Multi-Storey Residential Buildings in the Karst Area of Guilin

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (22) ◽  
pp. 12764
Author(s):  
Xinzhi Gong ◽  
Qinglin Meng ◽  
Yilei Yu
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Comfort ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Thermal Environment ◽  
Thermal Sensation ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Field Investigation ◽  
Karst Area ◽  
City Centre ◽  
Environment Design ◽  
Thermal Environments

It is important to consider reducing energy use while improving occupants’ indoor thermal comfort. The actual thermal comfort needs and demands should be considered to determine the indoor thermal environment design. In previous studies, research has not been carried out on thermal comfort in karst areas. Thus, a long-term field investigation was carried out on multi-storey residential buildings in the karst area of Guilin city centre during summer (from August 2019 to September 2019) and winter (from December 2019 to January 2020). In this study, the indoor thermal environments of three categories of dwellings were analysed. A total of 77 residential buildings with 144 households were randomly selected, and 223 occupants from 18 to 80 years old participated. A total of 414 effective questionnaires were collected from the subjects. The results show that there was an obvious conflict between the predicted mean vote (PMV) and the thermal sensation vote (TSV). The neutrality temperatures calculated by the regression method were 24.2 °C in summer and 16.2 °C in winter. The thermal comfort range was observed at operative temperatures of 20.9–27.5 °C in summer and 12.2–20.1 °C in winter. The desired thermal sensation for people in the Guilin karst area was not always reflected in the thermal neutrality range. A preference for warmness was identified in the survey.

scholarly journals Importance of Behavioral Adjustments for Adaptive Thermal Comfort in a Condominium with HEMS System

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 163-170
Author(s):  
Rajan KC ◽  
Hom Bahadur Rijal ◽  
Masanori Shukuya ◽  
Kazui Yoshida
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Comfort ◽  
Air Temperature ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Thermal Environment ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Outdoor Environment ◽  
Adaptive Behaviors ◽  
Outdoor Air ◽  
Indoor Thermal Environment ◽  
Indoor Thermal Comfort

The energy use in residential dwellings has been increasing due to increasing use of modern electric appliances to make the lifestyle easier, entertaining and better. One of the major purposes of indoor energy use is for improving indoor thermal environment for adjusting thermal comfort. Along with the use of passive means like the use of mechanical devices, the occupants in any dwellings use active means such as the use of natural ventilation, window opening, and clothing adjustment. In fact, the use of active means when the outdoor environment is good enough might be more suitable to improve indoor thermal environment than the use of mechanical air conditioning units, which necessarily require electricity. Therefore, the people in developing countries like Nepal need to understand to what extent the occupants can use active means to manage their own indoor thermal comfort. The use of active means during good outdoor environment might be an effective way to manage increasing energy demand in the future. We have made a field survey on the occupants’ adaptive behaviors for thermal comfort in a Japanese condominium equipped with Home Energy Management System (HEMS). Online questionnaire survey was conducted in a condominium with 356 families from November 2015 to October 2016 to understand the occupants’ behaviors. The number of 17036 votes from 39 families was collected. The indoor air temperature, relative humidity and illuminance were measured at the interval of 2-10 minutes to know indoor thermal environmental conditions. The occupants were found using different active behaviors for thermal comfort adjustments even in rather harsh summer and winter. Around 80% of the occupants surveyed opened windows when the outdoor air temperature was 30⁰C in free running (FR) mode and the clothing insulation was 0.93 clo when the outdoor air temperature was 0⁰C. The result showed that the use of mechanical heating and cooling was not necessarily the first priority to improve indoor thermal environment. Our result along with other results in residential buildings showed that the adaptive behaviors of the occupants are one of the primary ways to adjust indoor thermal comfort. This fact is important in enhancing the energy saving building design.

Thermal comfort analyses of naturally ventilated university classrooms

2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (4/5) ◽  
pp. 427-445 ◽  
Author(s):  
Baharuddin Hamzah ◽  
Muhammad Taufik Ishak ◽  
Syarif Beddu ◽  
Mohammad Yoenus Osman
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Comfort ◽  
Air Temperature ◽  
Thermal Environment ◽  
Thermal Sensation ◽  
National Standard ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Thermal Environments ◽  
Neutral Temperature ◽  
Radiant Temperature ◽  
University Classrooms

