Evaluation of summer thermal comfort using in situ measurement and dynamic simulation, hot and arid climate in Algerian Saharan region as a case study

Abstract

The interest to ensure thermal comfort becomes one of the major challenges in the building sector, not only for the quality of interior ambiences, but also to minimize the energy rate consumed for heating and cooling systems. Th s paper presents the advantage of using the adaptive approach and numerical simulation to assess the level of thermal comfort of dwellings of different architectural typology in hot climate. For this purpose, the method is based on in situ measurements effected on two samples of traditional and contemporary typology; using anemometer instrument, where the climatic parameters measured inside and outside samples are: ambient temperature, relative humidity rate and air velocity. The simulation work is performed by Energy-Plus software; consequently experimental tests are realized on the local material in order to know their physical and thermal characteristics. The results obtained demonstrate the efficiency of the traditional passive devices, which are able to provide a comfortable thermal ambience without referring to the air conditioning system, with an operating temperature of 30.5ºC and a satisfaction rate of 80%.