Effect of MRT variation on the energy consumption in a PMV-controlled office

• Published in: Building and environment 2010-09, Vol.45 (9), p.1914-1922
• Main Authors: Kang, Dong Hwa, Mo, Paek Hyoun, Choi, Dong Hee, Song, Seung Yeong, Yeo, Myoung Souk, Kim, Kwang Woo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Energy conservation; Energy consumption; Energy saving; Facades; Mean radiant temperature; Offices; Outdoor; Performance evaluation; PMV; Simulation; Strategy; Thermal comfort; Thermal comfort control
• ISSN: 0360-1323; 1873-684X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.buildenv.2010.02.020

This paper investigates the energy-saving potential of a thermal comfort-controlled office building. A comparative simulation study between the thermal comfort control and conventional thermostatic control is conducted on a building with glass façades where changes in the outdoor temperature and solar radiation over the course of a day affect radiant temperature and thus thermal comfort. To evaluate the thermal performance in the comfort-controlled space, a PMV-based thermal comfort controller, which adjusts the set-point room temperature of the existing thermostatic controller according to the changes of environmental variables, is assumed. The results demonstrate that thermal comfort competes with energy saving in a conventional thermostatic-controlled space. However, it is suggested that thermal comfort control provides consistent thermal comfort as well as energy-saving effect. The results show that energy consumption in a thermal comfort-controlled space is more affected by a change in the mean radiant temperature than in the conventional thermostatic-controlled space. The energy-saving potential in the thermal comfort-controlled space increases with low mean radiant temperature conditions. Although the energy-saving potential is reduced under high mean radiant temperature conditions, it is suggested that thermal comfort control is still a reasonable strategy to achieve both thermal comfort and energy savings simultaneously.