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyse thermal comfort and the thermal environment in naturally ventilated classrooms. Specifically, the aims of the study were to identify the thermal environment and thermal comfort of respondents in naturally ventilated university classrooms and compare them with the ASHRAE and Indonesian National Standard (SNI); to check on whether the predicted mean vote (PMV) model is applicable or not for predicting the thermal comfort of occupants in naturally ventilated university classrooms; and to analyse the neutral temperature of occupants in the naturally ventilated university classrooms. Design/methodology/approach The study was carried out at the new campus of Faculty of Engineering, Hasanuddin University, Gowa campus. A number of field surveys, which measured thermal environments, namely, air temperature, mean radiant temperature (MRT), relative humidity, and air velocity, were carried out. The personal activity and clothing properties were also recorded. At the same time, respondents were asked to fill a questionnaire to obtain their thermal sensation votes (TSV) and thermal comfort votes (TCV), thermal preference, and thermal acceptance. A total of 118 respondents participated in the study. Before the survey was conducted, a brief explanation was provided to the participants to ensure that they understood the study objectives and also how to fill in the questionnaires. Findings The results indicated that the surveyed classrooms had higher thermal environments than those specified in the well-known ASHRAE standard and Indonesian National Standard (SNI). However, this condition did not make respondents feel uncomfortable because a large proportion of respondents voted within the comfort zone (+1, 0, and −1). The predictive mean vote using the PMV model was higher than the respondents’ votes either by TSV or by TCV. There was a huge difference between neutral temperature using operative temperature (To) and air temperature (Ta). This difference may have been because of the small value of MRT recorded in the measured classrooms. Originality/value The research shows that the use of the PMV model in predicting thermal comfort in the tropic region might be misleading. This is because PMV mostly overestimates the TSV and TCV of the respondents. People in the tropic region are more tolerant to a higher temperature. On the basis of this finding, there is a need to develop a new thermal comfort model for university classrooms that is particularly optimal for this tropical area.

scholarly journals Evaluation of Thermal Comfort in the Traditional Bourgeoisie Houses in Beirut

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. p1
Author(s):  
Jad Hammoud ◽  
Elise Abi Rached
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Comfort ◽  
Natural Ventilation ◽  
Heat Waves ◽  
Thermal Environment ◽  
Thermal Sensation ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Ventilation System ◽  
Electricity Consumption ◽  
Comfort Level ◽  
Climate Zones

The increasing of energy demands has considerably increased the requirements for new and traditional buildings in different climate zones. Unprecedented heat waves have increased climate temperature, in particular, in moderate climate zones such as Lebanon. In Beirut, only the residential sector consumes 50% of total electricity consumption. HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air conditioning) systems are used to reach acceptable thermal comfort levels in the new residential buildings. In case of the traditional bourgeoisie houses in Beirut, there are no discussions about the use of HVAC systems to achieve the required thermal comfort level. Thus, to reach an acceptable thermal comfort level, these houses which already contain natural ventilation system shall adapt the modern thermal comfort requirements and thermal comfort strategies and technologies where their architectural features and existing materials condition the available solutions. In order to identify the best options within the possible intervention lines (envelopes, passive strategies, equipment, renewable energy systems), it is necessary to perceive the real performance of this type of houses. In this context, the article presents the results of the study of thermal performance and comfort in a three case studies located in Beirut. Detailed field data records collected are analyzed, with a view to identify the indoor thermal environment with respect to outdoor thermal environment in different seasons. Monitoring also included measurement of hygrothermal parameters and surveys of occupant thermal sensation.

Field Survey on Occupant Thermal Comfort of Cold Regions in Transition Season

2013 ◽  
Vol 805-806 ◽  
pp. 1620-1624 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wan Ying Qu
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Comfort ◽  
Air Temperature ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Field Survey ◽  
Thermal Environment ◽  
Thermal Sensation ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Cold Regions ◽  
Indoor Thermal Environment ◽  
Transition Season

A thermal comfort field study was investigated in residential buildings of cold regions in transition season during which the indoor thermal environment conditions are measured, the thermal sensation value of the occupants is questioned and recorded. A seven-point thermal sensation scale was used to evaluate the thermal sensation. The statistical method was used to analyze the data and the conclusions are as follows in transition season: clothing increase in 0.1clo when the indoor air temperature is lowered by 1°C; and clothing will be a corresponding increase in 0.06clo when the outdoor air temperature is lowered by 1°C; clothing also varies with gender, age, weight and thermal history and other related; the measured thermal neutral temperature is 21.3°C; and the minimum accepted temperature is 11.4 °C in transition season in cold regions. Most people choose to change clothes, switch and other passive measures, and occasionally take active measures of heater, electric fans and others.

scholarly journals Thermal Perception in Mild Climate: Adaptive Thermal Models for Schools

