Abstract
In the climatic conditions of Ukraine, which are characterised by a long heating period, considerable energy requirements for heating lead to an increase in energy efficiency requirements. A substantial reduction in the energy consumption of buildings while ensuring comfort conditions will be facilitated by the inclusion of a model of human thermal comfort in the complex “heat source – fencing” system. The purpose of this study was to find the factors affecting the internal heat capacity and, accordingly, the thermal inertia of the building and further take these factors into account upon assessing the thermal condition and parameters of thermal comfort of building rooms. The object of this study was the educational and administrative building of the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine. Many studies were carried out, namely full-scale measurements of heat flows and temperatures on the surfaces of samples of the building’s wall structure were carried out in a special climate complex that allows artificially creating external and internal thermal conditions of premises. It was found that the insulation of the structure with a layer of expanded polystyrene PSB-15, 100 mm thick, reduces heat losses through the wall panel by almost half. An algorithm for controlling the heat release process was developed, considering the internal heat capacity of the building. Compared to the “linear” dependence, this allows more accurately adjusting the schedule of heat carrier release to the heating system of a public building during the introduction of the alternating mode of its operation. The temperature deviation range is reduced by 4–6 °C, which allowed saving up to 10-12% of the consumed heat energy for the heating needs of the research object, provided that the normalised values of the internal temperature of the premises are maintained. Intermittent operation of the heating system of public buildings, the expediency of which is justified in this study, can be recommended for implementation in the structures of higher educational institutions of Ukraine.