Variation of Mean Radiant Temperature in Rooms for Summer and Winter Conditions

Abstract

The standard for ergonomics of the thermal environment provides information on the calculation of optimal thermal comfort. Operative temperature (OT) is one of the essential elements of thermal comfort and is a function of air temperature, mean radiant temperature (MRT), and air velocity. This paper investigates the impact of diverse influences on MRT in an office room based on occupant position and posture (seated and standing). A comparative simulation study of the varied thermal transmittance (U-value) of the only external wall with a window in an office room depending on the wide-ranging outdoor temperature is conducted in the MATLAB tool Simulink. The air temperature and air velocity are assumed according to the standards, and the MRT is simulated. The angle factors, U-value of walls/windows, occupant position, occupant posture, and outdoor temperature are the critical parameters that affect MRT. The results show varied responses from MRT for each of the five outdoor temperature scenarios simulated for three types of exterior walls. Seated occupants have equal MRT, whereas standing occupants have minor discrepancies when exposed to a window at the same distance in all outdoor scenarios. When the placement of occupants is not equally exposed to the window, the seated occupants have a higher MRT difference than the standing occupants.