Thermodynamics of comfort in buildings

Summary

This course takes an experimental, human-centric approach to thermal comfort. Through laboratory measurements and thermodynamic analysis, students characterize the indoor thermal environment and its coupling with human thermoregulation, informing occupant-centered building design.

Content

Keywords

Human thermal comfort, indoor climate control, occupant-centered building design, heat transfer, energy and exergy analysis, thermoregulation, experimental measurements

Learning Prerequisites

Recommended courses

• General physics: thermodynamics (PHYS-106)
• Building physics (PHYS-118)
• Thermodynamics and energetics (ME-251)
• Energy and comfort in buildings (CIVIL-407)

Important concepts to start the course

Background knowledge in heat transfer

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, the student must be able to:

• Characterize dynamic performance of heating/cooling systems
• Assess / Evaluate spatial and temporal variation of the thermal environment
• Carry out measurements of human comfort using diagnostic instrumentation
• Take into consideration energy performance of building envelope elements
• Perform data analysis and presentation
• Characterize local thermal environment and personalized comfort
• Take into consideration the effect of various modes of heat transfer on human body

Transversal skills

• Write a scientific or technical report.
• Make an oral presentation.
• Plan and carry out activities in a way which makes optimal use of available time and other resources.
• Demonstrate the capacity for critical thinking
• Communicate effectively, being understood, including across different languages and cultures.

Teaching methods

Lectures on the theoretical background, complemented by two immersive laboratory sessions at the EPFL-Fribourg campus (Smart Living Lab), where students perform instrumented measurements of the thermal environment and evaluate subjective comfort. Labs are organized in March and May. Data analysis, interpretation, and reporting are carried out in groups.

Expected student activities

Attend lectures and two laboratory sessions at EPFL-Fribourg. Work in groups of 3-4 (formed by Week 3) to perform measurements, analyze and interpret data, report and present the results.

Assessment methods

Two lab reports (35% each) and two oral presentations (15% each).

Supervision

Resources

Virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI)

No

Bibliography

• Lecture notes (primary source)
• P. O. Fanger, Thermal comfort, Danish Technical Press, 1970
• K. Parsons, Human thermal environments: the effects of hot, moderate, and cold environments on human health, comfort, and performance, CRC Press, 2014
• M. Shukuya, Exergy: Theory and applications in the built environment, Springer, 2013

Ressources en bibliothèque

• Find the references at the Library

Moodle Link

• https://go.epfl.ch/CIVIL-450

Prerequisite for

Master projects