Thermal Comfort and Energy Use with Local Heaters

Jan Kaczmarczyk and Joanna Ferdyn-Grygierek
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Jan Kaczmarczyk: Department of Heating, Ventilation and Dust Removal Technology, Faculty of Energy and Environmental Engineering, Silesian University of Technology, Konarskiego 20, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
Joanna Ferdyn-Grygierek: Department of Heating, Ventilation and Dust Removal Technology, Faculty of Energy and Environmental Engineering, Silesian University of Technology, Konarskiego 20, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 11, 1-14

Abstract: This paper presents the investigation of a local heating system consisting of three heating mats incorporated within a sedentary workplace. Thermal comfort and individual power settings for the heating mats were studied in experiments with 41 human subjects. Experiments were performed in a climate chamber at two operative temperatures: 16 and 18 °C. Results showed that local heating systems improved occupants’ comfort and were able to create acceptable thermal conditions under both temperatures. The power settings identified were used to study the applicability of heating mats in an industrial hall. Multi-variant analysis of energy consumption for heating was carried out using an ESP-r (Environmental Systems Performance–Research) simulation program. The analysis results demonstrate that in some cases, the installation of local heating mats in industrial halls may reduce energy usage compared to having to heat the entire hall. However, the benefits depend on numerous parameters. Local heating is most advantageous when installed in halls with a small number of workstations, small internal heat gains, and low-efficiency central heating systems. In reality for the satisfactory implementation of local heating systems for a particular application, it is advised to perform analysis for the specific local conditions. In order to improve the effectiveness of local heating systems, an advanced heating control strategy should be considered.

Keywords: local heating; thermal comfort; energy demand; energy saving (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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