Kansei Engineering Methodology on Thermal Comfort Studies and Development of Air-conditioning System Attributes

Abstract

This paper aims to use the Kansei Engineering Methodology to study the Thermal Comfort affection in a classroom at the University of Brasilia (Brazil) and propose some changes on an air-conditioner model in order to obtain a better affective relation with users. In the investigation, an air-conditioner was installed on-site to evaluate Kansei responses from 53 people in a classroom. The study determined three main emotions that must be worked on in order to turn it more stimulating: calmness, sleepiness and laziness. The study shows that students who were positioned farther away from the comfort of airconditioning reported a better sense of relaxation; and air currents at higher intensity are unwanted by most respondents. Based on the senses: visual, auditory, and olfactory, changes were proposed for a new air conditioner, which are: (i) LED light installation; (ii) sound output installation with emission of specific noises; (iii) and scent spray installation.