The Management of Indoor Thermal Comfort with Wireless Sensor Networks

Abstract

In this study, real-time monitoring and control platform based on thermal comfort was developed to control space heating in living spaces. To calculate the thermal comfort level in a living space, environmental factors such as indoor air temperature, mean radiant temperature, air velocity, and humidity are needed. In order to obtain the environmental factors, sensor nodes based on wireless sensor networks were developed. According to the data obtained from the sensor nodes, the thermal comfort index was calculated, and radiators used for space heating were controlled via monitoring and control software based on PC. Furthermore, several experiments were performed between living spaces where real-time monitoring and control platform was installed and living spaces heated with conventional methods. The measurements were carried out in four rooms at the Faculty of Technology of Suleyman Demirel University in Turkey during the winter season. The heat transferred from room radiators by creating proper conditions that can change the thermal comfort index was compared in the experiments. During experimental measurements, it was observed that the heat transferred to the environment through the room radiators reduced significantly, especially with closed doors and windows.