ENERGY-CONSUMPTION AND THERMAL COMFORT IN DWELLING-CELLS - A ZONAL-MODEL APPROACH

In this study, we present a simplified model of the thermal behaviour of dwelling-cells, with a view to evaluating the performances of vario us heating systems that ale commonly used in such environments. This m odel is based on a zonal-method representation of thermal exchanges in enclosed spaces. Following the validation of the model, Mle carried o ut a numerical study on two types of heat soul ce, i.e. localized (a h ot-water radiator and an electrical convector) and distributed (a hot- water heated floor and an electrical heated ceiling). The models rr er e used to predict the heat losses specific to each system, as well as the indoor thermal ambience that the different systems induced. Ir was found that, for the configurations studied, the distributed heat sour ces presented a slight advantage over the localized sources, with rega rd to the criteria of energy consumption and thermal comfort. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.