Thermodynamics of comfort in buildings

Summary

This course provides an integrated approach to analyzing human thermal comfort and heat exchange by examining the correlation between thermodynamic processes in buildings, human thermoregulation, and the local thermal sensation of occupants.

Content

Keywords

Human thermal comfort, heat transfer, energy and exergy analysis, indoor climate control

Learning Prerequisites

Recommended courses

• General physics: thermodynamics (PHYS-106)
• Building physics (PHYS-118)
• Thermodynamics and energetics (ME-251)

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 local thermal environment and comfort
• Carry out measurements of indoor comfort and energy performance using diagnostic instrumentation
• Take into consideration the effect of various modes of heat transfer on human body

Transversal skills

• Communicate effectively, being understood, including across different languages and cultures.

Teaching methods

Lectures, laboratory sessions, and group work. Two labs are organized in March and May.

Expected student activities

Laboratory measurements at EPFL-Fribourg combined with group work.

Assessment methods

Two lab reports and presentations

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;
• Y. A. Çengel, A. J. Ghajar, Heat and Mass Transfer: Fundamentals and Applications, McGraw Hill Education, 5th edition

Ressources en bibliothèque

• Thermal Comfort / Fanger
• Fundamentals of Engineering Thermodynamcis (8th edition) / Moran, Shapiro, Boettner, Bailey
• Heat and Mass Transfer: Fundamentals and Applications,(5th edition) / Çengel, Ghajar
• Human thermal environments / Parsons

Moodle Link

• https://go.epfl.ch/CIVIL-450

Prerequisite for

Master projects