Horizontal temperature distribution in a plus-energy house: cooling season measurements

The present study is concerned with the air and operative temperatures at different locations in a detached, one-story, single family, plus-energy house. The house was located in Denmark and it has been used as a full-scale experimental facility with heated dummies to simulate occupants living in the house.

The house had gone through a year-round measurement campaign from October 2013 to October 2014, where various physical parameters were measured. This study focuses on the cooling season (May to September 2014, both months included). The house was cooled by means of floor cooling (a dry radiant system) and was ventilated with a mechanical ventilation system (heat recovery on ventilation).

Inside the house, there was a single space combining kitchen, living room and bedroom areas. The thermal comfort of the occupant(s) in this space could differ based on the location of the occupant, and control of indoor environment in this single space could be challenging. The measurement of horizontal temperature distribution could address these issues and provide a means of improvement, if necessary.

The measurements showed that a uniform thermal indoor environment was achieved inside the house. The average operative temperature difference between the reference point (in the occupied zone) and other measurement points was 0.2 °C (0.4 °F) and the highest temperature difference compared to the reference point was 1.6 °C (2.9 °F) during the measurement period .

It was observed that a thermostat on the East Wall would follow the temperature changes in the occupied zone closely and, thus, would provide a good indication of the thermal indoor environment to the control system.