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (14) ◽  
pp. 3948 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miguel Ángel Campano ◽  
Samuel Domínguez-Amarillo ◽  
Jesica Fernández-Agüera ◽  
Juan José Sendra
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Comfort ◽  
Natural Ventilation ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Thermal Environment ◽  
Thermal Sensation ◽  
Comfort Level ◽  
Thermal Perception ◽  
Accurate Design ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Autumn And Winter

A comprehensive assessment of indoor environmental conditions is performed on a representative sample of classrooms in schools across southern Spain (Mediterranean climate) to evaluate the thermal comfort level, thermal perception and preference, and the relationship with HVAC systems, with a comparison of seasons and personal clothing. Almost fifty classrooms were studied and around one thousand pool-surveys distributed among their occupants, aged 12 to 17. These measurements were performed during spring, autumn, and winter, considered the most representative periods of use for schools. A new proposed protocol has been developed for the collection and subsequent analysis of data, applying thermal comfort indicators and using the most frequent predictive models, rational (RTC) and adaptive (ATC), for comparison. Cooling is not provided in any of the rooms and natural ventilation is found in most of the spaces during midseasons. Despite the existence of a general heating service in almost all classrooms in the cold period, the use of mechanical ventilation is limited. Heating did not usually provide standard set-point temperatures. However, this did not lead to widespread complaints, as occupants perceive the thermal environment as neutral—varying greatly between users—and show a preference for slightly colder environments. Comparison of these thermal comfort votes and the thermal comfort indicators used showed a better fit of thermal preference over thermal sensation and more reliable results when using regional ATC indicators than the ASHRAE adaptive model. This highlights the significance of inhabitants’ actual thermal perception. These findings provide useful insight for a more accurate design of this type of building, as well as a suitable tool for the improvement of existing spaces, improving the conditions for both comfort and wellbeing in these spaces, as well as providing a better fit of energy use for actual comfort conditions.

Sensory and physiological assessment of spatial transient thermal environment changes at a tropical university campus

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nur Dalilah Dahlan ◽  
Amirhosein Ghaffarianhoseini ◽  
Norhaslina Hassan
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Thermal Comfort ◽  
Air Conditioning ◽  
Thermal Environment ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
University Campus ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Environment Changes ◽  
Thermal Environments ◽  
Transient Thermal

PurposeRecent studies have found that the high demand for air-conditioning usage in tropical countries has affected the thermal adaptability of building occupants to hot weather, and increased building energy consumption. This pilot study aims to investigate the effects of transient thermal environment changes on participants' sensory and physiological responses.Design/methodology/approachThe change of thermal perceptions, skin temperatures and core temperatures when exposed to transient thermal environments (cool-warm-cool) from 10 college-aged female participants during a simulated daily commute by foot to class in a tropical university campus were investigated. Subjective measurements were collected in real-time every 5 min.FindingsThe main finding suggests that participants were acclimatised to cool air-conditioned indoor environments, despite exhibiting significant mean skin temperature differences (p < 0.05). In addition, exposure to uniform air conditioning from 17 to 18°C for 20 min was thermally unacceptable and reduced concentration during given tasks.Research limitations/implicationsThe study focused on thermal comfort conditions in a uniform air-conditioned lecture hall, and the findings may not be applicable for residential and other private building spaces. The distinct temperature difference between indoor and outdoor in the tropical built environment resulted in high dependence on air-conditioning usage. The building occupants' well-being and energy conservation implications of the findings are discussed.Practical implicationsThis study provides the platform for discussion on the dynamics of occupants' comfort level and adopting a more variable thermal environment in tropical spatial transient thermal environments among architects and building management system managers. The findings from this study may contribute to the Malaysian Standards for Energy Efficiency and Use of Renewable Energy for Non-Residential Buildings (MS1525).Originality/valueA knowledge gap in adaptive thermal comfort due to exposure from transient conditions in tropical university campus for energy efficiency revision has been investigated.

Field Investigation of Indoor Thermal Environment and Thermal Adaption of Dalian Residences in Winter

2013 ◽  
Vol 361-363 ◽  
pp. 458-463 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pei Sheng Zhu ◽  
Fei Guo ◽  
Tong Zhu ◽  
Shu Guo Liu
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Comfort ◽  
Thermal Environment ◽  
Thermal Sensation ◽  
Field Investigation ◽  
Adaptation Measures ◽  
Indoor Thermal Environment ◽  
Temperature Range ◽  
Neutral Temperature

To study the thermal environment of Dalian residences, in winter from 2011 to 2012 field investigation were conducted on indoor thermal environment, thermal sensation and adaptation measures. Thermal comfort instrument was used, and 102 subjective questionnaires in 36 families were collected. The acceptability to the thermal environment is 93.2%. The neutral temperature is 20.44°C, and the expected temperature is 20.81°C. 80% of the acceptable temperature range is 17.38-24.28°C. 57% of subjects think it is dry indoor and measures shall be taken for humidification.

