This paper investigates the microclimate in a conference room, taking as a case study the chapel of Villa San Saverio, now seat of the “Scuola Superiore” of the University of Catania. Surveys of the former chapel were conducted to monitor air temperature and relative humidity. Subsequently, the investigation relied on numerical simulations of a simplified computational fluid-dynamics (CFD) model built with the DesignBuilder software, and validated by comparison with the measured values. Simulations were then carried out considering three different scenarios: the current state without any thermal system, and two possible thermal system configurations providing both air-conditioning and ventilation. Results show that, from a comfort perspective, a lightweight radiant floor heating system, assisted by an appropriate ventilation system for air renewal placed at the floor level near the occupants, is preferable to floor-level fan-coils and high ventilation channels. Furthermore, this was also confirmed by a basic energy analysis of the two HVAC options, where the ventilation effectiveness of the winter period, the temperature of the water the emitters are fed with, the consequent COP value of the heat pump and the electricity consumption were taken into consideration

Microclimate investigation in a conference room equipped with an air conditioning system: the former chapel of Villa San Saverio

Andrea Longhitano
Primo
;
Vincenzo Costanzo
;
Gianpiero Evola;Francesco Nocera;Luigi Marletta
2023-01-01

Abstract

This paper investigates the microclimate in a conference room, taking as a case study the chapel of Villa San Saverio, now seat of the “Scuola Superiore” of the University of Catania. Surveys of the former chapel were conducted to monitor air temperature and relative humidity. Subsequently, the investigation relied on numerical simulations of a simplified computational fluid-dynamics (CFD) model built with the DesignBuilder software, and validated by comparison with the measured values. Simulations were then carried out considering three different scenarios: the current state without any thermal system, and two possible thermal system configurations providing both air-conditioning and ventilation. Results show that, from a comfort perspective, a lightweight radiant floor heating system, assisted by an appropriate ventilation system for air renewal placed at the floor level near the occupants, is preferable to floor-level fan-coils and high ventilation channels. Furthermore, this was also confirmed by a basic energy analysis of the two HVAC options, where the ventilation effectiveness of the winter period, the temperature of the water the emitters are fed with, the consequent COP value of the heat pump and the electricity consumption were taken into consideration
2023
Thermal comfort, thermal stratification, historic building, radiant floor, ventilation
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11769/659530
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