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Thesis (M. E.)--University of New South Wales, 2002. / Also available online.

Mobility has become a substantial part in our society. Since we spend a lot of our available time on the road, we expect the automotive environment to provide similar comfort levels than residential buildings. Within this context, this research thesis especially focuses on automotive thermal comfort control. The automotive cabin is a very special environment, which is characterized by extreme inhomogeneity and overall transient behavior. Thermal comfort is a very vague and a very subjective term, which depends on physiological and psychological variables. Theories for thermal comfort in transient environments have not been fully established yet and researchers are still busy with its investigation. At present, automotive industry relies on extensive thermal comfort models, manikins and powerful simulation tools to assess and control thermal comfort. This thesis studies the application of artificial intelligence and proposes a blackbox approach which aims for extracting thermal comfort knowledge directly from human's interaction with the HVAC controls. This methodology avoids the use of human physiological and psychological thermal comfort models and does not require any a-priori knowledge. A novel comfort acquisition tool has been developed and has been integrated into a research vehicle in order to gather the required data for system learning. Data has been collected during spring, autumn and summer conditions in Southern Africa. Methods of data mining have been applied and an intelligent implementation using artificial neural networks has been proposed. The achieved results are promising and allow for about 87 perecent correct classification. It is concluded that methods of artificial intelligence perform well and are far superior compared to conventional approaches. These methods can be used as a powerful tool for the development process of vehicle air-conditioning controls and have great potential for time and cost reduction.

Thesis. 1979. M.Arch.A.S.--Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Architecture. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ROTCH. / Includes bibliographical references. / by Stephen Hale. / M.Arch.A.S.

Yee Yat Sing. / "Architecture Department, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Master of Architecture Programme 2004-2005, design report."

Summer brooding often requires some form of air modification in addition to maximizing ventilation rate to prevent animal heat stress and possible death due to hyperthermia. A rockbed thermal storage module was designed and constructed to provide sensibly cooled air for a broiler space under summer brooding conditions. A mathematical model of rockbed thermal storage module was developed to predict performance of the prototype module. Experiments to evaluate the rockbed module under different weather conditions and operating schedules were conducted. The results were presented and compared with the mathematical simulation. A microprocessor control system was designed and assembled to control the ventilation air that would enter a broiler house during warm weather periods. The system was capable of taking temperature samples from thermocouples and then operate a damper arrangement which determined the mixture of outdoor and sensibly cooled air from rockbed thermal storage module. The cost and feasibility of utilizing a rockbed thermal storage module and a microprocessor control ventilation system were discussed. / Graduation date: 1989

Energy use in buildings accounts for more than a third of global energy demand, with humans seeking to create comfortable internal environments year-round. In the UK, air or water active thermal mass systems have demonstrated viability at delivering energy efficient comfort to office spaces. Whilst an attractive proposition, there are limitations to the cooling capacity and dynamic thermal response, giving rise to overheating in poorly designed buildings. The thesis work presented documents the investigation into active thermal mass enhancement to a prototype ventilated hollow core sample. Through engineering modelling (CFD, Excel VBA and IES) and laboratory (DSC, component and thermal chamber) testing two solutions were tested (an active-PCM module suitable for retrofit and embedded cool water pipes), with results conveying a 1 to 3°C temperature reduction and 0.1 to 0.2 kWh/m2/day AC savings during summer conditions. COP figures up to 10.6 were achieved through temperature set-point controlled water and air activated thermal mass. Economic analysis was conducted with positive results with the active-PCM module becoming viable for the UK’s non-domestic ‘Green Deal’ at a price point of approximately £300 per module. Following the laboratory led, and simulation supported work it was possible to conclude that active thermal mass enhancements can provide financially-viable energy-efficient, thermal-comfort for non-domestic UK properties. However the extent of the benefit depends heavily on the building thermal demands, available technology and optimised system control. Further work should be conducted to; develop additional modelling tools, underpinned by the laboratory data generated, and optimise the novel active-PCM technology, suitable for lucrative target markets.

In order to replace a conventional air-conditioner (AC) based on vapour compression technology that directly has high global warming potential and also currently consumes the most fossil fuel primary energy in building sector of tropical countries for generating thermal comfort on sleeping purpose, other alternative green space cooling technologies, as thermoelectric cooling (TEC), has to be improved to have same performance with AC. This research aims to develop and investigate a performance of Solar-powered Thermoelectric Radiant Cooling (STRC) system, as the combination of TEC and radiant cooling (RC) that is well known in its low energy consumption advantage. The studies were conducted through calculations, CFD simulations, system performance simulations and experiments. The results of optimum STRC system design was proved to provide better thermal and air quality performances, while the result in energy performance was depended on the TEC’s COP and vapour condensation prevention. After novel developing of TEC’s cooling channel with combined helical and an oblique fin to induce effective secondary flows that highly reduced the TEC’s hot side temperature in this research, the COP was able to increase up to 175%. Meanwhile, a novel bio-inspired combined superhydrophobic and hydrophobic coating on RC panel were able to competently repel most condensed water droplets, leaving just tiny droplets that was hard to be seen by naked eye. Finally, the COP of STRC system from house model experiment in 1:100 scales under hot and high humid climate was as high as 2.1 that helped STRC to consume electricity 34% less than AC system. Along with other benefits, as no working fluid, noise-free and low maintenance needs, the return of investment (ROI) was studied to be only 5-6 years when being operated with grid electricity and 17-18 years with PV panel generated electricity.

No description available.