Evaluating the dynamics of occupancy heat gains in a mid-sized airport terminal through agent-based modelling

• Published in: Building and environment 2021-10, Vol.204, p.108147, Article 108147
• Main Authors: Sinha, Kapil, Ali, Nusrat, Rajasekar, E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agent-based models; Agent-based simulation; Airport terminal; Airport terminals; Airports; Dwell time; Dynamic heat losses; Evaluation; Heat; Heating; Human body; HVAC equipment; Internal heat gain; Latent heat; Occupancy; Passenger flow; Passengers; Terminal buildings; Thermo-physiological model; Transportation terminals
• ISSN: 0360-1323; 1873-684X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.buildenv.2021.108147

The occupancy heat gains of airport terminal buildings are driven by the dynamics of passenger flow. In this paper, we evaluate the heat losses from the human body in a transient state to estimate the sensible and latent loads on the HVAC system. The study pertains to a mid-sized airport terminal building in a tropical wet and dry climate of India. The pattern of passenger movement, service time and discretionary activity choices are evaluated through field measurement and subjective surveys. The sequence of passenger movement, dwell time and occupancy profile at different zones for departure and arrival sequences are estimated through validated agent-based simulations. Transient heat losses from the human body are established through thermo-physiology simulations based on the occupancy dynamics. Hourly sensible and latent heat load profiles of different zones are deduced for different terminal operation periods. The evaporative heat losses from human body varies considerably during passenger transit resulting in significant latent heat gain differences among the zones. Despite lower activity levels in certain zones, latent heat loads from occupancy are higher because of preceding activity sequences. The sensible to latent heat load ratio varies from 0.7:0.3 to 0.52:0.48 across the zones during different operational periods. •Agent-based passenger flow model for estimation of occupant density and occupancy profile validated with field surveys•Estimation of dynamic sensible and latent heat gains through the thermo-physiological model•Mean occupancy in the terminal building is 333 passengers while maximum occupancy is 760 during peak hours.•Latent heat gains varies from 38.15 to 84.5 W/person and sensible to latent heat gains ratio varies from 0.70:0.30 to 0.52:0.48 across different zones