Energy Performance of Room Air-Conditioners and Ceiling Fans in Mixed-Mode Buildings
Studies show that people can tolerate elevated temperatures in the presence of appreciable air movement (e.g., from using ceiling fans). This minimises the use of air-conditioners and extends their set-point temperature (<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML&q...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2023-09-01
|
| Series: | Energies |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/19/6807 |
| _version_ | 1797575959606460416 |
|---|---|
| author | Sriraj Gokarakonda Christoph van Treeck Rajan Rawal Stefan Thomas |
| author_facet | Sriraj Gokarakonda Christoph van Treeck Rajan Rawal Stefan Thomas |
| author_sort | Sriraj Gokarakonda |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Studies show that people can tolerate elevated temperatures in the presence of appreciable air movement (e.g., from using ceiling fans). This minimises the use of air-conditioners and extends their set-point temperature (<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msub><mi>T</mi><mrow><mi>s</mi><mi>e</mi><mi>t</mi></mrow></msub></semantics></math></inline-formula>), resulting in energy savings in space cooling. However, there is little empirical evidence on the energy savings from using ceiling fans with Room Air-Conditioners (RACs). To address this gap, we analysed the energy performance of RACs with both fixed-speed compressors and inverter technology at different set-point temperatures and ceiling fan speed settings in 15 residential Mixed-Mode Buildings (MMBs) in India. Thermal comfort conditions (as predicted by the Indian Model for Adaptive Comfort-Residential (IMAC-R)) with minimum energy consumption were maintained at a set-point temperature (<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msub><mi>T</mi><mrow><mi>s</mi><mi>e</mi><mi>t</mi></mrow></msub></semantics></math></inline-formula>) of 28 and 30 <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msup><mrow></mrow><mo>∘</mo></msup></semantics></math></inline-formula>C and a fan speed setting of one. Compared with a <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msub><mi>T</mi><mrow><mi>s</mi><mi>e</mi><mi>t</mi></mrow></msub></semantics></math></inline-formula> of 24 <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msup><mrow></mrow><mo>°</mo></msup></semantics></math></inline-formula>C, a <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msub><mi>T</mi><mrow><mi>s</mi><mi>e</mi><mi>t</mi></mrow></msub></semantics></math></inline-formula> of 28 and 30 <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msup><mrow></mrow><mo>°</mo></msup></semantics></math></inline-formula>C resulted in energy savings of 44 and 67%, respectively. With the use of RACs, a configuration with a minimum fan speed was satisfactory for an optimal use of energy and for maintaining the conditions of thermal comfort. In addition, RACs with inverter technology used 34–68% less energy than fixed-speed compressors. With the rising use of RACs, particularly in tropical regions, the study’s outcomes offer a significant potential for reducing space-cooling energy consumption and the resultant greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T21:45:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-743236e884b1437e989ff09a8875e07c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T21:45:45Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-743236e884b1437e989ff09a8875e07c2023-11-19T14:19:10ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732023-09-011619680710.3390/en16196807Energy Performance of Room Air-Conditioners and Ceiling Fans in Mixed-Mode BuildingsSriraj Gokarakonda0Christoph van Treeck1Rajan Rawal2Stefan Thomas3Energy Policy, Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy, 42103 Wuppertal, GermanyE3D—Institute of Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Building, RWTH Aachen University, 52062 Aachen, GermanyCentre for Advanced Research in Building Science and Energy (CARBSE), CEPT University, Ahmedabad 380009, IndiaEnergy Policy, Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy, 42103 Wuppertal, GermanyStudies show that people can tolerate elevated temperatures in the presence of appreciable air movement (e.g., from using ceiling fans). This minimises the use of air-conditioners and extends their set-point temperature (<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msub><mi>T</mi><mrow><mi>s</mi><mi>e</mi><mi>t</mi></mrow></msub></semantics></math></inline-formula>), resulting in energy savings in space cooling. However, there is little empirical evidence on the energy savings from using ceiling fans with Room Air-Conditioners (RACs). To address this gap, we analysed the energy performance of RACs with both fixed-speed compressors and inverter technology at different set-point temperatures and ceiling fan speed settings in 15 residential Mixed-Mode Buildings (MMBs) in India. Thermal comfort conditions (as predicted by the Indian Model for Adaptive Comfort-Residential (IMAC-R)) with minimum energy consumption were maintained at a set-point temperature (<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msub><mi>T</mi><mrow><mi>s</mi><mi>e</mi><mi>t</mi></mrow></msub></semantics></math></inline-formula>) of 28 and 30 <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msup><mrow></mrow><mo>∘</mo></msup></semantics></math></inline-formula>C and a fan speed setting of one. Compared with a <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msub><mi>T</mi><mrow><mi>s</mi><mi>e</mi><mi>t</mi></mrow></msub></semantics></math></inline-formula> of 24 <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msup><mrow></mrow><mo>°</mo></msup></semantics></math></inline-formula>C, a <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msub><mi>T</mi><mrow><mi>s</mi><mi>e</mi><mi>t</mi></mrow></msub></semantics></math></inline-formula> of 28 and 30 <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msup><mrow></mrow><mo>°</mo></msup></semantics></math></inline-formula>C resulted in energy savings of 44 and 67%, respectively. With the use of RACs, a configuration with a minimum fan speed was satisfactory for an optimal use of energy and for maintaining the conditions of thermal comfort. In addition, RACs with inverter technology used 34–68% less energy than fixed-speed compressors. With the rising use of RACs, particularly in tropical regions, the study’s outcomes offer a significant potential for reducing space-cooling energy consumption and the resultant greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/19/6807room air-conditionersceiling fansset-point temperaturethermal comfortuser behavioursensors and monitoring |
| spellingShingle | Sriraj Gokarakonda Christoph van Treeck Rajan Rawal Stefan Thomas Energy Performance of Room Air-Conditioners and Ceiling Fans in Mixed-Mode Buildings Energies room air-conditioners ceiling fans set-point temperature thermal comfort user behaviour sensors and monitoring |
| title | Energy Performance of Room Air-Conditioners and Ceiling Fans in Mixed-Mode Buildings |
| title_full | Energy Performance of Room Air-Conditioners and Ceiling Fans in Mixed-Mode Buildings |
| title_fullStr | Energy Performance of Room Air-Conditioners and Ceiling Fans in Mixed-Mode Buildings |
| title_full_unstemmed | Energy Performance of Room Air-Conditioners and Ceiling Fans in Mixed-Mode Buildings |
| title_short | Energy Performance of Room Air-Conditioners and Ceiling Fans in Mixed-Mode Buildings |
| title_sort | energy performance of room air conditioners and ceiling fans in mixed mode buildings |
| topic | room air-conditioners ceiling fans set-point temperature thermal comfort user behaviour sensors and monitoring |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/19/6807 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT srirajgokarakonda energyperformanceofroomairconditionersandceilingfansinmixedmodebuildings AT christophvantreeck energyperformanceofroomairconditionersandceilingfansinmixedmodebuildings AT rajanrawal energyperformanceofroomairconditionersandceilingfansinmixedmodebuildings AT stefanthomas energyperformanceofroomairconditionersandceilingfansinmixedmodebuildings |