Study of thermal comfort and air diffusion induced by a heated airflow window

The purpose of this paper is to study the effect of an airflow window, whether heated or not, on the thermal comfort and on the fresh air diffusion, and subsequently indoor air quality, in an enclosure representative of a room. The analysis is based on the determination of the PMV and PPD indices proposed by Fanger. It is also based on local comfort aspects such as the thermal stratification of the indoor environment, the radiation asymmetry within it and the diffusion of fresh air in the occupied zone. The results obtained are compared to those obtained for a reference configuration consisting to a conventional double-glazed window combined with an electric convector. This comparative study points out that the heated airflow window improves thermal comfort, mainly due to a higher window surface temperature and a stronger air mixing within the occupied zone. The use of a heated airflow window also reduces the risk of vertical temperature gradients and does not present any risk of radiation asymmetry. Moreover, results point out that due to the stronger air mixing the use of a heated airflow window leads to a better fresh air diffusion within the room, and thus a better indoor air quality.