A novel convective-radiant personalized environmental control system for intermittent heating demand

Building energy consumption is mainly influenced by thermal load, equipment efficiency, service space, and operating time. While extensive research has focused on reducing load and improving efficiency, significant energy-saving potential remains in optimizing time and space of usage. This study proposes a novel convective-radiant desktop-based terminal that integrates personalized environmental control system with convective-radiant terminals, enabling “part-time, localized-space” operations to enhance energy savings. It includes a discussion on the structural design of the device and experimental analysis of its local environmental control and intermittent operation. The design incorporates a convective heat exchanger and radiant panel embedded in a height-adjustable desktop. Experimental results showed that the combination of the radiant panel and air outlet beneath the desktop accumulates heat in this area during heating, creating a “cool head, warm feet” thermal comfort effect. The maximum vertical temperature difference was 0.7 ℃ in radiation mode. For intermittent operation, the temperature response matching coefficient (TRMC) of the proposed terminal was 3.4 times that of floor heating and 2.1 times that of fan coil units, indicating superior performance. Besides, this novel terminal provides effective thermal comfort in both sitting and standing positions, offering potential energy savings in open-plan offices. By extending the room temperature setpoint to 16–18 ℃ in winter, the terminal can reduce energy consumption by 3.64%–12.52%. These findings provide a reference for personalized environmental control systems and intermittent heating strategies.