Adaptation-based indoor environment control with night natural ventilation in autumn in an office building in a hot-humid area

• Published in: Building and environment 2023-09, Vol.243, p.110702, Article 110702
• Main Authors: Wu, Zhaoji, Zhang, Yufeng, Mai, Jinbo, Wang, Fulin, Zhai, Yongchao, Zhang, Zhongjun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adaptation-based control; Energy efficiency; Hot-humid area; Night ventilation; Thermal adaptation
• ISSN: 0360-1323; 1873-684X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.buildenv.2023.110702

In hot-humid areas, the temperature is high during the daytime in autumn which causes dissatisfactory thermal sensation and large cooling energy consumption. Night ventilation (NV) is an effective method that utilizes lower outdoor temperature at night to pre-cool buildings. Adaptation models are widely accepted physics-based comfort models and are practical for indoor environment control. However, the potential of NV in adaptation-based control has not been fully studied yet. In this study, we proposed a new adaptation-based control with NV towards autumn scenarios in hot-humid areas. We implemented the proposed control based on an existing system and tested its performance in an office building. Three modes, i.e., the conventional mode, the adaptation-based control without NV, and the adaptation-based control with NV, were evaluated and compared. The results showed that compared with the conventional mode, the humid sensation in the adaptation-based control without NV was close to neutral. The airflow perception was stronger. The CO2 concentration was maintained within normal level. The average daily energy consumption was decreased by 76%, but most occupants felt slightly warm. With NV, the indoor air temperature and the mean radiant temperature decreased. The occupants’ thermal sensation was close to neutral. The average daily energy-saving rate increased to 97%. This study was the final step of a series of studies on adaptation-based controls in hot-humid areas. These studies applied theoretical adaptive models to practical on-site controls and demonstrated the potential for improving human comfort and energy efficiency by the proposed adaptation-based controls. •A new adaptation-based smart control with night ventilation (NV) was proposed.•Three control modes were evaluated and compared by field tests in autumn.•The daytime air temperature and mean radiant temperature decreased largely by NV.•More occupants report satisfaction with thermal comfort under the new control.•Adaptation-based control could save up to 97% of cooling energy in autumn.