Numerical investigation of general and local thermal comfort of an office equipped with radiant panels

Abstract

Thermal comfort of an office environment is one of the most important factors affecting the performance of employees. One of the systems used in heating and cooling of offices is the radiant system which can create a thermal environment at acceptable levels. In this study, general and local thermal comfort of an office with a dimension of 3 m × 6 m × 3.5 m, where two manikins are positioned next to each other, are numerically studied with the help of computational fluid dynamics. Two different models were created for analyses. In the first model, the panel was placed below a window whereas in the second it was positioned on the ceiling. For each model, analyses were carried out at different temperatures and with different panel heat fluxes. The compliance of the office’s general and local comfort levels with ISO 7730 was evaluated taking into account results of analyses. The calculation revealed that general and local comfort levels for these models were not in compliance with ISO 7730 when the outside temperature was −10°C. However, when the outside temperature was 3.3°C and 10°C, the general and local thermal values of both models were within acceptable limits.