Development of a Methodology for Assessing Indoor Punctual Thermal Comfort Conditions

Abstract

The assessment of indoor thermal comfort is determined by environmental parameters and indices such as the Predictive Mean Vote (PMV) and the Predictive Percentage of Dissatisfied (PPD). Some software can calculate these parameters, but with some limits. The research presented in this paper is part of the research activity made within the project 'Network 4 Energy Sustainable Transition - NEST' UNIPA. In particular, the topic of the research is the development of innovative methods and devices for monitoring thermal comfort parameters in different zones of indoor environments. It is aimed to identify the best typology, number, and position of sensors used to control heating and cooling system for different zones and to study a control for radiant conditioner systems for the zones. In this light, this paper aims to present a methodology to assess indoor thermal conditions and, in particular able to calculate it in a precise point of the space (i.e. where the user is located), to develop, consequently, a map of the Mean Radiant Temperature (MRT) in different points and to add additional surface with different temperature (e.g. to simulate radiant conditioner systems).