Thermohygrograph

The thermohygrograph was used to record both air temperature and relative humidity of the thermal environment we were measuring. The devise itself contained two recording pens for temperature and humidity, a red pen for temperature and a blue pen for humidity. A chart can be fitted to the instrument my removing the magnet and fixing a chart under the pens; the magnet can then be reapplied to hold the chart in place. The thermohygrograph we used was battery powered and set to run a 7 day cycle, it would take 7 days to complete one full revolution of the circular chart. As it follows through this 7 day cycle the pens make the chart moving up and down as air temperature and relative humidity changes. We used the thermohygrograph as a standard as to what the air temperature and relative humidity of the environment and to what extent this changes as the day goes on. We obtained readings of each room from the thermohygrograph through the full 7 day cycle of the graph. An example of this reading can be seen on the graph below.

Whirling Hydrometer
The whirling hydrometer was used to measure both wet bulb and dry bulb temperatures. The instrument itself consists of a wet and dry bulb thermometer mounted in a frame with a swivel at one end of the device which enables it to be rotated; the device is rotated by hand for 1 minute to induce an air current to flow over the bulbs. Distilled water is needed to wet the muslin sleeve which covers the wet bulb wick. Distilled water is used as the water vapour pressure in the case of saline solutions is less in that of pure water. When using the hydrometer the water is evaporated by the air current caused by rotating the device. As the water evaporates the bulb is cooled and a reading is taken from both the wet and dry bulb after one minute. Relative humidity can then be calculated by using a special humidity ruler that was supplied with the whirling hydrometer or by using a psychometric chart.

Globe Thermometer
We used a globe thermometer to find the mean radiant temperature. The globe consists of a mercury glass thermometer placed with its bulb in the centre of a black sphere (Globe). The diameter of the globe we used was 44mm; this is the smaller version of globe thermometers that are available. We chose a smaller diameter globe thermometer for its faster response times as the smaller globe thermometers have the advantage of reaching thermal equilibrium with the environment faster than that of the larger globe thermometers. However with the smaller globe came certain limitations, as the smaller the diameter of the globe the greater the effect of certain aspects such as air temperature and air velocity. However given how we conducted our thermal comfort study quick measurements were needed from the instruments if we were to ensure our timing intervals between the experiments would not overlap.

Kata Thermometer
The kata thermometer was used to provide us with values of the air velocity. The thermometer itself consists of a large silvered bulb at the base of a glass thermometer, which contains alcohol. The thermometer itself is inscribed with two marks, point A and point B, which are used to determine cooling power when using the device. As you heat the silvered bulb, with hot water from a flask, the alcohol in the bulb expands and rises. Once it reaches a certain point (past the top mark) we take away the hot water and dry the base of the bulb. The alcohol eventually starts to contract and begins to retreat back towards the silver bulb. When it reaches point A (Top point) on the thermometer we time it as it drops until it hits point B. From timing this drop from point A to point B we can determine the cooling power of the air. From this we can then determine the air velocity from a chart which is supplied with the kata thermometer. We choose to use the Kata thermometer as it provides a good general measure of air velocity and is particularly useful when measuring air velocity below the range of 0.5m/s which is usually the case in most office environments.