Low energy cooling for improved thermal comfort in offices

Paper in proceeding, 2007

This study has explored the possibility and potential of using a thermal active mass system for reducing the temperature raise and to increase the thermal comfort in an office room. The Controlled Active Mass (CAM) will be used as a heat sink is aimed to absorb heat from the room in order to increase the thermal comfort. Full-scale measurements have been used to evaluate the temperature, velocity and thermal comfort values, PMV, PPD and the equivalent temperature (Teq). The measurements showed that although the CAM size is relatively small, compared to the office room and the temperature difference between the room air and the temperature of the CAM is rather moderate the influence on the thermal comfort and indoor environment is quite apparent. Especially when the surfaces of the CAM were black the thermal comfort increases. The black CAM gave a larger impact on the indoor air since it was able to absorb more heat from the room surfaces than the polished CAM did. The CAM does not cause any uncomfortable draft and since it’s a low-exergy system it has a large potential for the future.