The influence of a local heating system on the indoor climate of a large room

In this research, a study is being performed on a local radiant heating system which purpose is to avoid damage to the monumental building and its interior, while creating a local thermal comfort zone for the people who are seated in large spaces / buildings. This purpose is met by radiating heat to the people directly, thus creating a comfortable climate zone around the people, instead of heating the whole (large) room. This way, the overall indoor climate is not influenced greatly by the heating system. As a result, the building and its interior objects are not exposed to abrupt changes in indoor climate (temperature and relative humidity) which can cause great damage to them. Apart from reducing the risk on damaging the monumental objects and increasing the human thermal comfort, the local radiant heating system should also reduce the energy consumption. This research is performed within the European project Friendly Heating . A case study within this project is the application of the local radiant heating system in the St. Maria Maddalena church in Rocca Pietore (Italian Dolomites). The indoor climate in the church in the Dolomites is quite cold for European standards. Since a lot of problems (concerning the conservation of historical objects, the thermal comfort of people, and high energy costs) occur due to heating the whole church during winter, this situation is investigated in the European project. To find a solution for all these problems, within the European project a local bench heating system is being designed. The goal of this heating system is to provide the heat only in the benches, where it is needed for creating a comfortable local climate for the people. The system consists of 3 heating elements, based on radiant heating foil and placed under the seat, in the back and under the kneeler pad of the church benches. These elements radiate the heat to the people directly instead of heating the air first

Indoor air humidity of massive buildings and hygrothermal surface conditions

The indoor air humidity of massive buildings is important for the preservation of the building and its valuable interior parts. Open air gas infrared heating, for example, produces a lot of vapor, which may lead to high indoor air relative humidities and condensation on cold exterior walls and glazing. Due to (air) heating under cold winter conditions, the relative humidity drops and this may lead to very low indoor air relative humidities for interior objects such as church organs, resulting in cracking of wooden parts and other problems of drying out. Humidification would be a solution, but it may lead to high relative humidities near cold exterior surfaces. A method was developed for a graphical representation of the near surface relative humidity by measuring the surface temperatures as a function of time by infrared thermography and simultaneously determining the mean vapor pressure of the air. From these measurements, mold germination on indoor surfaces can be predicted in an early state, making use of a representation in so-called hygrographic pictures.</p

Chemical characterization of airborne particles in St. Martinus Cathedral in Weert, The Netherlands

Electron probe X-ray microanalysis (EPMA) of single particles and energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence analysis (EDXRF) were applied to determine the chemical composition, size and probable origin of the suspended particulate matter. The aim of the performed research was to determine the chemical composition, size and abundance of aerosol particles responsible for blackening and soiling of the works of art displayed within the Cathedral of Weert in the Netherlands and to verify the possible sources responsible for these processes

Comparison of hot-air and low-radiant pew heating systems on the distribution and transport of gaseous air pollutants in the mountain church of Rocca Pietore from artwork conservation points of view

The concentrations of CO2, CO, formaldehyde (H2CO) and water vapour were simultaneously monitored in various sections of a mountain church situated in the village of Rocca Pietore in the Italian Alps. The performance of a conventional, hot-air heating system and a novel design for heating the church, consisting of low-temperature heating elements, such as electrically heated pews and carpets, were compared for the supply, transport and removal of gases, the deposition and/or transformation of which may affect the preservation of displayed works of art. Experiments with sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) tracer-gas showed a considerable influx of external air through the hot air carrier ducts of the old heating system, and also the leakage of the internal air mostly via the apertures of the doors. The ventilation rates for the total volume of the church with the hot-air heating system (on for 1.5 h), the new heating system (on for 2 h), and without heating were calculated to be 0.25, 0.18, and 0.13 h-1, respectively. Without heating, a nearly homogeneous distribution of gases has been observed along both the horizontal and the vertical cross-sections of the church. Immediately after switching on the hot-air heating system, the levels of CO2 and water vapour showed a sharp increase. After turning this system off, the levels of gases showed a slow fall and they developed a highly non-homogeneous spatial distribution indoors for many hours. In the upper region of the church, being airtight, higher concentrations of the pollutants could be detected. The low levels of CO and H2CO, mostly originating from incense burning during services, were correlated to that of CO2. The hot-air heating system has been proved to present a potential deterioration risk to artworks, as it increases the supply, transport and deposition probability of air pollutants. On the other hand, the novel, symmetrical heating system eliminates these undesirable effects, thus its application is advantageous to all churches involved in the preservation of works of art