Investigating the individual characteristics effects on thermal comfort conditions of occupants in a dense occupancy environment

Thermal sensation evaluation of occupants in a dense occupancy space can be an effective step for designing ventilation systems of these environments. In a dense occupancy environment, because of the presence of a large population and also differences in personal parameters such as age, gender, clothing, weight, and body mass index, providing the appropriate thermal comfort conditions is complicated. In this study, the individual characteristics effects on thermal comfort conditions of occupants in a dense occupancy environment is investigated by individualized three-node model. For this issue, a dense occupancy environment with displacement ventilation and inlet air diffusers on the floor is modeled and thermal sensation index for occupants who seated in middle row has been analyzed. Based on the results, the women are more sensitive than men under cold conditions. Also, effects of mass body index on thermal sensation are significantly noticeable. Compared with a healthy person, the thinner people have a cold sensation and fatter ones feel warmer. For example, in the mentioned case, difference between thermal sensation index of thin woman and obese man is 0.42 for the bare parts of the body, indicating noticeable effects on thermal sensation.