New Strategies of HVAC System Design Based on Climatic Effect on Indoor Air Conditions in Buildings of Northwest Spain

摘要

This paper suggests new strategies of HVAC system design and operative parameters based on simulation, real sampled data, tests, questionnaires and climatic conditions. This investigation is based on real data measured in different kinds of typical Spanish buildings like a set of flats, office buildings, museums and schools located in the area of A Coruna, Spain. The purpose of these investigations was to determine the relationship between indoor comfort, energy saving, health effects, materials conservation and work risk prevention as a consequence of parameters like HVAC adjusting, wall materials, indoor air changes and occupants' habits. The general conclusion obtained in flats was that ventilation procedures, under the current levels of occupation, should be modified to keep the relative humidity lower than the maximum recommended of 60%. In spite of this, natural ventilation could be effectively used in keeping both the indoor temperature and humidity, as well as the microbiological load, within acceptable limits. In office buildings, wall coverings showed a clear effect on indoor air conditions as a passive climate control method during the unoccupied period. Buildings with permeable coverings present better indoor comfort conditions and acceptability. Furthermore, this effect improves the energy saving especially during the first hours of occupation. Old schools and museums, with higher thermal inertia, showed better indoor temperature conditions on store zone than new buildings. This effect is a consequence of the clear thermal inertia in old museums, despite the fact that these now incorporate modern air conditioning systems.