scholarly journals Studies of Subjective Sleep Thermal Comfort and Adaptive Behaviors in Chinese Residential Buildings in Nine Cities

2019 ◽  
Vol 111 ◽  
pp. 06049
Author(s):  
Weiping Hong ◽  
Junjie Liu ◽  
Jingjing Pei ◽  
Dayi Lai
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Comfort ◽  
Thermal Environment ◽  
Thermal Sensation ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Heating System ◽  
Adaptive Behaviors ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Air Conditioners ◽  
Central Heating

Sleep thermal comfort greatly impacts the quality of sleep. For residents from different climate regions, their level of sleep thermal comfort may have a large difference due to the variations in climate, and other adaptive factors such as the changes in bedding system insulation, the use of air conditioners, and the opening of windows. To study the thermal comfort and adaptive behaviors of Chinese residents in different regions during sleeping period, this study conducted a long-term survey in nine cities in China from February 2018 to September 2018. For northern residents, they achieved a slight higher than neutral sleep thermal sensation in winter due to the use of central heating system. In summer, the sleep thermal sensation of severe cold (SC) region residents had a significant increase. In the south, although without central heating in winter, southern residents maintained a near neutral thermal sensation, partly because of the high bedding system insulation. Although the summer night outdoor air temperature was high in hot summer and cold winter (HSCW) and hot summer and warm winter (HSWW) regions, the occupants from the two regions actively used the air conditioners to help achieving sleep thermal comfort. The results of this study provide valuable information for designers, researchers, and policy makers to create a comfortable nighttime thermal environment in China.

scholarly journals How Can We Adapt Thermal Comfort for Disabled Patients? A Case Study of French Healthcare Buildings in Summer

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (15) ◽  
pp. 4530
Author(s):  
Youcef Bouzidi ◽  
Zoubayre El Akili ◽  
Antoine Gademer ◽  
Nacef Tazi ◽  
Adil Chahboun
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Comfort ◽  
Thermal Environment ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Linear Regression Analysis ◽  
Environmental Parameters ◽  
Physical Parameters ◽  
Mean Radiant Temperature ◽  
Operative Temperature ◽  
Neutral Temperature ◽  
Radiant Temperature

This paper investigates adaptive thermal comfort during summer in medical residences that are located in the French city of Troyes and managed by the Association of Parents of Disabled Children (APEI). Thermal comfort in these buildings is evaluated using subjective measurements and objective physical parameters. The thermal sensations of respondents were determined by questionnaires, while thermal comfort was estimated using the predicted mean vote (PMV) model. Indoor environmental parameters (relative humidity, mean radiant temperature, air temperature, and air velocity) were measured using a thermal environment sensor during the summer period in July and August 2018. A good correlation was found between operative temperature, mean radiant temperature, and PMV. The neutral temperature was determined by linear regression analysis of the operative temperature and Fanger’s PMV model. The obtained neutral temperature is 23.7 °C. Based on the datasets and questionnaires, the adaptive coefficient α representing patients’ capacity to adapt to heat was found to be 1.261. A strong correlation was also observed between the sequential thermal index n(t) and the adaptive temperature. Finally, a new empirical model of adaptive temperature was developed using the data collected from a longitudinal survey in four residential buildings of APEI in summer, and the obtained adaptive temperature is 25.0 °C with upper and lower limits of 24.7 °C and 25.4 °C.

scholarly journals Field Study Of A Radiant Heating System For Sleep Thermal Comfort And Potential Energy Saving

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher L. K. Wang
Keyword(s):  
Potential Energy ◽  
Thermal Comfort ◽  
Energy Saving ◽  
Energy Savings ◽  
Thermal Environment ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Thermal Conditions ◽  
Heating System ◽  
The Body ◽  
Radiant Temperature

As sleep is unconscious, the traditional definition of thermal comfort with conscious judgment does not apply. In this thesis sleep thermal comfort is defined as the thermal condition which enables sleep to most efficiently rejuvenate the body and mind. A comfort model was developed to stimulate the respective thermal environment required to achieve the desired body thermal conditions and a new infrared sphere method was developed to measure mean radiant temperature. Existing heating conditions according to building code conditions during sleeping hours was calculated to likely overheat a sleeping person and allowed energy saving potential by reducing nighttime heating set points. Experimenting with existing radiantly and forced air heated residential buildings, it was confirmed that thermal environment was too hot for comfortable sleep and that the infrared sphere method shows promise. With the site data, potential energy savings were calculated and around 10% of energy consumption reduction may be achieved during peak heating.

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