Papers by Keyword: Thermal Comfort

Abstract: This research works’ objective is to observe the workers’ productivity by measuring the physiology and psychology based on the environment provided — the multivariate analysis presented to review the value of the significant data using JMP 11. Analysis of Variants and Bivariate Analysis then used to understand the cause-effect of the result gained. Result from of physiology that record the subject skin temperature and heart rate first analyze to break down the relationship between the environment to the body. Psychology test relating to the overall environment and their bodily feeling is questioned to the subject. The result then is analyzed using a scatter diagram and boxplot to observe its consistency. Four levels of air temperature and three levels of humidity were set in the room designed as a climate chamber for the respondent of who role as workers. The physiology result shows that the skin temperature and heart rate was the most significance that reacts to the air temperature, following up by the concentration level. Meanwhile, the physiology and psychology test consistently reveal that tropical natives highly react to hot temperature than colder temperature by agreeing to the label of uncomforted or dissatisfied and inform that the air temperature around 22°C. to 28°C. is suited for working productivity in the office in a hot-humid climate.

Abstract: This paper presents a study on the thermal conductivity of fiberboards designed to find a proper board that would be applicable for heat-conditioned building walls. Fibers produced from forestry by-products processing, such as teak (tectona grandis), meranti ( HYPERLINK "https://id.wikipedia.org/w/index.phptitle=Shorea_acuminata&action=edit&redlink=1" \o "Shorea acuminata (halaman belum tersedia)" shorea acuminata), bayur (pterospermum javanicum) and also from agriculture by-products such as rice husk and rice bran, were then used as the materials prepared for the filler. Results showed that thermal conductivity of the board panel with such fibers were 0.0217 kW/m°C, 0.0330 kW/m°C, 0.0287 kW/m°C, 0.0253 kW/m°C and 0.0423 kW/m°C, respectively. Fiberboard panel with teak fiber as filler had the lowest thermal conductivity. It therefore could be used to significantly reduce the rate of heat transfer in such wall.

Abstract: This work focuses on the numerical investigation of different modes of heat exchangebetween the habitat and its environment in an extremely hot climate to optimize thermal comfort.Notably, to optimize habitable comfort, it is essential to model the solar flux and the temperatureabsorbed by the habitat walls. In this context, we have developed an analytical model to predict heatexchange for a habitat in the Adrar region. The heat transfer equations have been established in eachwall of the habitat. These equations were discretized by the finite difference method and solvedusing the Gauss algorithm. The models developed were validated with climatic data measured in theresearch unit ''URER'MS'' in Adrar. The results obtained showed that building materials andextreme weather conditions were the decisive parameters of unwanted overheating.

Abstract: The present contribution, reports on the results of ongoing research efforts on performance assessment of a number of buildings designed by the Austrian architect, Konrad Frey. He is a pioneer of energy-efficient architecture, and his designs, those dating back to the 1970s, adapted the principles of modern solar houses. The current study focuses on the Kindergarten Hart, which was especially designed focusing on the availability of cross ventilation option in building. For the purpose of analyzing thermal comfort, indoor air quality, and the occupants’ adaptive actions with respect to natural ventilation, we conducted long-term monitoring under summer and winter conditions. The monitoring efforts covered indoor and outdoor environmental conditions, as well as the state of windows. Thereby, study of the monitored dataset provides a better understanding of the building performance. Moreover, it makes it possible to examine whether the architect’s expectations in terms of thermal comfort and indoor air quality levels are fulfilled or not. In addition, investigation of the occupants’ interactions with windows, together with indoor and outdoor environmental conditions, assists understanding of possible associations between the window opening/closing and environmental parameters, as well as potential optimization of the control-oriented actions.

Abstract: Man requires a thermal environment that is within the range of his adaptive capacity and if this fluctuates outside the normal, a reaction is required beyond its adaptive capacity which results to health challenges. Therefore, the aim of building design in the tropical region is to minimize the heat gain indoors and enhance evaporative cooling of the occupants of the space so as to achieve thermal comfort. In most cases, the passive technologies are not adequate in moderating indoor climate for human comfort thereby relying on active energy technique to provide the needed comfort for the building users. The need for the use of vegetation as a panacea for achieving comfortable indoor thermal conditions in housing is recognised by architects globally. However, the practice by architects in Nigeria is still at the lower ebb. The thrust of this paper therefore is to examine the impact of vegetation in solar control reducing thermal discomfort in housing thereby enhancing the energy performance of the buildings. Using secondary data, the paper identifies the benefits of vegetation in and around buildings to include improvement of indoor air quality through the aesthetics quality of the environment and concludes that vegetation in and around building will in no small measure contributes to saving energy consumption.

