Evaluating thermal environments for sitting and standing posture

Abstract

The human thermal environment can be represented by the air temperature, radiant temperature, air velocity, humidity, clothing and activity. This has implications for health, comfort and performance. An understanding of human thermoregulatory processes facilitates the design and development of improved heating and cooling systems. This study presents a computational model of thermal interactions between a human and the interior environment. The model is based on the heat balance equation for human body with different types of clothing ensembles, combined with empirical equations defining the sweat rate and mean skin temperature. Simulation has been performed by the use of steady state conditions, and two different posture positions, namely sitting and standing, are considered in this study. Results are in good agreement with available experimental data. The parametric studies show that the methodology described can provide an effective means for simulating thermal comfort level.