Dynamic thermal sensation in PDEC buildings.

In buildings with passive downdraught evaporative cooling (PDEC), occupants are subjected to environmental conditions which might be characterised by elevated relative humidities, increased air speeds, and time-varying internal conditions. A new physiological model which describes the human thermophysical system, and the active control exercised on it, has been produced. The model predicts skin and core temperatures, sweat rates, etc. on different parts of a seated, standing or exercising human. It also predicts the overall level of thermal discomfort for any set of time-varying, asymmetric environmental conditions, i.e. the dynamic thermal sensation, DTS. This paper illustrates the application of the model to the design of PDEC spaces.