| Keywords |
Skin temperature ; ONDOL ; Floor covering ; Thermal comfort |
| Abstract |
This study aimed to investigate the thermo-physiological responses of healthy subjects who sit on the plywood covering of floor heating system, ONDOL. Environmental chambers were constructed for this study, wherein ambient temperature, and wall and ceiling surface temperature were controlled at 24oC, and relative humidity was at 50%. The temperature of supply water (tsw) flowing into the floor coil was altered from 15oC to 40oC at 5oC interval. The floor covering materials used in this experiment were mortar and 3 types of plywood with thickness of 2.7 mm, 7.5 mm, and 12 mm. The floor surface temperatures (tf) and the skin temperatures of 8 subjects were measured while they were sitting on the floor. Buttocks temperature was particularly monitored. This experiment yielded the following results: (1) The floor surface temperature (tf) was 17.0oC 35.2oC on mortar finishing and 19.1oC 30.2oC on 12 mm plywood covering. (2) The buttocks skin temperature increased at more than tsw 30oC on mortar finishing and 30oC, 25oC, and 20oC on 2.7 mm, 7.5 mm, and 12 mm plywood finishing, respectively (3) The differences of buttocks temperature between tsw 15oC and 40oC were 11.4oC on mortar, 7.9oC on 2.7 mm, 6.5oC on 7.5 mm, and 5.0oC on 12 mm plywood. (4) Using regression analysis, the neutral point temperature of buttocks was determined at 32.8oC. |