The IAQ4EDU project proposes a novel approach to assess indoor thermal dynamics in naturally ventilated schools

The IAQ4EDU project has developed a novel approach to assess indoor thermal dynamics in naturally ventilated schools The paper was published in the top indexed journal Indoor Air (JCR-Q1, Impact Factor: 4.3), is entitled "Assessing the fluctuation of indoor thermal conditions in naturally ventilated classrooms through K-means clustering". PhD student Sen Miao conducted the research under the supervision of Prof. Marta Gangolells, principal investigator of the IAQ4EDU project, and Prof. Blanca Tejedor.

For naturally ventilated classrooms, windows should be constantly opened during the school day to maintain good indoor air quality. However, it is not clear whether this leads to significant fluctuations in the indoor thermal environment, and the effects of ventilation rate and window operation remain unclear. Therefore, this study proposes a novel method combining K-means clustering and statistical analysis to evaluate the fluctuations of indoor thermal conditions during the school day under natural ventilation, based on the analysis of data collected during a large-scale measurement campaign in Spanish schools. The results show that indoor thermal parameters remain stable in most cases, regardless of the heating method used. Large fluctuations were only observed in a few cases. Ventilation rate and window operation are related to fluctuations in indoor temperature and air velocity, but not to relative humidity. These findings shed light on the thermal conditions of naturally ventilated classrooms and have practical implications for the implementation of natural ventilation protocols in schools.

Schematic diagram of the data analysis process.

Details can be found in the online version of the article: 

https://doi.org/10.1155/ina/4453536

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