Adjacent heat transfer characteristics and energy efficiency optimization in university classrooms under partial-space heating by a numerical model based on field test

Abstract

Universities’ course timetabling arranged by lecture conditions could cause different occupation schedules in classrooms, resulting in intermittent heating conditions. The adjacent heat transfer contributes to heating energy consumption. A new course timetabling was needed to decrease intermittent heating energy consumption by the reallocation of the adjacent room heat transfer. A university building in Chengdu, China, was chosen to conduct field study and measurement. The dynamic heat transfer between interior walls and its effect on the indoor thermal environment and heating energy consumption were investigated by EnergyPlus. The results showed that: (1) the differences between the heat transfer in adjacent walls under different conditions could exceed 50 %. (2) Increasing the heating synchronization rate, extending the heating duration, and reducing the interval improved the indoor thermal environment and reduced heating energy consumption by 37 %. (3) The recommended timetabling was that the adjacent classrooms both have 4 h of lectures in the morning and afternoon to meet the course demand. Compared with the benchmark, the heating load and carbon emission could be reduced by 40 % and 2.44 kg/h, respectively. The significance of this study is to improve occupant thermal comfort and reduce energy consumption in university buildings through developing educational timetabling.