Model-adaptive analysis of indoor thermal comfort

We address the model-adaptive coupling between computational codes for indoor thermal comfort analysis considering different levels of detail in space and time. Starting with a whole-year simulation, significant periods are interactively identified in terms of a coarse thermal comfort analysis. After refining these critical intervals with respect to the spatial resolution, a multi-segment manikin model interfacing with the human thermoregulation model of Fiala (Int J Biometeorol, 45:143-159, 2001) is applied for studying transient and local effects of thermal sensation. On a coarse level (pre-calculated view factors and heat transfer coefficients), parameters like the boundary conditions or the type of clothing can be modified online, results are updated in real time (computational steering). On a fine level, the thermo-regulation model is linked with a geometry based zone model using a ray tracing method capturing the short wave radiation incident to the manikin surface and a radiosity solver for the longwave radiation. Ongoing developments concern a full coupling between the radiation solver and an interactive lattice Boltzmann type CFD solver by further enhancing the performance of the view factor computation.