Supply airflow control algorithm of a floor-standing room air-conditioner to achieve thermal comfort for residential housing in summer

This study suggests a new control algorithm which applies the concept of a personal air-conditioner and a local cooling method to a floor-standing room air-conditioner (FSAC). The control algorithm can be divided into three wind patterns: strong cooling using direct wind, normal cooling using direct wind, and indirect wind. Strong cooling is to make an occupant who is exposed to a hot environment thermally neutral rapidly, while normal cooling is used to maintain a thermal-neutral state continuously. A suitable control method for each cooling mode was determined through subject experiments. The indoor thermal environment was evaluated using the temperature, PMV (predicted mean vote), and TSV (thermal sensation vote). The occupants exposed to the hot environment reached their thermal-neutral state in approximately five minutes due to the strong cooling (16.4 CMM) by the direct wind of the FSAC. When the FSAC changed its control mode to normal cooling (13.9 CMM), it was easier to maintain the thermal-neutral state by swinging direct cool air directionally controlled by vertical vanes. When indirect wind was used, an upwards direction at an angle of 15° was effective in spreading the cooled air and preventing cold drafts.