Prediction of sensory index under non-uniform thermal environment based on heat and moisture transfer and airflow of whole buildings

Many simulation software to predict thermal environment of buildings, such as temperature, humidity, heating and cooling load of building spaces, have been developed. However, most of them do not take into account moisture transfer in wall assemblies. Then, sensory index such as standard new effective temperature is even excluded from calculation. A Heat, Air and Moisture (HAM) simulation software called THERB for HAM has been developed for the purpose of estimating the hygrothermal environment within buildings. This software has complete HAM features including principles of moisture transfer within walls and can estimate temperature, humidity, sensory index ‘COMSET*’ based on hygrothermal balance of human body, and heating/cooling load for multiple zone buildings. In this paper, the prominent features of THERB are highlighted. The calculation accuracy is verified through the comparison with monitoring results of a test house. Furthermore, thermal comfort under non-uniform thermal environment such as floor heating is indicated as the sensory index based on hygrothermal balance of human body in combination with heat and moisture transfer and airflow of whole buildings. Then energy simulation for space heating and floor heating is performed to evaluate energy conservation of both system on the basis of sensory index ‘COMSET*’.