Compensation of asymmetric radiant heat loss to cold walls by different heating systems—Analysis with thermal manikin

Abstract

Poor thermal insulation of the external walls often causes thermal comfort complaints in winter due to the local discomfort effect caused by asymmetric heat radiation. There seem to be two solutions for the elimination of this unpleasant local discomfort effect: better insulation of the walls or a more effective kind of heating. In regard of the latter, a series of laboratory tests have been carried out in the Hungarian Institute for Building Science. In the course of the tests, comparisons were made of rooms with one or two outer walls with different insulation capacities (U = 0.6, 0.8, 1.0, and 1.2 Wm−2 K−1) and of the changes in the heat transfer of the human body, with the help of a thermal manikin (ÉTIman), a multimember-type aluminum radiator, a radiant panel, floor heating, and wall heating. The results have definitely proved that radiant heatings (panel, wall, and floor heating) exert a more favourable effect on the heat loss of the human body as compared with the traditional multimember-type heating devices.