Thermal Comfort Levels in a Room with Solar Radiation

Thermal comfort in occupied spaces is important for building occupants. The thermal sensation they experience is highly correlated to the intensity of solar radiation, orientation of windows, and surface reflectance from the walls. The objective of this study is to predict the changes in thermal comfort levels in a space due to solar radiation during summer time and at different locations inside a room. A box model was used for predicting the mean radiant temperature. The model was based on basic radiant heat transfer theories and shape factors. A measurement was carried out to validate the data derived from the model. The mean radiant temperature was then applied to the Predicted Mean Vote (PMV) and Predicted Percentage of Dissatisfaction (PPD). This study should be useful for optimizing thermal comfort, windows areas, and use of daylight.