Análise do conforto térmico ambiental no Restaurante Universitário do IEAA/UFAM

Abstract

The thermal comfort index determines whether or not an environment is favorable to the development of a certain activity and this occurs when there are thermal conditions pleasing to the body. When an environment does not present thermal comfort to the human being, we have a situation of discomfort for that individual present there. Thus, the objective of this study was to analyze the level of comfort or thermal discomfort in the environment of the university restaurant of the IEAA. The research took place in the area in the Hall of the university restaurant (R.U), of the Federal University of Amazonas - UFAM, at the Institute of Education, Agriculture and Environment - IEAA. Data on air temperature, dew point temperature and relative humidity were collected with the aid of a Thermohygrometer (Hobo®, model U23-001) which was programmed to store averages every 15 minutes between the months of September (2022) and March (2023) and, subsequently, they served to estimate the indices of comfort and thermal discomfort of the study area. The results showed that the area of the university restaurant of the IEAA presented inversely proportional temperature and relative humidity, where the months of September and October presented the highest temperatures mainly between (1:00 pm and 3:00 pm), being 39°C and 37°C, with relative humidity of 42% and 50%. The months of December and January presented the lowest temperatures in the afternoon around (1:00 pm and 3:00 pm), being 33°C and 31°C, with a relative humidity of 61% and 63%. The month of September was the hottest, thus having a thermal comfort index (ICH) of 35°C (5:00 am and 6:00 am) and 49°C (2:00 pm and 3:00 pm) which corresponds to the varying degree of comfort and unbearable discomfort, respectively. In November, December and January the minimum mean values of ICH analyzed varied between 34°C, 35°C and 34°C 3:00 am and 6:00 am) and 45°C, 45°C and 43°C (2:00 pm and 3:00 pm) which corresponds to the varying degree of comfort and the degree of bearable discomfort. Regarding the thermal discomfort index, the maximum value occurred in September with 74°C (5:00 am and 6:00 am) and 88°C (2:00 pm and 3:00 pm), that is, comfortable sensation and stress due to heat. The minimum values of the thermal discomfort index with the months of November, December and January ranged from 73°C, 74°C and 73°C (4:00 am to 6:00 am) and 84°C, 83°C and 81°C (2:00 pm and 3:00 pm) which corresponds to the comfortable effect and the effect of stress due to heat. So the area of the RU is a place that seems to be ideal for people to attend, except in the afternoon periods between (1:00 pm and 3:00 pm), because these times is where the temperature reaches a very high peak that causes a discomfort for those who attend.