Effect of a novel personal comfort device on occupants’ perceptual responses in three warm indoor environments

Abstract

Personal comfort devices (PCDs) are widely used in air conditioning rooms to improve occupants’ thermal comfort and save energy. However, when used in practical applications, the current PCD has many flaws; for example, it is often based on a single heat transfer mode and covers a small stimulation area, as well as can only be used in a single season. To solve the aforementioned issues, a novel personal comfort device was proposed. Sixteen college students were recruited to investigate the effect of the novel PCD on occupants' perceptual responses at three different room temperatures (26°C, 28°C and 30°C), as well as the temperatures and velocities around the face and abdomen areas. Results showed that using the novel device could provide airflow to the face and abdomen areas at a temperature 2°C cooler than room temperature. At 26°C, 28°C and 30°C, subjects’ overall thermal sensation was reduced by 0.5, 0.75 and 0.8, respectively. Meanwhile, subjects’ overall thermal comfort was significantly improved while allowing them to freely adjust the device’s airflow rate. Eighty-eight percent of subjects accepted a room temperature of 28°C, and almost no dry eye discomfort was reported. At 28°C, the novel device could provide energy-efficient thermal comfort.