Thermal Comfort Flashcards
What are two types of Themal Comfort Modeling?
The Static Model (PMV)
The Adaptive Model
What is the definition of thermal comfort?
Themal comfort can be defined as a state of mind where one expresses satisfaction with the thermal environment
Why is thermal comfort important?
Comfort and Wellbeing
Performance and productivity
Building energy use
What temperature does the body like to be kept at?
Internal 37C
>37 hyperthermia
<34 Hypothermia
Quantitative factors that affect thermal comfort?
Air Temp
Mean Radiant Temp
Air Velocity
Humidity
Activity Level
Clothing
What is Mets?
Metabolic Equivalent of task
Sed <1.6 METS
light 1.6 - 3
moderate 3 - 6
Vigorous 6 - 9
high >9
How do we calculate mean radiant temp?
Average temp of surrounding surfaces relative to view factor.
Globe temp in position of person.
What is thermal comfort?
Thermal comfort is the condition in which a person is not feeling too hot or too cold, i.e., thermal neutrality. However, it is subjective as different people have different levels of sensitivity.
Why is thermal comfort important?
Thermal comfort is important for comfort and well-being, performance and productivity, and building energy consumption.
What is the human body’s core temperature, and why is it important for thermal comfort?
The human body’s core temperature is about 37°C. Maintaining this temperature is crucial for thermal comfort. Overheating (>37°C) can lead to hyperthermia, while underheating (<34°C) can lead to hypothermia.
What are the factors that affect thermal sensation?
The factors that affect thermal sensation include air temperature, mean radiant temperature, air velocity, humidity, activity level, and clothing.
What is the PMV model, and how does it work?
The PMV model is a static model used for the assessment of thermal comfort and thermal sensation. It employs six quantitative factors, including air temperature, mean radiant temperature, air velocity, humidity, activity level, and clothing, to predict the thermal sensation of people.
What are the conditions for thermal comfort?
Thermal comfort is achieved when the rate of heat storage, S = 0. Heat balance is achieved under different combinations of the factors that affect thermal sensation.
What are some of the indices used to determine and predict the thermal sensation of people?
Some of the indices used to determine and predict the thermal sensation of people include air temperature, operative temperature, globe temperature, wet bulb globe temperature, predicted mean vote, humidex, and universal thermal climate index.
What is the steady-state model, and how does it differ from the adaptive model?
The steady-state model, also known as the heat balance model, is a model for establishing thermal comfort. It predicts the thermal sensation of people based on the thermal balance between the human body and the surrounding environment. It does not consider the dynamic human adaptation and responses to surrounding climatic conditions, which is the focus of the adaptive model.
