Ventilation mode effect on thermal comfort in a mixed mode building

Jungsoo Kim,Paul Cooper,Richard De Dear,Thomas Parkinson,Federico Tartarini

doi:10.1088/1757-899x/609/4/042029

Abstract

Between 2017 and 2018, we conducted a longitudinal field experiment in a mixed-mode ventilation building located in Wollongong Australia, with a particular focus on occupant thermal comfort and adaptive behaviour. This study investigated how different building operation modes i.e. air-conditioning (AC) and natural ventilation (NV), can have an impact on occupant perception of thermal comfort. Time-and-place matching of objective (physically measured indoor climate parameters, outdoor meteorological data, and building operational information) and subjective data (i.e. occupant survey questionnaires) enabled empirical investigation of the relationships between those parameters. The result of the analysis revealed that subjective perception of indoor thermal environment can be affected by different modes of building operation. Occupants were found to be more tolerant of, or adaptive to, the indoor thermal conditions when the building was in the NV mode of operation compared to the AC operational mode. The applicability of the adaptive comfort standard to the mixed-mode ventilation context was also discussed.

Highlights

The mixed-mode (MM) building operation, which integrates both natural and mechanical ventilation strategies, is deemed as an alternative to the centralised HVAC approach for both comfort [1] and energy efficiency [2]
The result of the analysis revealed that subjective perception of indoor thermal environment can be affected by different modes of building operation
Since its inclusion in ASHRAE Standard 55, a relaxed thermal comfort zone promoted by the adaptive model has permitted design and operational approaches to rely more on passive strategies, contributing to the reduction of energy used for space heating and cooling in the building sector

Summary

Introduction

The mixed-mode (MM) building operation, which integrates both natural and mechanical ventilation strategies, is deemed as an alternative to the centralised HVAC approach for both comfort [1] and energy efficiency [2]. Since its inclusion in ASHRAE Standard 55 (from the 2004 version), a relaxed thermal comfort zone promoted by the adaptive model has permitted design and operational approaches to rely more on passive strategies, contributing to the reduction of energy used for space heating and cooling in the building sector. Despite its profound energy implications, ASHRAE Standard 55’s explicit restriction on the adaptive model’s scope of application may discourage energy-efficient design and operation approaches Previous research in this domain finds that the mode of operation can affect users’ comfort responses [5], and suggests that the adaptive model is applicable during NV operation of MM buildings [6,7].

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Results

Conclusion