TY - JOUR
T1 - Analysis of the Influence of Chilled Water Temperature Setpoint on Thermal Comfort and Energy Consumption
AU - Kyere, Esther Benedicta
AU - Jen, Tien Chien
AU - Tartibu, Lagouge
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2023.
PY - 2024/8
Y1 - 2024/8
N2 - This study experimentally analysed the influence of chilled water temperature setpoints on thermal comfort conditions and energy consumption of an office building. Three chilled water temperature setpoints (10 °C, 12.5 °C, and 14 °C) were studied. The indoor environment variables (temperature and relative humidity) which are considered indicators of thermal comfort were recorded with data loggers for three consecutive days for each chilled water temperature setpoint (CWTS). Similarly, energy consumption was used as a metric to determine the system’s efficiency. The predicted percentage of dissatisfied (PPD) and predicted mean vote (PMV) indicators were computed and analysed using the Thermal Comfort/ASHRAE 55-2020 modelling tool from the centre for the built environment (CBE). Additionally, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modelling and analysis were performed using ANSYS Fluent to study the indoor environment conditions of the office at the different chilled water temperature setpoints. A comparison between the calculated, measured, and predicted satisfaction of occupants was done. The results obtained when varying the chilled water temperature setpoints reveal that increasing the chilled water temperature setpoint (by 12%) reduces energy consumption per hour by 2% without compromising thermal comfort. The study demonstrated that the CWTS could be reset between 14 and 15 °C to reduce energy consumption and maintain thermal comfort. Moreover, the CFD model can be used to compare the indoor environmental characteristics of chiller systems.
AB - This study experimentally analysed the influence of chilled water temperature setpoints on thermal comfort conditions and energy consumption of an office building. Three chilled water temperature setpoints (10 °C, 12.5 °C, and 14 °C) were studied. The indoor environment variables (temperature and relative humidity) which are considered indicators of thermal comfort were recorded with data loggers for three consecutive days for each chilled water temperature setpoint (CWTS). Similarly, energy consumption was used as a metric to determine the system’s efficiency. The predicted percentage of dissatisfied (PPD) and predicted mean vote (PMV) indicators were computed and analysed using the Thermal Comfort/ASHRAE 55-2020 modelling tool from the centre for the built environment (CBE). Additionally, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modelling and analysis were performed using ANSYS Fluent to study the indoor environment conditions of the office at the different chilled water temperature setpoints. A comparison between the calculated, measured, and predicted satisfaction of occupants was done. The results obtained when varying the chilled water temperature setpoints reveal that increasing the chilled water temperature setpoint (by 12%) reduces energy consumption per hour by 2% without compromising thermal comfort. The study demonstrated that the CWTS could be reset between 14 and 15 °C to reduce energy consumption and maintain thermal comfort. Moreover, the CFD model can be used to compare the indoor environmental characteristics of chiller systems.
KW - Chilled water temperature setpoint
KW - Energy consumption
KW - PMV-PPD
KW - Thermal comfort
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85174591069&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s13369-023-08350-2
DO - 10.1007/s13369-023-08350-2
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85174591069
SN - 2193-567X
VL - 49
SP - 10409
EP - 10429
JO - Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering
JF - Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering
IS - 8
ER -