Site Design by M.Weagel |
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Hypothesis 3 - Radiant Heater EffectivenessAs with any research problem, the first step is to create a series of working hypotheses which will guide experiment creation and methodology. These hypotheses are specific statements derived from our basic questions about the WRC and were carefully narrowed down to address a specific element based on our personal knowledge of building systems and personal interest in the real-world performance of building designs. Hypothesis 3 The radiant heating units on the east and west walls of the first and second floors of the atrium stairwell are not necessary to maintain an adequate comfort level*. *An adequate comfort level for the atrium space is considered to be between 68 degrees and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Procedure 3 Our team began on the first floor of the atrium by placing a HOBO unit approximately five (5) feet above the floor on the western wall. This HOBO was placed immediately above the wall-mounted radiant heating unit. This would measure the effect of the radiant heater on the temperature of the space. The readings from this HOBO would be compared to control data taken from the HOBO placed on the northern wall.
Click the image above to view a plan of the atrium showing HOBO locations. Next we placed a second HOBO unit five (5) feet above the landing on the second floor of the atrium space, again above the radiant heating unit on the western wall of the space. This HOBO's control data would be taken from the third HOBO placed on the northern wall at the same height.
Click the image above to view a plan of the offices showing HOBO locations. As with the HOBOs from Hypothesis 2, these units would be left for fourteen (14) days to record data from the space, and would then be compared to data from the other HOBOs from the northern wall, as detailed on the Hypothesis 2 page. As a follow-up to this experiment, our team later returned with a Raytek temperature spot-checking tool in order to provide a separate set of data to more conclusively determine the presence of a temperature stratification effect. Using this tool, we were able to examine the same range of elevations within the atrium and office spaces and compare the temperature ranges of the two data series. The readings were carefully taken at the HOBO placement locations to avoid inconsistencies in the data ranges. The results of each experiment can be viewed on its corresponding Data page:
The analysis of each experiment can be found on the corresponding Analysis page: |
