PCM cooling vest for improving thermal comfort in hot environment

In recent years, personal cooling has aroused much attention because it can achieve both localized high-level thermal comfort and build energy savings. In this study, a novel hybrid personal cooling vest (PCV) incorporated with phase change materials (PCMs) and ventilation fans was developed, and its efficacy was investigated by human trials in a hot-humid climate chamber. Three generally accepted indices (thermal load, Q; thermal sensation, TS; and physiological strain index, PSI) and a new proposed index (cumulative heat storage, CHS) during human trials were comparatively studied between the two human trial groups, i.e., the PCV group (wearing the PCV) and the CON group (without PCV). Results found that TS, PSI, and CHS were significantly reduced by the PCV, which suggests that the PCV can significantly improve both the perceptual and physiological strain. In addition, a strong linear relationship (r2 = 0.8407) was found between the proposed index of CHS with PSI, which indicates the applicability and reliability of CHS for assessing physiological heat strain.

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“…By substituting Equation (5) into Equation (6) and estimating dT/dt with ∆T/∆t, CHS is rewritten as:…”

Section: Mathematical Modelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The chance of risky behaviors increased concomitantly with environmental temperatures above 24 • C [3]. Personal cooling is one of the methods suggested for decreasing heat stress and improving thermal comfort of outdoor workers; since, in such conditions, air-conditioning systems are not effective [4][5][6][7].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Experimental Study on the Efficacy of a Novel Personal Cooling Vest Incorporated with Phase Change Materials and Fans

Yao

Zhang

et al. 2020

Materials

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“…Some dynamic human-clothing-environment models are presented in [108,178,204,205], with numerical results validated by experimental data. In particular, the human clothing model [108] is valid in both steady-state and dynamic conditions (heat, cold, exercise, clothing and transient phases).…”

Section: Human Clothing Modelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The model used in [204], based on the Tanabe model, takes into account the dynamic heat and moisture transfer through clothing, including liquid water transport and clothing ventilation. The transient model [205] of heat and mass transfer through clothing layers containing phase change material (PCM) packets is integrated with a segmental bio-heat model to predict the instantaneous response of the human body. In [193] the thermoregulatory model is coupled with a clothing model to simulate the effects of the air gap and fabric properties on human thermal responses.…”

Section: Human Clothing Modelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Models and Indicators to Assess Thermal Sensation Under Steady-State and Transient Conditions

Enescu

2019

Energies

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The assessment of thermal sensation is the first stage of many studies aimed at addressing thermal comfort and at establishing the related criteria used in indoor and outdoor environments. The study of thermal sensation requires suitable modelling of the human body, taking into account the factors that affect the physiological and psychological reactions that occur under different environmental conditions. These aspects are becoming more and more relevant in the present context in which thermal sensation and thermal comfort are represented as objectives or constraints in a wider range of problems referring to the living environment. This paper first considers the models of the human body used in steady-state and transient conditions. Starting from the conceptual formulations of the heat balance equations, this paper follows the evolution occurred during the years to refine the models. This evolution is also marked by the availability of increasingly higher computational capability that enabled the researchers developing transient models with a growing level of detail and accuracy, and by the validation of the models through experimental studies that exploit advanced technologies. The paper then provides an overview of the indicators used to characterise the local and overall thermal sensation, indicating the relations with local and overall thermal comfort.

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“…Recently, solutions to thermal discomfort in outdoor environments have been proposed through the use of jackets filled with Phase-Change Materials (PCM). These jackets were found to mitigate the workers' thermal stresses significantly, even in harsh weather conditions [7][8][9]. However, the applicability of such techniques is troubled in indoor spaces.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Improved Human Thermal Comfort with Indoor PCM-Enhanced Tiles in Living Spaces in the Arabian Gulf

Touma

2018

E3S Web Conf.

Self Cite

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Al-Majlis is the living space in residential buildings of the Arabian Gulf, and is where occupants spend most of their time. For this reason, the human thermal comfort in this space is of extreme importance and is often compromised due to hot outdoor weather conditions. In contrast with many thermal discomfort mitigation methods in outdoor environments, which become unadvisable in indoor spaces, this study investigates the effect of adding PCM-enhanced tiles to portions of the indoor envelope on the occupant's thermal comfort and the space cooling energy demand. A simulation model of a space with tight building envelope in Qatar was developed on EnergyPlus with and without the addition of PCM-enhanced tiles. The selected country is a representative location of the Arabian Gulf. Considering different occupant's positions, the addition of the tiles with PCM on their back was found to moderate the mean radiant temperature, operative temperature, Predicted Mean Vote (PMV) and Predicted Percentage of Dissatisfied (PPD), all of which signify an improvement in the human thermal comfort. Lastly, this change in the indoor envelope was found to save 3.3% of the space daily thermal cooling energy demand during one harsh summer representative day.

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PCM cooling vest for improving thermal comfort in hot environment

Cited by 64 publications

References 26 publications

Experimental Study on the Efficacy of a Novel Personal Cooling Vest Incorporated with Phase Change Materials and Fans

Experimental Study on the Efficacy of a Novel Personal Cooling Vest Incorporated with Phase Change Materials and Fans

Models and Indicators to Assess Thermal Sensation Under Steady-State and Transient Conditions

Improved Human Thermal Comfort with Indoor PCM-Enhanced Tiles in Living Spaces in the Arabian Gulf

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