Extended predicted mean vote of thermal adaptations reinforced around thermal neutrality

Predicted mean vote (PMV) is a prevailing thermal comfort model adopted by thermal comfort standards. To extend its ability in explaining thermal adaptations, the PMV is multiplied by an extension factor. However, the original extended PMV (ePMV) cannot account for thermal adaptations around thermal neutrality, resulting in deviation around thermal neutrality, therefore, is unable to predict thermal sensation around thermal neutrality accurately. Given the unusual importance of thermal sensation around thermal neutrality for energy-efficient provision of indoor thermal comfort, this study modifies the ePMV to reinforce thermal adaptations around thermal neutrality by adding a thermal neutrality factor. The modified ePMV is quantified by explicitly expressing the extension factor and the thermal neutrality factor as functions of field datasets of the PMV, thermal sensation vote (TSV), and ambient temperature. The modified ePMV is validated to improve thermal sensation prediction effectively (by up to 73%), particularly for prediction around thermal neutrality with the TSV between -0.5 and 0.5, by mitigating deviation around thermal neutrality for different types of buildings under various climate conditions around the world. Moreover, the modified ePMV is explicitly formulated and, therefore, convenient for practical applications.

Automated summary

This study improves thermal sensation prediction accuracy by modifying the ePMV to reinforce thermal adaptations around thermal neutrality, reducing deviation around thermal neutrality for different types of buildings under various climate conditions globally. The modified ePMV, with explicit formulation, is found to enhance thermal comfort predictions effectively, particularly around thermal neutrality with significant improvements in thermal sensation prediction.