| Available from UMI in association with The British Library.; The present study deals with the evaluation of radiant cooling and heating systems. The conditions necessary for optimal thermal comfort when radiant cooling/heating is used, have been determined. The design conditions of such systems have been compared with existing conventional systems.; In Chapter 1 Introduction, a brief history of heating and cooling is outlined and the reasons for the present investigation are given.; In Chapter 2 Human thermal comfort and response to thermal environment, some background information is provided by referring to other researchers' work on thermal comfort. The factors affecting thermal comfort are examined and the necessary conditions are analysed in a descriptive as well as in an analytical way. Special consideration is given to related factors likely to affect thermal comfort in underfloor cooling/heating conditions, such as floor surface temperature, radiant asymmetry, flooring materials, humidity and radiation exchange. A thermal sensation index is chosen, to be used in the experimental section as an indication of man's thermal sensation in an environment, which may deviate from the optimum.; In Chapter 3, Sources of artifact and bias in experiments with human subjects, the problems associated with human experiments are examined.; In Chapter 4, Experiments, the following experiments are described and analysed: (4.1) Commissioning of experimental facilities. (4.2) Use of Comfort Meter Type 1212 in asymmetric conditions and examination of the effect of local thermal discomfort factors. (4.3) Influence of foot comfort by cold floors with high air temperatures. (4.4) Cooling output from underfloor cooling system. (4.5) Use of computer simulation to evaluate the cooling output for underfloor and wall cooling systems. An original finite elements analysis was used in this work.; In Chapter 5, Conclusions, the conclusions from the previous chapters are drawn and underfloor heating/cooling is compared to conventional heating and cooling systems. Additionally, its implications in national and global scale are discussed.; Finally in the Appendices, appropriate background information is given in a series of appendices at the end of the investigation. |
