Energy-efficient comfort with a heated/cooled chair: Results from human subject tests

A heated/cooled chair was evaluated for its effect on thermal sensation and comfort. Twentythreecollege students participated in 69 2.25-hour tests. Two heated/cooled chairs wereplaced in an environmental chamber resembling an office environment. The chambertemperatures were set at 16°C, 18°C and 29°C. During the tests the subjects had full controlof the chair power through a knob located on the chair. Data from a previous study conductedwith sixteen subjects at the same three temperatures but with regular mesh or cushion chairswere used as reference results for comparison.Subjective responses about thermal sensation and comfort were obtained at 15-minuteintervals. The results show that the heated/cooled chair strongly influences the subjects’thermal sensation and improves thermal comfort. The chair provided comfortable conditionsfor 92% of the subjects in a range of temperatures from 18°C to 29°C.

[1]  Shinichi Tanabe,et al.  Thermal sensation and comfort with different task conditioning systems , 2007 .

[2]  Standard Ashrae.  Thermal Environmental Conditions for Human Occupancy , 1992 .

[3]  A Melikov,et al.  Field study on occupant comfort and the office thermal environment in rooms with displacement ventilation. , 2005, Indoor air.

[4]  Kwang Ho Lee,et al.  Energy savings from extended air temperature setpoints and reductions in room air mixing - eScholarship , 2005 .

[5]  Mallory L Taub,et al.  Power to the people: personal control in offices for thermal comfort and energy savings , 2013 .

[6]  Fred Bauman,et al.  Individual thermal comfort control with desk-mounted and floor-mounted task/ambient conditioning (TAC) systems , 1999 .

[7]  K. Parsons.  The effects of gender, acclimation state, the opportunity to adjust clothing and physical disability on requirements for thermal comfort , 2002 .

[8]  Hui Zhang,et al.  Effect of a heated and cooled office chair on thermal comfort , 2012, HVAC&R Research.

[9]  Tatsuo Nobe,et al.  Practical Investigation of Cool Chair in Warm Offices , 2007 .

[10]  S. Tanabe,et al.  Impact of Non-Isothermal Task Conditioning System on Thermal Comfort , 2003 .

[11]  Hui Zhang,et al.  Thermal comfort and perceived air quality of a PEC system - eScholarship , 2011 .

[12]  Leah Zagreus,et al.  Air quality and thermal comfort in office buildings: Results of a large indoor environmental quality survey - eScholarship , 2006 .

[13]  Hui Zhang,et al.  Thermal comfort and perceived air quality of a PEC system , 2011 .

[14]  Hui Zhang,et al.  Air temperature thresholds for indoor comfort and perceived air quality , 2011 .

[15]  Shinichi Watanabe,et al.  Thermal evaluation of a chair with fans as an individually controlled system , 2009 .

[16]  A. Melikov,et al.  Human response to local heating for use in connection with low enthalpy ventilation , 1998 .

[17]  Edward Arens,et al.  Air Quality and Thermal Comfort in Office Buildings: Results of a Large Indoor Environmental Quality Survey , 2006 .

[18]  R. Nordman.  IEA Technology Roadmap - Energy-efficient Buildings : Heating and Cooling Equipment , 2011 .

[19]  Yufeng Zhang,et al.  Overall thermal sensation, acceptability and comfort , 2008 .

[20]  Qinglin Meng,et al.  Thermal comfort in naturally ventilated buildings in hot-humid area of China , 2010 .

[21]  H. Zhang,et al.  Human thermal sensation and comfort in transient and non-uniform thermal environments , 2003 .

[22]  Hui Zhang,et al.  Comfort, perceived air quality, and work performance in a low-power task–ambient conditioning system , 2008 .

[23]  Hui Zhang,et al.  Indoor Environmental Quality ( IEQ ) Title Enabling energy-efficient approaches to thermal comfort using room air motion , 2016 .

[24]  K C Parsons,et al.  An ergonomics investigation into human thermal comfort using an automobile seat heated with encapsulated carbonized fabric (ECF). , 1999, Ergonomics.

[25]  A. Melikov,et al.  Air movement and perceived air quality , 2012 .

[26]  A. Melikov,et al.  The influence of heated or cooled seats on the acceptable ambient temperature range , 2007, Ergonomics.

[27]  Fred Bauman,et al.  Impact of a task-ambient ventilation system on perceived air quality , 2008 .

[28]  Li Lan,et al.  Investigation on temperature range for thermal comfort in nonuniform environment , 2013, HVAC&R Research.