Open AccessStudy on air-conditioning control system considering individual thermal sensation
Author(s) -
Kimito Tanaka,
Kyoko Wada,
Takuro Kikuchi,
Hiroki Kawakami,
Kouji Tanaka,
Hiroaki Takai
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
iop conference series. earth and environmental science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1755-1307
pISSN - 1755-1315
DOI - 10.1088/1755-1315/294/1/012066
Subject(s) - thermal sensation , thermal comfort , air conditioning , productivity , control (management) , thermal , environmental control system , architectural engineering , variance (accounting) , simulation , environmental science , computer science , automotive engineering , engineering , meteorology , business , mechanical engineering , artificial intelligence , geography , accounting , economics , macroeconomics
Increased satisfaction with thermal environments in office significantly affects workplace productivity. Conventional air-conditioning systems are intended to achieve a uniform thermal environment across the entire air-conditioned space. However, due to differences in thermal sensation among individuals, it is difficult to improve occupants’ thermal satisfaction merely by providing a uniform thermal environment. In this study, we developed an air-conditioning system called the Smart Wellness Control System with the aim of realizing air conditioning that responds to individual variance in thermal satisfaction. The system collects data from sensors about the locations of individual occupants and the thermal environments to which they are exposed, records this data together with their votes on their thermal sensation, and modifies and learns their comfort indices accordingly to control the speeds of personal fans and the air temperature setting. We conducted a questionnaire survey of occupants in an actual office building equipped with this system; the results indicated that use of the Smart Wellness Control System increased their satisfaction with the thermal environment by about 50% and increased their productivity by about 25%.