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The effect of temperature, metabolic rate and dynamic localized airflow on thermal comfort

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  • Uğursal, Ahmet
  • Culp, Charles H.

Abstract

The conventional approach to thermal environment design is concerned with delivery and distribution of the air inside the spaces rather than designing the airflow patterns to provide comfort in the occupied zone. Air has a relatively low heat capacity and using airflow solely for its energy carrying capacity, and not for its dynamic properties, underutilizes this medium as a thermal comfort factor. However, there is increasing evidence that airflow around the human body provides thermal comfort even in cool temperatures and varying airflow is more effective in providing a cooling sensation than the constant airflow. A human subject test was designed to study the cooling effectiveness of dynamic airflow conditions which was directed to the head, hands and the feet of the people for neutral (23.9°C) and warm (28.3°C) ambient temperatures as well as sedentary (1.2Met) and high metabolic rate (4Met) conditions. The concept of Dynamic Localized Airflow was introduced. Results showed that most subjects were either satisfied with the increased airflow speeds or preferred more airflow in all conditions. Airflow preference did not differ for neutral and warm room temperatures. The 30-s pulsed airflow was more effective in providing a cooling sensation than constant airflow and 60-s pulsed airflow. In addition, the simultaneous head/hands/feet airflow was more effective in providing cooling sensation that the head only airflow. It was concluded at the end of the study that people can tolerate warm room temperatures even in high metabolic conditions provided that airflow is present with a certain pattern around them.

Suggested Citation

  • Uğursal, Ahmet & Culp, Charles H., 2013. "The effect of temperature, metabolic rate and dynamic localized airflow on thermal comfort," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 111(C), pages 64-73.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:111:y:2013:i:c:p:64-73
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2013.04.014
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    Cited by:

    1. Nishant Raj Kapoor & Ashok Kumar & Tabish Alam & Anuj Kumar & Kishor S. Kulkarni & Paolo Blecich, 2021. "A Review on Indoor Environment Quality of Indian School Classrooms," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-43, October.
    2. Łukasz J. Orman & Grzegorz Majewski & Norbert Radek & Jacek Pietraszek, 2022. "Analysis of Thermal Comfort in Intelligent and Traditional Buildings," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-25, September.
    3. Kristian Fabbri & Jacopo Gaspari & Laura Vandi, 2019. "Indoor Thermal Comfort of Pregnant Women in Hospital: A Case Study Evidence," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(23), pages 1-24, November.
    4. Jiying Liu & Shengwei Zhu & Moon Keun Kim & Jelena Srebric, 2019. "A Review of CFD Analysis Methods for Personalized Ventilation (PV) in Indoor Built Environments," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(15), pages 1-33, August.
    5. Wang, Ziyang & Matsuhashi, Ryuji & Onodera, Hiroshi, 2023. "Intrusive and non-intrusive early warning systems for thermal discomfort by analysis of body surface temperature," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 329(C).
    6. Darowicki, K. & Janicka, E. & Mielniczek, M. & Zielinski, A. & Gawel, L. & Mitzel, J. & Hunger, J., 2019. "The influence of dynamic load changes on temporary impedance in hydrogen fuel cells, selection and validation of the electrical equivalent circuit," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 251(C), pages 1-1.
    7. Zheng, Chenxiao & You, Shijun & Zhang, Huan & Zheng, Wandong & Zheng, Xuejing & Ye, Tianzheng & Liu, Zeqin, 2018. "Comparison of air-conditioning systems with bottom-supply and side-supply modes in a typical office room," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 227(C), pages 304-311.
    8. Ghahramani, Ali & Castro, Guillermo & Karvigh, Simin Ahmadi & Becerik-Gerber, Burcin, 2018. "Towards unsupervised learning of thermal comfort using infrared thermography," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 211(C), pages 41-49.
    9. Van Craenendonck, Stijn & Lauriks, Leen & Vuye, Cedric & Kampen, Jarl, 2018. "A review of human thermal comfort experiments in controlled and semi-controlled environments," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 82(P3), pages 3365-3378.

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