Evaluating comfort with varying temperatures : a graphic design tool

A graphic tool is presented in this paper. The daily swings of temperature can be represented on this graph, and this point can be compared with the comfort zones for different activity levels. The graph allows the representation of climatic variables, the definition of comfort zones, the selection of bioclimatic design resources.

Scale model study of airflow performance in a ceiling slot-ventilated enclosure : isothermal condition

The experimental investigation of airflow performance in a ceiling slot-ventilated enclosure under an isothermal condition was the aim of that study. Air-flow characteristics have been analyzed via experimental data then compared to literature theoretical expressions.
The results will be used in design guidelines of ventilation system for controlling indoor environment.

Material properties, room-climate measurements and building history - an interdisciplinary project to set the conditions of restoration and re-use for the fortress of Kufstein, Tyrol, Austria

For the restoration of the historic fortress of Kufstein, the high humidity problems encountered have required special investigations : the capillary water up-take characteristics of the wall stones and identification of the ventilation deficiencies have been studied.
Results show that a controlled ventilation system may help to reduce the problems associated with humidity and condensation.

Building materials VOC emissions - a systematic parametric study

This paper gives the description of a four-factor simulation design and a statistical procedure for analyzing material VOC time sensitivities with regard to the following parameter variations : VOC diffusion coefficient, VOC partition coefficient, material thickness, surface air velocity, along with their interaction effects.

Adaptive comfort temperature model of air-conditioned building in Hong Kong

This paper deals with the results of a large-scale survey performed to develop new notions about ACT (adaptive comfort temperature) in buildings in humid sub-tropical Hong-Kong ; the aim was to determine the adaptive interface relationship between indoor comfort temperature and outdoor air temperature in order to preset the indoor air temperature as a function of the oudoor air temperature.

Numerical prediction of indoor air humidity and its effect on indoor environment

This paper describes a numerical model that takes into account the indoor air moisture and its transport by the airflow, within an enclosure. That model is a potential useful tool for correctly estimating the indoor environment in steady and homogeneous thermal conditions.

A new approach for measuring predicted mean vote (PMV) and standard effective temperature (SET)

An effective sensor for thermal comfort index is necessary for a successful comfort index-based HVAC control system. A comfort sensor with a new structure is proposed in this paper. This instrument consists of an equivalent temperature sensor, a relative humidity sensor and a temperature sensor.
Simulations show that the suggested PMV and SET sensor can have a good measurement of PMV, but for SET more research is needed.

Measurements and computations of contaminant's distribution in an office environment

The dispersion of contaminants in an office environment has been investigated. The first experiment was made in a full-scale typical office equipped with two workstations located in the middle of the room and separated by a low-level partition, and the second experiment took place in a room separated in two halves with a low level partition, with one workstation at each corner. A constant injection of tracer gas allowed the measurement of the concentration of contaminant in the chamber for both the layouts.

The dynamics of comfort and behaviour in buildings

This paper deals with thermal comfort as part of the dynamic interaction between people and their environment. The comfort temperature is continuously changing. The author introduces the idea of an adaptive thermal comfort through an exploration of the results from thermal comfort surveys in that field. Implications of this approach for building is studied along with how existing technologies should be modified or extended to predict energy use and comfort in occupied buildings.

Approche sensorielle du confort thermique. Sensory approach of the thermal comfort

In the EDF comfort-laboratory, realistic environmental chambers have been designed, furnished and decorated like offices and flats. A large panel of representative consumers has been evaluated on their preferences in terms of comfort, in parallel a small panel of trained experts has carried out sensation measurements. Then a correlation between the data of both studies has been used to explain the preferences in terms of sensations (sensation mapping).

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