Abstract
Most existing thermal comfort models are applicable only to steady-state, uniform thermal environments. This paper presents summary results from 109 human tests that were performed under non-uniform and transient conditions. In these tests, local body areas were independently heated or cooled while the rest of the body was exposed to a warm, neutral or cool environment. Skin temperatures, core temperature, thermal sensation and comfort responses were collected at 1- to 3-min intervals. Based on these tests, we have developed predictive models of local and overall thermal sensation and comfort.
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Acknowledgments
This work was supported through the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) by the US Department of the Environment Office of FreedomCAR and Vehicle Technologies. The authors appreciate the support of NREL project team members Rom McGuffin, John Rugh and Rob Farrington. Delphi Harrison contributed in-kind support to make the wind tunnel testing possible. We wish to thank Taeyoung Han, Lin-Jie Huang, Greg Germaine and the volunteers from Delphi Harrison.
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Zhang, H., Huizenga, C., Arens, E. et al. Thermal sensation and comfort in transient non-uniform thermal environments. Eur J Appl Physiol 92, 728–733 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-004-1137-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-004-1137-y