Abstract
To evaluate airports' current thermal comfort temperature and humidity were registered in three main Brazilian international airports, other variables were local region climate characteristics and the constructive types of passenger terminal buildings. The Brazilian air transportation demand has considerably grown over the last decade, with some airports reaching their capacity. Thermal discomfort may be a key driver of passenger perceptions of airport service levels, specially under capacity overload situations. Therefore, to achieve airport thermal comfort within this new scenario, and with the imminent and future expansions of the airport system, certainly put extra work on the existing air conditioning systems, consequently increasing energy consumption and its associated costs. Collected temperature and humidity from each study case subsided the data for the psychrometric charts. The evidences showed temperatures below the international standards requirements for thermal comfort levels. These charts also indicated that adequate building types with natural air circulation, provides the best levels of thermal comfort. Results suggest the importance of considering the implementation of a combined system using artificial and natural air conditioning in the planning of future expansions.
Highlights
The thermal comfort conditions were evaluated in three major Brazilian airports, as they reached their capacities and air transportation still grows since the ticket prices are attractive
The data collected provided information for a psychrometric chart, which shows the adequate indoor thermal condition in all three airports and in each season. Such conditions are examined at three international airports of Southeast Brazil: Guarulhos International Airport, Viracopos – Campinas International Airport and Confins – Belo Horizonte International Airport, which had a significant increase in their demand, over 20 % only in the year 2010
The majority of the registers sowed temperatures below the accepted for the winter thermal comfort, according to international standards
Summary
The thermal comfort conditions were evaluated in three major Brazilian airports, as they reached their capacities and air transportation still grows since the ticket prices are attractive. The data collected provided information for a psychrometric chart, which shows the adequate indoor thermal condition in all three airports and in each season. Such conditions are examined at three international airports of Southeast Brazil: Guarulhos International Airport, Viracopos – Campinas International Airport and Confins – Belo Horizonte International Airport, which had a significant increase in their demand, over 20 % only in the year 2010. In a recent study, Meng et al (2009) revealed that the use of about 10% to 30% of natural ventilation for thermal environment inside the airport terminal building can reduce the energy consumption of the air conditioning system from 40% to 60% per year
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