Experimental evaluation of the micro-environmental control system in maintaining thermal comfort

Meng Kong, Jianshun Zhang, Thong Dang, H. Ezzat Khalifa

Research output: Chapter in Book/Entry/PoemConference contribution

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

The micro-environment in this study refers to the air space and environment around a person that directly impacts his/her thermal sensation. Most existing HVAC systems condition the air of the entire room including the unoccupied space, which leaves a big potential to save energy. This study aims at evaluating the performance of three existing air terminal devices (ATDs) and two heating delivering devices (HDDs) to manage the thermal balance so as not to sacrifice thermal comfort when the ambient unoccupied space temperature is expanded from 21.1-23.9 °C to 18.9-26.1 °C to reduce HVAC load. A 20-segment thermal mannequin was put in a full-scale stainless-steel chamber to test with selected ATDs and HDDs. Results show that all the three ATDs with only 50 W cooling power and the heating mat with a reflective box using 60 W heating power were able to recover the thermal comfort in a room of expanded temperature set-point. The cooling performance of the jet was increased more by increasing the supply airflow rate than reducing the supply air temperature, and 8.0 L/s flow rate could remove more than 15.6 W from the mannequin. A heating mat that heated the feet by conduction was more efficient than the heating bulb, and with 60 W heating power, it could reduce the heat loss from the mannequin by more than 12.2 W.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publication15th Conference of the International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate, INDOOR AIR 2018
PublisherInternational Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate
ISBN (Electronic)9781713826514
StatePublished - 2018
Event15th Conference of the International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate, INDOOR AIR 2018 - Philadelphia, United States
Duration: Jul 22 2018Jul 27 2018

Publication series

Name15th Conference of the International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate, INDOOR AIR 2018

Conference

Conference15th Conference of the International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate, INDOOR AIR 2018
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityPhiladelphia
Period7/22/187/27/18

Keywords

  • Air terminal device
  • Heat balance
  • Heat delivering device
  • Micro-environmental control
  • Thermal comfort

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pollution

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