Thermal Comfort and Perceived Air Quality (Paq) Using Automatic Ceiling Fans in Residential Buildings

25 Pages Posted: 14 Aug 2024

See all articles by Akshit Gupta

Akshit Gupta

Eurac Research - Institute for Renewable Energy

Giulia Torriani

Eurac Research - Institute for Renewable Energy; University of Trento - Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering

Simone Torresin

Eurac Research - Institute for Renewable Energy; University of Trento - Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering

Lorenza Pistore

Ca’ Foscari University of Venice - Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics; R2M Solution s.r.l.

Matteo Pellegatti

Eurac Research - Institute for Renewable Energy; University of Ferrara - Department of Engineering

Lucia Piazza

Ca’ Foscari University of Venice - Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics

Fabrizio Miorin

Vortice Elettrosociali S.p.A.

Wilmer Pasut

Ca’ Foscari University of Venice - Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics

Annamaria Belleri

Eurac Research - Institute for Renewable Energy

Roberto Lollini

Eurac Research - Institute for Renewable Energy

Francesco Babich

Eurac Research - Institute for Renewable Energy

Abstract

In a warming climate, resilient and low-energy methods for cooling the occupants are needed to ensure energy efficient and adaptive thermal comfort. Air movement, particularly through ceiling fans, is an effective way to provide comfort in warm conditions, potentially minimizing or even avoiding the need for more energy-intensive air conditioning systems. While several studies have provided evidence on the cooling potential of elevated air speed in various climate conditions and office settings, little attention has been paid to the method of air delivery and its automatic control in residential buildings. Considering the need for energy-efficient cooling solutions to achieve plus energy buildings, and the growing expectations for smart systems, this study demonstrates how automatic ceiling fans can effectively reduce cooling needs. This study aims to validate an algorithm for automatically adapting ceiling fan speed based on room thermal conditions, focusing on subjective thermal satisfaction and perceived air quality (PAQ). A comprehensive environmental chamber study was conducted with 30 participants across three different indoor air temperatures conditions (27°C, 29°C and 31°C). Participants provided feedback on thermal satisfaction and IAQ perception for four fan operational modes: Automatic (downward flow), Manual Direct (downward flow), Manual Reverse (upward flow), and Off. The automatic operation achieved comfort levels comparable to manual control, with no statistically significant differences in thermal satisfaction. Direct flow mode (downward) significantly outperformed reverse flow mode in thermal satisfaction, especially at higher temperatures (31°C). Air movement improved perceived air quality in fan On modes compared to fan Off condition across all temperatures. These findings validate the effectiveness of the automatic control algorithm in maintaining thermal satisfaction and highlight the performance of direct flow mode, particularly at higher temperatures. In the face of climate change challenges, this study contributes to the development of resilient and smart personalised control systems for cooling in residential environments.

Keywords: Personalized Environmental Control Systems (PECS), Ceiling Fans, thermal comfort, Perceived Air Quality, Automatic Control, Technologies for Plus Energy Buildings

Suggested Citation

Gupta, Akshit and Torriani, Giulia and Torresin, Simone and Pistore, Lorenza and Pellegatti, Matteo and Piazza, Lucia and Miorin, Fabrizio and Pasut, Wilmer and Belleri, Annamaria and Lollini, Roberto and Babich, Francesco, Thermal Comfort and Perceived Air Quality (Paq) Using Automatic Ceiling Fans in Residential Buildings. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4926202

Akshit Gupta (Contact Author)

Eurac Research - Institute for Renewable Energy ( email )

Bolzano
Italy

Giulia Torriani

Eurac Research - Institute for Renewable Energy ( email )

Bolzano
Italy

University of Trento - Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering ( email )

Italy

Simone Torresin

Eurac Research - Institute for Renewable Energy ( email )

Bolzano
Italy

University of Trento - Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering ( email )

Italy

Lorenza Pistore

Ca’ Foscari University of Venice - Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics ( email )

Venice
Italy

R2M Solution s.r.l. ( email )

Italy

Matteo Pellegatti

Eurac Research - Institute for Renewable Energy ( email )

Bolzano
Italy

University of Ferrara - Department of Engineering ( email )

Ferrara, 44122
Italy

Lucia Piazza

Ca’ Foscari University of Venice - Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics ( email )

Venice
Italy

Fabrizio Miorin

Vortice Elettrosociali S.p.A. ( email )

Milano
Italy

Wilmer Pasut

Ca’ Foscari University of Venice - Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics ( email )

Venice
Italy

Annamaria Belleri

Eurac Research - Institute for Renewable Energy ( email )

Bolzano
Italy

Roberto Lollini

Eurac Research - Institute for Renewable Energy ( email )

Bolzano
Italy

Francesco Babich

Eurac Research - Institute for Renewable Energy ( email )

Bolzano
Italy

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