Abstract: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the Thermal comfort of the Thai elderly in air-conditioned space. The quantitative evaluation was conducted using 163 senior participants while recording their expressed satisfaction within the thermal environment in four public health service buildings in Phitsanulok Province, Thailand. It revealed that for the Thai elderly, the Predicted Mean Vote could not be used to identify the Thermal Sensation Vote. In addition, the results of this study indicated that personal factors, such as gender, age, and underlying disease correlating affect their Thermal Sensation Vote. Perhaps most significantly, a coincidental finding was that the thermal sensation of the Thai elderly was strongly dependent upon the condition of the occupant’s metabolic syndrome, which belonged to the Non-Communicable Disease group. This study assumed that in the elderly, the metabolic syndrome might have an effect on their metabolic rate (as one of the six factors of thermal comfort). In terms of the environmental factors, the on-site environmental data was collected via field works. It found that the air-conditioned spaces had mean radiant temperatures of 23.20-31.40 °C, this condition would make seniors feel comfortable if the thermal environment in the study areas were controlled: air temperature 23.00-27.80 °C, relative humidity 54.00-73.00% and air velocity 0.08-0.72 m/s. However, some elderly wanted to change this thermal environment to either cooler (10.68%) or warmer (4.85%). Therefore, it should be further study to find the proper thermal environment for covering the most of the seniors in Thailand.

Abstract: In the context of energy economy and thermal comfort, phase change materials (PCMs) have many useful applications. In this study, type A zeolite was tested as a matrix for impregnating obtaining a PCM-impregnated zeolite. A sample of type A zeolite was analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF). The porosity was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy. Following that, an apparatus was mounted for vacuum impregnation to incorporate calcium chloride hexahydrate (CaCl₂.6H₂O), which is a PCM, in the pores of the zeolite. The impregnation and the retention of the phase change material in zeolites were assessed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) on the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA) to simulate thermal cycles testing to determine the thermal behavior of the compound. The results of the XRD and FTIR analyses showed that CaCl₂.6H₂O remains in the zeolite phase after the impregnation and the thermal cycling performed on the material shows that there is a positive influence on the thermal behavior of the impregnated material. Varying the amount of the studied PCM between 0 and 30 wt%, different grout boards were constructed. The thermal behavior of the PCM-impregnated zeolite compared to the reference material (pure zeolite) showed an effective temperature difference (38.1 to 33.9 °C), which can lead to significant energy savings.

Abstract: Integrating phase change materials (PCM) with building envelopes is an effective way to reduce the cooling or heating loads, improve indoor thermal comfort and save building energy consumptions. In this paper, the heat transfer model of building envelopes with shape stabilized PCM is established and the optimal phase change temperature and enthalpy of PCM for internal walls are determined. Moreover, different PCM locations in external walls are compared based on the evaluation index of integrated uncomfortable degree. The results shows that to improve indoor thermal comfort, it is preferable to put the PCM in the middle of external wall. It also indicates that the overall integrated uncomfortable degree in a whole year decreases with increasing thickness of the inserted shape stabilized PCM plate. This work is of great significance in guiding the optimization design of building envelopes with PCM for practical applications.

Abstract: This paper focuses on the analysis of thermal comfort in a flat in the new high residential building. Providing the optimal parameters of thermal comfort in each room of the flat is the basic prerequisite for the satisfaction with housing. Incorrect position and size of heating elements, incorrect positioning of the furniture and incorrect use of residential interiors may significantly disturb the thermal comfort. Residential areas in the new residential buildings are much more intensively used as in the other types of buildings. Surface of new flats is the most optimized. Experimental measurements were carried out in the winter season in 2016 in the residential rooms of the large flat in the new high residential building. Device Testo 480 with temperature and humidity sensor, globe thermometer and turbulence sensor was used for the measurements. Obtained values of air temperature, air relative humidity, air velocity, globe temperature and indexes PMV, PPD are presented in the graphs. Heating system of the flat and the possibility of its regulation, positioning and size of the heating elements in the individual rooms, positioning of the furniture and the utilization of rooms were evaluated on the basis of parameters of thermal comfort. In the conclusion of the paper, there are principles on the architectural design of the residential interiors and their heating in the new residential buildings.

Abstract: The provision of comfortable indoor conditions is widely considered as one of the key tasks of architecture. Hereby, different climatic regions require different concepts for the operation of buildings. Achieving thermal comfort in buildings in hot and humid regions without Air-Conditioning can be considered as a challenging task. In this context we present a monitoring study of the indoor conditions in a new prototype building, called the Zero Carbon Resort Demonstration Cottage. This building was designed according to passive cooling principles with the intent to reach a high degree of sustainability and to have little environmental impact. To explore the viability of this concept, we deployed a comprehensive monitoring of the outdoor conditions via a weather station and of the indoor conditions via air temperature and relative humidity sensors. Moreover, short-term monitoring of thermal comfort was conducted. In a first analysis step we compared the results of the indoor monitoring with the corresponding outdoor measurements. In a second step we conducted a standardized thermal comfort study. Thereby we considered the special circumstances of the thermal comfort in naturally ventilated buildings. Results suggest that acceptable indoor conditions can be maintained, if passive cooling methods are applied properly.