9/3/2016

PRINCIPLES AND APPLICATIONS OF

BUILDING SCIENCE
MODULE 3: THERMAL COMFORT IN BUILT ENVIRONMENT

Dr. E. RAJASEKAR
Architecture and Planning

Module Contents

 Thermal comfort
 Factors influencing thermal comfort
 Comfort zone
 Thermal comfort models

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Thermal Comfort

 Human body produces heat continuously – metabolic processes

 Heat output – 70W (sleep) – 700 W (heavy physical activity)

 Heat dissipation to environment

 Core-body temperature – 37oC

 Skin temperature – 31oC – 34oC

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M ± Rd ± Cv ± Cd − Ev = ∆S
first proposed by Gagge (1936)

M = metabolic heat production

Rd = net radiation exchange
Cv = convection (incl. respiration)
Cd = conduction
Ev = evaporation (incl. in respiration)
∆ S = change in stored heat

 Ideally, M ± Rd ± Cv ± Cd − Ev = 0 means thermal comfort

 However, as per definition “the condition of mind that expresses

satisfaction with the thermal environment”

 Gives rise to two notions –

a. Physiological
b. Physio-psychological

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Influencing Factors

Environmental Personal Contributing factors

Air temperature Metabolic rate (activity) Food and drink

Air movement Clothing Body shape

Humidity State of health Subcutaneous fat

Radiation Acclimatisation Age and gender

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 Air temperature –
o determines convective heat dissipation
 Air movement –
o accelerates convection;
o alters skin and clothing surface heat transfer coefficient;
o increases evaporation from the skin;
 High humidities –
o restrict evaporation;

A real-time example

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A real-time example

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A real-time example

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Radiation Exchange

 MRT, or mean radiant temperature

o Average temperature of the surrounding surface

elements, each weighted by the solid angle it
subtends at the measurement point

 Cannot be measured directly

Globe thermometer

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MRT = GT + 0.24V0.5(GT-DBT)
(Belding’s formula)

In warm climate with lighter clothing,

2 1
Perceived environmental temperature = 3 𝑀𝑅𝑇 + 3 𝐷𝐵𝑇

In cold climate with heavier clothing,

1 1
Perceived environmental temperature = 2 𝑀𝑅𝑇 + 2 𝐷𝐵𝑇

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Ref.: http://www.labeee.ufsc.br/antigo/arquivos/publicacoes/Thermal_Booklet.pdf

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Personal Factors

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Metabolic Rate
 Energy released by metabolism depends on
muscular activity.

 Metabolism is measured in Met

(1 Met = 58.15 W/m2 body surface).

 Body surface for normal adult is 1.7 m2.

 A sitting person in thermal comfort will have a heat

loss of 100 W.

 Average activity level for the last hour should be

used when evaluating metabolic rate, due to body’s
heat capacity.
Ref.: http://www.labeee.ufsc.br/antigo/arquivos/publicacoes/Thermal_Booklet.pdf

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Insulation in Clothing

• 1 Clo = Insulation value of 0.155 m2 oC/W

Ref.: http://www.labeee.ufsc.br/antigo/arquivos/publicacoes/Thermal_Booklet.pdf

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Comfort Zone

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International Model

Ref.: ASHRAE
standard 55 - 2010

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Indian Model

Ref.: BIS, SP:41

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Indian Model

Ref.: BIS, SP:41

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A worked example – City: Ahmedabad

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Other considerations

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Radiation
Draught Asymmetry

Vertical Air
Temperature Floor
Differences Temperature

Ref.: http://www.labeee.ufsc.br/antigo/arquivos/publicacoes/Thermal_Booklet.pdf

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Radiant Temperature Asymmetry

Ref.: http://www.labeee.ufsc.br/antigo/arquivos/publicacoes/Thermal_Booklet.pdf

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Vertical Air Temperature Differences

Ref.: EN ISO 7730

Ref.: http://www.labeee.ufsc.br/antigo/arquivos/publicacoes/Thermal_Booklet.pdf

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Ref.: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_chill#/media/File:Windchill_effect_en.svg

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Heat Stress

Ref.:
https://www.qpic.qa/PoliciesA
ndRegulations/QPICRLCPro
cedure/old/RLC%20Heat%20
Stress%20Guidelines.pdf

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Thermal comfort models

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Index Ti Tg Va Pv RH Top Tw Met Clo

Wet bulb temperature  
Effective temperature  
Equivalent temperature   
Corrected effective temperature  
Operative temperature  
Resultant temperature  
Heat stress index   
Wet bulb globe temperature   
Index of thermal stress  
Predicted Mean Vote     
Humid operature temperature   
Skin wettedness   
Standard effective temperature   
KSU TSV      
Tropical summer index   

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International Models

Widely revised and used models

 “Two-node model” of the J B Pierce Laboratories (New Haven)
 Fanger’s “comfort equation”

Indian Model

 Tropical Summer Index by CBRI, Roorkee

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Summary of two-node model

Treats heat transfer form core to skin

and then skin to environment

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Fanger’s Predicted Mean Vote

Ref.: EN ISO 7730

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Ref.: EN ISO 7730

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PMV variation in Ahmedabad PMV variation in Chennai

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PMV variation in Chennai

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Tropical Summer Index

𝑻𝑺𝑰 = 𝟎. 𝟑𝟎𝟖 × 𝒕𝒘 + 𝟎. 𝟕𝟒𝟓 × 𝒕𝒈 − 𝟐. 𝟎𝟔 × 𝑽 + 𝟎. 𝟖𝟒𝟏

Where
Tw = wet-bulb temperature (oC)
Tg = globe temperature (oC)
V = air velocity (m/sec)

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RECAP

 Thermal comfort
 Factors influencing thermal comfort
 Comfort zone
 Thermal comfort models

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