An exploration of air-conditioning system control strategies in beijing-based on the results of field study

Abstract

The study carried out a long-period survey of indoor environmental parameters, the clothing of occupants, as well as people's voting of their sensation in public buildings and residential buildings in Beijing. Beijing belongs to the cold climate zone, which is cold in winter and hot in summer with short autumn and spring. The study was conducted in 2011 and 2012 and could be divided into four periods: (1) autumn (without HVAC), (2) winter (with heating), (3) spring (without HVAC), and (4) summer (with air-conditioning). The investigated places were classrooms, offices, and student dormitories. The investigated occupants were people who had lived in Beijing for long time and had adapted to the climate of Beijing well. The study was trying to explore people's requirement of indoor thermal environment. Relationships between thermal parameters and people's sensation were found, and some control strategies of indoor thermal environment were suggested. In consideration of occupants' thermal adaptation, the acceptable temperature range should be referred to, instead of the most "comfortable" neutral temperature, when deciding the control aim of indoor temperature. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2014.