Design and demonstration of a prototype thermally active student desk in a modern landmark for personalized cooling retrofits

Abstract

This paper presents the design and evaluation of a prototype thermally active student desk (TASD) for personalized cooling retrofits using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and field experiments. The study first developed an initial conceptual design for a TASD prototype made to esthetically match the desks in an architecture studio in a historic building that is frequently subject to comfort complaints. CFD simulations were used to validate the conceptual design and determine some component and system features. Four functional prototype TASDs for cooling were constructed and tested in the studio space with university students while the rest of the building was maintained at an extended temperature set point. CFD simulations predicted that the percent people of dissatisfied (PPD) would be ≤6% under all simulated scenarios. Surveys of 11 occupants who used the TASD revealed PPD of 9% (1/11), while PPD was 14% (17/120) among participants seated elsewhere in the building. The mean level of satisfaction (LOS) was similar among the two groups and thermal sensation vote (TSV) was slightly lower for the TASD users. This study demonstrates how a personalized conditioning system could be designed and integrated into the existing esthetics of buildings to provide cooling retrofits and potentially save energy.