Optimization Design Methods for Thermal Environment Problems in Chinese University Teaching Buildings at Various Periods

Abstract

Chinese universities have gone through three periods of centralized construction and significant differences in the design of teaching buildings in different periods may cause various thermal environment problems. This study takes a city in a cold region in northern China as an example and selects three teaching buildings built during three concentrated construction periods: 1950s to 1960s, 1980s to 1990s, and early 21st century as common cases. Based on field research, thermal environment measurement, APMV and PMV-PPD evaluation, and DeST simulation methods, it was found that the average summer APMV of the three teaching buildings was 1.37, indicating poor thermal comfort. In winter, the ambient temperature of the classrooms was below 18 °C for about 30% to 40% of the whole year, the average PMV value was −2.36, and the PPD value was obtained as 83.28%, far exceeding the standard requirements. The obtained results form a design strategy to optimize the thermal environment of teaching buildings. By considering the teaching building of historical architecture from the 1950s to 1960s as an example, the optimization design was carried out from three aspects to improve the indoor thermal environment and reduce the building’s cooling and heating load. The cumulative load of the building throughout the year was reduced by 21%, the cumulative heat load was reduced by 28.3%, and the cumulative cooling load was reduced by 10.1%. This research is anticipated to be of great reference significance for enhancing the thermal comfort of existing buildings, promoting energy conservation, and reducing carbon emissions. At the same time, it contributes to the protection and optimal use of historical buildings.