Thermodynamics of comfort in buildings
Summary
This course provides an integrated approach to analyzing indoor human thermal comfort by examining the correlation between the outdoor environment, thermodynamic processes in buildings, human thermoregulation, and the local thermal sensation of occupants.
Content
- Overview of the heat exchange between humans and the environment
- Definition of indoor thermal comfort, its requirements, and objective characterization
- Thermal conditioning in buildings, heating and cooling people, emission systems
- Integrated analysis of indoor thermal environment using actual data from lab measurement
Keywords
Human thermal comfort, ergonomics of indoor environment, indoor climatization, heat transfer, energy
Learning Prerequisites
Required courses
- Building energetics (ENG-445)
Recommended courses
- General physics: thermodynamics (PHYS-106)
- Building physics (PHYS-118)
- Thermodynamics and energetics (ME-251)
- Comfort and architecture: sustainable strategies (AR-442)
Important concepts to start the course
Heat transfer, human comfort
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, the student must be able to:
- Characterize local thermal environment and comfort
- Assess / Evaluate energy expenditure to provide indoor 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
- Perform data analysis and presentation
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 and laboratory activities
Expected student activities
Laboratory measurements, group work
Assessment methods
2 lab reports and presentations (50% + 50%)
Supervision
| Office hours | No |
| Assistants | Yes |
| Forum | No |
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
Prerequisite for
Master projects
In the programs
- Semester: Spring
- Exam form: During the semester (summer session)
- Subject examined: Thermodynamics of comfort in buildings
- Courses: 1 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Exercises: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Type: optional
- Semester: Spring
- Exam form: During the semester (summer session)
- Subject examined: Thermodynamics of comfort in buildings
- Courses: 1 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Exercises: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Type: optional
- Semester: Spring
- Exam form: During the semester (summer session)
- Subject examined: Thermodynamics of comfort in buildings
- Courses: 1 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Exercises: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Type: optional
- Semester: Spring
- Exam form: During the semester (summer session)
- Subject examined: Thermodynamics of comfort in buildings
- Courses: 1 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Exercises: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Type: optional
- Semester: Spring
- Exam form: During the semester (summer session)
- Subject examined: Thermodynamics of comfort in buildings
- Courses: 1 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Exercises: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Type: optional
- Semester: Spring
- Exam form: During the semester (summer session)
- Subject examined: Thermodynamics of comfort in buildings
- Courses: 1 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Exercises: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Type: optional