1

21. EFFECTIVE TEMPERATURE (ET)

Effective temperature by designed by Houghton and Yaglou in the year 1923
It is one of the comfort scales or thermal indices * i.e. a single scale or value which
combines the effect of different components of climate like air temperature,
humidity, air movement but does not consider radiation.
It is defined as the temperature of a still, saturated atmosphere, which would, in the
absence of radiation, produce the same effect as the atmosphere in question. It thus
combines the effect of dry air temperature and humidity.
Corrected Effective Temperature (CET) is a modification of ET scale and it includes
radiation effects to measure ET.
A nomograph* can be used to find out the effective temperature if the WBT (wet bulb
temperature) and DBT (Dry bulb temperature) are known along with the air velocity.
*A thermal index is a measure of atmospheric stability/instability
* Nomo graph is a diagram representing the relations between three or more
variable quantities by means of a number of scales, so arranged that the value of
one variable can be found by a simple geometrical construction.

Left hand verticle scale = Dry bulb temperature (DBT )

Right hand scale = wet bulb temperature ( WBT)
Long curvilinear lines between 2 scales = Effective temperature (ET) or Corrected
Effective Temperature ( CET )
Short curvilinear lines= air velocity

22. PSYCHROMETRIC CHART

A Psychrometric charts are graphic representations of the properties of air and is a

study of moist air and changes in its conditions.
Relationships of
1) Relative humidity (curved lines)
2) Dry bulb temperature (vertical lines )
3) Absolute humidity (horizontal bold lines)
4) Wet bulb temperature (inclined lines)
5) Vapour Pressure (horizontal dotted lines)
is given by a Psychometric chart.

23. SOLAR ALTITUDE ANGLE ()

Solar altitude angle is the verticle angle at the point of observation between the
horizon plane and the line connecting the sun with the observer . (Denoted by ,
phi)

24 SOLAR AZIMUTH ANGLE ()

The azimuth of an object is the angular distance along the horizon to the location of
the object. By convention, azimuth is measured from north towards the east along
the horizon

It can be defined as
The angle at the point of observation measured on a horizontal plane in a northerly
direction and a point on the horizon circle where it is intersected by the arch of a
vertical circle going through to the zenith and the suns position.
Azimuth is usually measured in degrees ().
The azimuth angle is like a compass direction with North = 0 or 360 degrees and
South = 180 degrees, East 90 and West 270 degrees

25. SHADOW ANGLE PROTRACTOR

Is a semi-circular protractor with two sets of lines.
Radial lines marked 0 at the centre, to - 90 to the left and + 90 to the right, to
give readings of the horizontal shadow angle (HSA)
Arc lines which coincide with the altitude circles along the middle, but then deviate
and converge at the two corners of the protractor and give readings of the vertical
shadow angle ( VSA)

26. SHADOW ANGLE

Shadow angles express the sun's position in relation to a building face of given
orientation. The shadow angles help us design an efficient shading system for each
latitude and orientation.Shadow angle are of two types
1) Vertical shadow angle
2) Horizontal shadow angle
Vertical Shadow Angle

()

The vertical shadow angle or profile angle characterises a horizontal shading

device and is measured in a plane perpendicular to the building face. It is the
altitude of the sun projected to this surface.
When the sun is parallel to the normal of the surface then the solar altitude is equal
to the vertical shadow angle. The Vertical shadow angle will be larger than the
Altitude angle, when the sun is not perpendicular to the building face
When the sun is sideways, its altitude angle will be projected, parallel with the
building face, onto the perpendicular plane and the Vertical shadow angle will be
larger than the Altitude angle.
A larger overhang means a lower vertical shadow angle

Horizontal shadow angle ()

Horizontal shadow angle () characterizes a vertical shading device and is the
difference between solar azimuth and wall azimuth I.e the same as horizontal
component of angle of incidence. A larger fin means a smaller HAS angle

When the HSA is between +/- 90o and 270o, then the sun is behind the facade, the
facade is in shade, there is no HSA.

27. SHADING DEVICES

Heat flows through windows can be a very important component of heat gains and
losses in a building. In the winter, heat can be lost by conduction or gained by
radiation. In the summer, heat can be gained by conduction or by radiation. The most
effective strategy to reduce heat gains by radiation is by shading.
Shading the Window is possible to shade the windows in three forms :
External shading devices,
Internal shading devices
With the glass pane itself.
Each of these systems has advantages and disadvantages.
External Shading Devices
An external shading system has the advantage of blocking the solar radiation before
the sun penetrates the building, but has the disadvantage of exposure to the climatic
elements for maintenance. The size and position of these external shading elements
can be calculated so as to cover the windows on the most problematic hours.
External shading systems are usually classified as:
1) Vertical devices
2) Horizontal devices
3) Egg crate devices
VERTICAL DEVICES
Vertical devices consist of louver blades projecting fins in a vertical position. The
horizontal shadow angle measures their performance. Narrow blades with close
spacing may give the same shadow angle as broader blades with wider spacing.
Using shadow angle protractor, the shading mask of a given device can be
established. For vertical devices this is the characteristic sector shape.
These devices are most effective when the sun is to one side of the elevation, such
as eastern or western elevation.

10

HORIZONTAL DEVICES
Horizontal device can be canopies, horizontal louver blades or externally applied
venetian blinds. Their performance will be measured by a vertical shadow angle.
The shading mask is of segmental shape. These will be most effective when the sun
is opposite to the building face considered and at a high angle, such as north and
south facing walls. To cover low angles the device would have to cover the window
completely permitting only downward view.

11

EGG CRATE DEVICES

Egg crate devices are a combination of horizontal and vertical shading devices. The
many types of grille-blocks and decorative screens fall in to this category. These can
be effective for any orientation depending on detail dimensions