EFFECTIVE TEMPERATURE (ET):

The temperature of a still, saturated atmosphere, which would in the absence of radiation,
produce the same effect as the atmosphere in question. This scale was produced by Houghton
and Yaglou in 1923, and integrates the effects of three variables – temperature, humidity, and air
movement.

CORRECTED EFFECTIVE TEMPERATURE (CET):

This scale integrates the effects of four variables – temperature, humidity, air movement, and
radiation. It is the most widely used and best understood scale.

COMFORT ZONE:

The range of conditions within which at least 80% of the people would feel comfortable, can be
termed “Comfort Zone”.

THE BIOCLIMATIC CHART:

The Bioclimatic chart was constructed by V. Olgyay. On this chart, the comfort zone is defined
in terms of DBT and RH, but subsequently, it is shown, by additional lines, how this comfort
zone is pushed up by the presence of air movement and how it is lowered by radiation.
When the CET is to be determined for a given situation, the following steps must be taken:

1. Measure the globe thermometer temperature.

The globe thermometer consists of an ordinary mercury thermometer enclosed in a
matt black painted copper globe of 150 mm diameter. After 15 minutes, its reading
gives a combination of air temperature and the effect of any received or emitted
radiation. This reading is known as Globe temperature (GT) or Mean Radiant
Temperature (MRT).
MRT is defined as follows: If all surfaces in an environment were uniformly at this
temperature, it would produce the same net radiant heat balance as the given
environment with its various surface temperatures.

2. Measure the wet bulb temperature (WBT) using a wet bulb thermometer.
3. Measure the air velocity with an anemometer or in case of low velocities with a Kata
thermometer.
Anemometers with moving mechanical parts will rarely respond to air movements
below 0.5 m/sec. However, even small air speeds of random directions can be
measured through their cooling effect.
The Kata thermometer is an instrument used for this purpose.
It is a glass tube, filled with coloured spirit. The spirit is heated to expand to the
small container at the top, usually by dipping it into hot water. When taken out of
the water, it is wiped dry and hung on a stand: the level of the spirit starts dropping
as it cools. There are two markings on the tube, one corresponding usually to 54.5
degrees Celsius and the other to 51 degrees Celsius.
The time it takes for the spirit to drop from the upper to the lower marking is
measured by a stop watch – this is the “cooling time”.
The specific properties of each thermometer are expressed by a number, the “Kata
Factor” (between 250 and 600) which is marked on its back.

The Kata air speed nomogram is used as follows:

a) Mark the Kata factor on the left-hand scale.
b) Mark the cooling time on the inclined scale.
c) Lay a straight-edge across these two points and mark its intersection on the
centre scale (the “cooling power”)
d) Mark the separately measured air temperature (DBT) on the right-hand
inclined scale.
e) Lay a straight-edge from the “cooling power” across the DBT and read off the
air speed on the right-hand vertical scale.

4. Locate the GT on the left-hand vertical scale of the nomogram.

5. Locate the WBT on the right-hand vertical scale.
6. Connect the two points with a line.
7. Select the curve appropriate to the air velocity.
8. Mark the point where the velocity curve intersects with the line drawn.
9. Read off the value of the short inclined line going through the same point: this is the CET
value.
The Kata Air Speed Nomogram
The Effective Temperature Nomogram