A study of thermal comfort enhancement using three energy-efficient personalized heating strategies at two low indoor temperatures. (1st October 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Udayraj, ; Li, Ziqi; Ke, Ying; Wang, Faming; Yang, Bin
• Is Part Of: Building and environment. Volume 143(2018)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 14
• Publication Date: 2018-10-01
• Subjects: Thermal comfort -- Electrical heating clothing -- Radiant heating panel -- Heated chair -- Heating floor mattress -- Energy saving; Buildings -- Environmental engineering -- Periodicals; Building -- Research -- Periodicals; Constructions -- Technique de l'environnement -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 696
• DOI: 10.1016/j.buildenv.2018.06.049
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0360-1323

Abstract

Abstract: There is great potential to apply personalized heating for saving energy and enhancing individual thermal comfort in buildings during cold weather. This study investigated the enhancement of thermal comfort of occupants using personalized heating systems at low indoor temperatures. Three personalized heating systems are chosen for this work, i.e., a radiant heating panel with a heated table pad (denoted as HB1), a heated chair with a heated floor mattress (denoted as HB2), and electrical heating clothing (a heated jacket and trousers, denoted as EHC). The effectiveness of three selected heating systems on overall/local body thermal comfort of female occupants under two indoor temperatures of 15 and 18 °C has been investigated. Total energy consumption of these heating systems has also been examined and compared. Thermal acceptability of EHC was better than HB1 and HB2 at both two temperatures. Overall thermal sensation vote (TSV) in EHC was significantly better than that in HB1. Mean skin temperature remained within the thermal comfort range (32–34 °C). In order to achieve thermal comfort on 70% and 80% of the inhabitants at various body parts, local body TSVs should be within −0.43 to 1.87 and −0.36 to 1.87, respectively. Further, EHC consumed <15 W power, which accounts for only 4.4% and 14.8% of the total power consumed by HB1 and HB2, respectively. Based on the evidenced thermal comfort improvement potential and low power consumption in EHC, it is thus recommended to use EHC for the thermal comfort enhancement of inhabitants under low indoor temperatures. Highlights: Performance of 3 personalized heating methods were analyzed for cool indoor conditions. Two hybrid heating strategies and an electrically heated clothing (EHC) were studied. EHC significantly improved thermal comfort of occupants in low indoor temperatures. EHC is an efficient personalized heating strategy with <15 W power consumption. Power consumed by EHC was just 4.4% and 14.8% of the other two heating strategies.