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The passive solar heated school in wallasey. IV. An observational study of the thermal response of a passive school building
Author(s) -
Davies M. G.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
international journal of energy research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.808
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1099-114X
pISSN - 0363-907X
DOI - 10.1002/er.4440100403
Subject(s) - ventilation (architecture) , environmental science , meteorology , atmospheric sciences , enclosure , thermal , thermal comfort , operative temperature , mean radiant temperature , air temperature , climatology , climate change , engineering , geography , physics , geology , telecommunications , oceanography
An observational study on the Wallasey School has demonstrated its ability to maintain in most conditions of climate an equitable indoor climate both in regard to daily mean temperatures and daily variations, through use of solar gain and heat from the lights, and the appropriate control of ventilation. During occupied periods, air temperatures are usually between 17°C in winter and 23°C in sunny summer periods. The room provides a mainly ‘cold wall’ environment. The observational data and a series of model estimates have been compared. The general level of temperature within the building is known to depend strongly on ventilation rate, but since ventilation rate was not measured, steady‐state comparisons as such are not possible. The observed and estimated temperature profiles for air and various surfaces including that of the furnishings during a very sunny period are in broad agreement. Analyses of the transient response of the structure in winter conditions has demonstrated a long response time (several days) describing the response of the enclosure, and a shorter response time of about half a day which describes the rate of settlement of internal temperature differences which may be initially present. Evidence is presented indicating low values for the convective heat transfer coefficient. An autocorrelational technique demonstrates that the thermal ‘memory’ of the classroom is much longer in winter than in summer. The response of the room during occupied and unoccupied periods is broadly similar, but conditions are rather more variable during occupation.