Indoor thermal comfort considerations - human body radiative balance in the presence of corner window systems

摘要

Indoor thermal comfort is a key issue in building design. The most important component of the thermal comfort is considered the indoor air temperature. However, radiative exchange between human body and the surfaces of the enclosure can influence to a significant extent the thermal comfort conditions. This is especially important in the case of indoor spaces with large glazed areas, such as modern office buildings. In such cases, it is essential to understand the heat transfer mechanisms and their weights in the overall energy balance of the thermodynamic system consisting of the human body and the surfaces of the enclosure. The concept of mean radiant temperature was presented and discussed and its implications were interpreted. A procedure and a numerical algorithm were developed allowing quantification of radiative exchange between human body and surfaces of the enclosure for any indoor space configuration and any position of the human body.