Automatic Computation of Local Comfort Conditions in Buildings

Publisher Summary A method for the automatic calculation of local comfort conditions in moderate indoor environment is been described in this chapter. It provides, among its output features, graphical maps of the PMV patterns. The program has been implemented on the commonly used operating system, and is characterized by a friendly usability, even by noncomputer expert users. The output of the code can be obtained not only in a graphical way but also in numerical formats. By using the program in conjunction with computer codes that provide the energy demand for climatization of buildings, it would be possible to evaluate the energy savings achieved in correspondence with the various adopted…

Solar radiation for buildings application: generating data set for mediterranean sites

Integrated analysis of performances of facades for indoor comfort purposes

Some guidelines for a method able to evaluate different physical characteristics of building facades, equipped with glazed surfaces, and of indoor environments in order to attain indoor comfort conditions are proposed. New graphs are introduced, showing at the same time the behaviours of several technical-physical parameters of walls, in order to allow comparative analysis of different design configurations in terms of acoustics, lighting and heat transfer properties. Similar graphs are also constructed with reference to parameters characteristic of indoor environment, in order to allow synthetic analysis of comfort conditions. The method would represent a contribution toward the definition…

PV/T systems: Effect of both storage features and load configuration

PV/T panels are innovative systems increasingly used in the building sector. Their energy production and overall efficiency depend on several factors related to the shares of electrical and thermal loads and to the working temperature of the operating fluid. Therefore, an optimal configuration should be found. In this work, a parametric analysis was performed to provide a contribute on this issue. The conclusive indications can be exploited by designers and researchers, to maximize the efficiency of the systems in relation to configurations and to both electrical and thermal loads. To this purpose a simulation model was designed and implemented in a spreadsheet, using Visual BasicTM functio…

Outdoor Mean Radiant Temperature Estimation: Is the Black-Globe Thermometer Method a Feasible Course of Action?

Urban planning has become one of the crucial action in order to address and mitigate the effect and the consequences of the global warming and it also entails different sectors of the urban context. The survey and control of the outdoor climatic conditions are among the involved sectors and mean radiant temperature is amid the most analyzed parameters. The aim of the paper is to investigate the effective suitability of one of the most used method in the assessment of the mean radiant temperature, namely the globe-thermometer method, in outdoor urban environment, singling out possible shortcomings and actual efficacy. Specifically, data obtained by measurement campaigns performed by means of…

Relationships between pollutant emissions from vehicles and levels of concentrations: a phenomenological approach

The level of air quality in urban centres is affected by emission of several pollutants, mainly coming from the vehicles flowing in their road networks. This is a well known phenomenon that influences the quality of life of people. Despite the deep concern of researchers and technicians, we are far from a total understanding of this phenomenon. On the contrary, the availability of reliable forecasting models would constitute an important tool for administrators in order of assessing suitable actions concerning the transportation policies, public as well private. As matter of fact, the definition of a physical model requires the knowledge of many parameters, involving the running fleet, the …

A new subjective adaptive comfort model based on intelligent agents