Parametric Optimization of Novel Partition-Type Radiant Heating Terminals to Improve Human Comfort in Cool Environments: Simulations Based on Experimental Results

This study aims to optimize the parameters of a set of partition-type radiant heating terminals to provide better thermal comfort for people in cool environments. The UCB Comfort Model was used to validate experimental results and optimize parameters of partition-type radiant heating terminals. The results indicated that the revised model established using the UCB Comfort Model was reliable when predicting overall thermal sensation of subjects with a deviation value of ± 0.3 in cool environments. On the basis of the simulation model, it was found that the surface temperature and position of the terminals played an important role in maintaining comfort of users in cool environments. The surface temperatures should be at least 55.5 and 33.5 °C with air temperatures at 14 and 16 °C. When surface temperatures were 50 °C and 60 °C, the minimum distances of radiant terminals at 14 °C should be 0.30 m and 0.61 m respectively, but at 16 °C, the distances can be increased to 1.29 m and 1.33 m.