Study on thermal comfort by using an atmospheric pressure dependent predicted mean vote index

• Published in: Building and environment Vol. 206; p. 108370
• Main Authors: Ruivo, Celestino Rodrigues, Gameiro da Silva, Manuel, Broday, Evandro Eduardo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2021; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Air conditioning; Atmospheric pressure; Index of thermal comfort; Indoor environments; Indoor thermal environment; Insulation; Predicted Mean Vote index; Pressure dependence; Relative humidity; Sea level; Software; Software development tools; Thermal comfort; Thermal environments; Index of thermal comfort; Indoor thermal environment; Atmospheric pressure; PMV-P0; Air-conditioning; PMV-PS
• ISSN: 0360-1323; 1873-684X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.buildenv.2021.108370

The thermal environment index Predicted Mean Vote is a descriptor largely applied to evaluate the comfort sensation of people in moderate environments. Software tools based on the Fanger's method have been created and used, which application is limited for the sea level atmospheric pressure. A procedure for estimating the index of thermal comfort of individuals in environments at air pressure different from barometric pressure 0 m of altitude was recently introduced. In present study, indoor air state associated with neutral thermal comfort conditions of individuals in seating activity are predicted for atmospheric pressure values in the range between 65.0 kPa and 101.3 kPa. It was observed that neutral temperature diminishes with the decrease of barometric pressure. Dependencies of index PMV on the activity level, the clothing insulation, relative, air velocity and on relative humidity for two atmospheric pressure values are investigated. It is concluded that the impact of pressure of the environment on the index of thermal comfort must be also considered when sizing an air-conditioning system. •PMV-PS method uses an environment air pressure-sensitive thermal comfort index.•Three correlations for the metabolic rate are considered in present study.•Influence of air pressure on the neutral temperature is investigated.•Not taking into account the altitude effect may lead to wrong sizing of HVAC systems.•PMV-PS method is a useful approach for further investigations.