The Effect of the Climatic Condition on the Radiant Asymmetry

This paper analyzes the influence of solar radiation, considering both its direct and diffuse component, on the local thermal comfort of subjects in indoor environments. In fact, as well as too hot or too cold climatic conditions may cause global thermal discomfort, an unwanted cooling or heating of a particular confined area of the body may cause local thermal discomfort, which may occur for vertical air temperature differences, unsuitable temperatures of the floor, drafts and radiant asymmetries. In this context, this work is focused on radiant asymmetry issues and it aims to analyze the radiant asymmetry dependence on outdoor climate parameters, with special regard to the solar radiation. To this purpose, a specific experimental campaign of measurements was conducted. The analysis of the results shows that the solar radiation alters the radiant field and produces a high radiant asymmetry in correspondence of the points of the environment directly irradiated by sunrays.