Thermal comfort analysis of hostels in National Institute of Technology Calicut, India

Abstract

Thermal comfort study was carried out in the hostels of National Institute of Technology Calicut, Kerala, which is located in a warm humid climatic zone of India. Measurements of ambient temperature, globe temperature, relative humidity, air velocity and illuminance were carried out in eight hostels, and in parallel a paper-based survey was conducted among students to know about their Thermal Preference Vote (TPV) and Thermal Sensation Vote (TSV) based on an ASHRAE seven-point scale. Predicted Mean Vote (PMV) and Predicted Percentage Dissatisfied (PPD) have been evaluated based on Fanger’s theory of thermal comfort by utilizing the field measurements. Preferred operative temperature and neutral effective temperature were obtained based on the Predicted Mean Vote (PMV). Similarly the preferred operative temperature and neutral effective temperature were identified, for both Thermal Sensation Vote (TSV) and Thermal Preference Vote (TPV). Thermal comfort conditions for 80% satisfaction were also determined in each case. Correlations between the Predicted Mean Vote (PMV) and the Thermal Sensation Vote (TSV) as well as between the Predicted Mean Vote (PMV) and the Thermal Preference Vote (TPV) were obtained.