Plenary Lecture

Combined Effects of Discomfort Parameters on the Indoor Conditions of Buildings

Associate Professor Lajos Barna
Department of Building Service and Process Engineering
Budapest University of Technology and Economics
H 1541 Budapest, Hungary
E-mail: barna@epgep.bme.hu

Abstract: The purpose of HVAC appliances is to provide a comfortable environment and set the conditions for efficient work. The enhancement of buildings’ energy performance aims at meeting the comfort requirements indoors and, at the same time, ensures that less energy use is required to provide acceptable environments.
The comfort of the occupants is determined by the heat exchange between the body and the indoor environment. There are four local discomfort parameters that may cause discomfort on certain body parts even if whole-body thermal comfort conditions are met: radiant temperature asymmetry, warm and cold floors, vertical air temperature difference and draught.
Even though the sizing diagrams and values are results of extensive laboratory investigations, they do not apply to cases when the different local discomfort parameters are simultaneously present in the indoor space. Furthermore, it is an important goal in indoor environmental research to deepen our understanding of the mechanisms responsible for human perception to different exposures. Therefore, experiments and modelling for combined parameters have been carried out at the Department of Building Services and Process Engineering.
The plenary presentation summarises the findings of modelling carried out on manikins, human subjects and CFD simulations to investigate the combined effects of discomfort parameters.

Brief Biography of the Speaker:
Dr. Lajos Barna PhD, Associate professor since 1999, Budapest University of Technology and Economics.
Qualifications: MSc in Mechanical Engineering in 1972, Technical University of Budapest. Comprehensive examination in mechanical engineering: 1983; PhD: 1998.
Teaching and research experience:
Lecturer of several subjects for building service engineering students: Heating, Water supply, Gas supply, District heating supply. Tutor of diploma works.
Major subjects of research works:
Energetic examination and evaluation of buildings; Modelling of comfort conditions in buildings; Investigation of air supply conditions in the room of gas appliances.
He has more than 100 publications in scientific journals and conferences. He has been lecturer at several WSEAS Conferences and was plenary speaker at the HTE '08 Conference in Rhodes.