Heat transfer and thermal comfort analysis of thermally activated building system in warm and humid climate-A case study in an educational building

The thermally activated building system (TABS) is the most promising energy and eco-friendly cooling technique. These cooling methods consist of pipe encapsulated building surfaces, and it has been used in this work. The objective of this study is to develop a sustainable cooling system for an education institution. In this work, indoor thermal parameters and comfort indices of TABS was experimentally evaluated and compared with the building without cooling (WOC). The results from the investigation indicates that the average floor temperature decreased by 1.5 degrees C, and the average heat flux is increased by 8 W/m2 in TABS compared to the WOC. While considering the comfort indices, the operative temperature in the case of the TABS envelope is well within the 90% adaptive comfort band as per ASHRAE standards. The TABS has the most significant advantage of maintaining uniform indoor air temperature, reducing the operative temperature, and improving indoor thermal comfort.

Automated summary

Thermally activated building system (TABS) is a promising energy-efficient and eco-friendly cooling technique that utilizes pipe encapsulated building surfaces. This study aims to develop a sustainable cooling system for an education institution and experimentally compares the indoor thermal parameters and comfort indices of TABS with a building without cooling. The results show that TABS reduces the average floor temperature by 1.5 degrees C and increases the average heat flux by 8 W/m2 compared to the building without cooling. Furthermore, the operative temperature of the TABS envelope falls within the 90% adaptive comfort band according to ASHRAE standards, highlighting its advantage of maintaining uniform indoor air temperature, reducing operative temperature, and improving indoor thermal comfort.