The differences in thermal physiological parameters, thermal comfort, and thermal acceptability under the same thermal sensation in air-conditioned environments between winter and summer

Abstract

Seasonal differences are an important factor affecting thermal comfort needs. However, relevant research is limited. In this study, thermal comfort experiments simulating air-conditioning environments were implemented in winter and summer. The experimental temperatures in winter and summer were 12, 15, 18, 21, 24 °C and 24, 26, 28, 30, 32 °C, respectively. Thermal physiological parameters were measured, and the thermal comfort subjective feeling questionnaire was evaluated on 40 healthy college student subjects during an exposure time of 140 min. Analysis of these measurements revealed significant seasonal differences in skin temperature, thermal comfort, and thermal acceptability for the same thermal sensation. On the one hand, both local and mean skin temperatures under the same thermal sensation were higher in summer than in winter (p < 0.05). On the other hand, there was a scissor difference in the change curves of thermal comfort and thermal acceptability voting with thermal sensation in winter and summer. Compared with the PPD curve, the unacceptable percentage curve shifted to the cooler side in summer and to the warmer side in winter. The results of this study provide a theoretical basis for the accurate creation of thermal comfort in the built environment from the perspective of seasonal differences.