Air heating system: influence of a humidifier on thermal comfort

Abstract This paper describes the modelling of a humidifier combined with an air conditioning cooling and heating system. The objective was to assess the influence of a humidifier on thermal comfort for moderate climates. The equipment was installed in an experimental building, HD2000, situated in Rennes (Western France). The building and its air conditioning system had been previously modelled and validated experimentally. A humidifier model was then developed and validated from specific experimental tests. The effect of the performance on thermal comfort was analysed using different meteorological data files and an assessment was made as to the recommendation, or not, as a humidifier.