Abstract
This paper presents a comparative study of a clean technology based on a DSF (double skin facade) used in winter conditions in the occupied buildings comfort improvement, namely the thermal comfort and air quality. The performance of a solar DSF system, the building’s thermal response, the internal thermal comfort and the internal air quality are evaluated. In this study, a DSF system, an air transport system and a HVAC (heating, ventilating and air conditioning) system based on mixing ventilation are used. The study considers a virtual chamber occupied by eight persons and equipped, in the outside environment, by three DSFs. A new horary pre-programming control methodology is developed and applied when the airflow rate is constant and the number of DSFs to operate is variable, when the airflow rate is variable and the number of DSFs to operate is constant and when the airflow rate is variable and the number of DSFs to operate is variable. This work uses a numerical model that simulates the integral building thermal behavior and an integral human thermal response. The internal air, provided by a mixing ventilating system, is warmed using the DSF system. The air temperature inside the DSF system and the virtual chamber, the thermal comfort level using the PMV index, the internal air quality using the carbon dioxide concentration and the uncomfortable hours are calculated for winter conditions. The results obtained show that the energy produced in the DSF, using solar radiation, guarantees acceptable thermal comfort conditions in the morning and in the afternoon. The indoor air quality obtained at the breathing level is acceptable. It is found that the airflow rate to be used is more decisive than the DSF operating methodology. However, when a solution is chosen that combines a ventilation rate with the number of DSF to operate, both variables throughout the day can obtain simultaneously better results for indoor air quality and thermal comfort according to the standards.
Highlights
Double skin facades (DSFs) are constructive elements that can be found more and more in buildings that have surroundings with large glass surfaces
In summer conditions, DSFs, through shading devices incorporated in them, allow the overheating of these compartments to be prevented by limiting the incident solar radiation [3]
The main idea of the DSF system is to heat the virtual chamber so that the occupants are thermally comfortable with an acceptable internal air quality level
Summary
Double skin facades (DSFs) are constructive elements that can be found more and more in buildings that have surroundings with large glass surfaces. This type of architectural option presents several aspects that brings benefits in terms of sound insulation, visual comfort, thermal comfort and energy savings [1]. The DSF is constituted by two panes (“skins”) separated by a ventilated air channel with two openings, at the top and bottom of the facade.
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