FireDOC Search

Author
Liu, S. T.
Title
Analysis of Thermal Comfort in a Passive Solar Heated Residence.
Coporate
National Bureau of Standards, Washington, DC
Sponsor
Department of Energy, Washington, DC
Report
NBSIR 81-2393
November 1981
Distribution
Available from National Technical Information Service
Keywords
solar heating; residential buildings; comfort; human factors engineering; environmental engineering
Identifiers
trombe walls; passive solar heating systems
Abstract
An analytical investigation was conducted on the thermal comfort conditions in a passive solar heated residence of the popular Trombe Wall configuration. The National Bureau of Standards Load Determination Program (NBSLD) was used to simulate the indoor thermal environment of an actual passive solar residence, using the Typical Meteorological Year (TMY) weather data tape as input at three locations of different climatic conditions. The relevant thermal comfort parameters such as the space air temperature, mean radiant temperatures, operative temperatures, radiant temperature asymmetry, and temperature drifts of the occupied zone, were computed for a prime heating month, a transition month, and a prime cooling month of a typical weather year at the three locations. These parameters were analyzed in accordance with the criteria specified in the recently revised ASHRAE Comfort Standard 55-81.