SECTION 4b.
PLOTTING THE COMFORT ZONE





















The comfort zone can be plotted on the psychrometric chart by the following procedure:

  1. Find the annual mean temperature, Tav
    This is done by adding up, all the average dry-bulb temperature readings taken through the year (by the month) and dividing the total by the number of months (12).
    In our example, Tucson, we will take the 12 average values given in the climatic data under 'Monthly Average Hourly Dry Bulb Temperatures [øF]:' in the last page.
    
    Tav =        50.3 + 40.2 + 43.3 + 58.0 + 75.4 + 89.1 
                + 85.0 + 82.7 + 81.0 + 65.7 + 62.3 + 54.3
                __________________________________
    						 12
    Tav = 65.60 °F or 18.67°C


  2. Find the thermal neutrality (Tn)
    Thermal neutrality is the temperature averaged for a large sample of people, when the individuals feel neither cold nor hot. It has been shown conclusively that this thermal neutrality is influenced by the climate, which the individuals are used to (a result of physiological acclimatisation, but also of habits) and correlates with the outdoor mean temperature (Tav) as

    Tn = 17.6 + [0.31 x Tav]
    provided 18.5 < Tn < 28.5°C
    In the case of Tucson,
    Tn = 17.6 + [0.31 x 18.67]
    Tn = 23.38°C (74.08°F)


  3. Find the lower (L) and upper (U) limits of Tn
    Lower limit L = Tn - 2
    = 23.38 - 2
    L = 21.38
    Upper limit U = Tn + 2
    = 23.38 + 2
    U = 25.38


  4. Find the SET slope expressions
    Over the last 50 years or so, numerous thermal indices have been constructed, to express in a single number the combined thermal effect of at least some of the four environmental variables. The latest one (as of 1987) is the standard effective temperature (SET), which combines the effect of DBT and humidity, when the MRT is the same as the DBT and there is no significant air movement. The SET lines are given as follows:
    * Up to 14°C, SET lines coincide with the DBT (vertical) lines.
    * Above 14°C, the SET coincides with DBT at the 50% RH curve, but the lines have a slope of 0.025 x (DBT - 14) for each g/kg (AH) vertical distance.
    The slope expressions become:
    For lower limit L
    0.025 x (21.38 - 14)
    = 0.1845 degC/(g/kg)
    For upper limit U
    0.025 x (25.38 - 14)
    = 0.2845 degC/(g/kg)


  5. Find the base line intercepts for L and U from the SET slope expressions
    Base line intercept for L = L + [ AH(L) x 0.1845)]
    Lbase intercept = 21.38 + [8 x 0.1845] = 22.85°C

    Base line intercept for U = U + [ AH(U) x 0.2845)]
    Ubase intercept = 25.38 + [10.2 x 0.2845] = 28.28°C


We will now plot the values calculated above on the psychrometric chart. Read the green box on the 'SlideAnimation' below and click on the arrow.





NOTE : This comfort zone is true for a normal sedentary adult (@ 1.0 MET) wearing cloths with insulating value of about 0.6 clo (light office wear) with air movement of 0.2 m/s between the altitude of 0-3134 m (7000ft), given that Tdb = Tmrt


The comfort zone developed above means that if ambient conditions (outside shade-temperature and humidity) are within this zone, then, in effect, no building is required; that is; one would be comfortable under a shade tree or tent. (Althought these zones are shown by distinct lines, it should be remembered that these are generalized averages and should not be read to mean that a variation of one or two degrees Celsius or of a few percent relative humidity would place one either inside or outside the bounded condition.)


Next, lets plot the 12 months on the chart.




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