Review on modeling heat transfer and thermoregulatory responses in human body

Understanding the drivers leading to individual differences in human thermal perception has become increasingly important, amongst other things due to challenges such as climate change and an ageing society. This review summarizes existing knowledge related to physiological, psychological, and context-related drivers of diversity in thermal perception. Furthermore, the current state of knowledge is discussed in terms of its applicability in thermal comfort models, by combining modelling approaches of the thermoneutral zone (TNZ) and adaptive thermal heat balance model (ATHB). In conclusion, the results of this review show the clear contribution of some physiological and psychological factors, such as body composition, metabolic rate, adaptation to certain thermal environments and perceived control, to differences in thermal perception. However, the role of other potential diversity-causing parameters, such as age and sex, remain uncertain. Further research is suggested, especially regarding the interaction of different diversity-driving factors with each other, both physiological and psychological, to help establishing a holistic picture.

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“…Based on recent reviews of thermal comfort models [4][5][6][7], the existing modelling approaches can be classified as follows:…”

Section: Modelling Approachesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Drivers of diversity in human thermal perception – A review for holistic comfort models

et al. 2018

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“…WBC consists of exposing patients to extreme cold air (-110°C) in minimal clothing, during a short time duration (2-4 minutes). The thermal shock monitored by skin peripheral thermoreceptors induces complex thermoregulation responses via the central nervous system to maintain constant the temperature of vital organs raising physiological barriers against the extreme atmosphere [6]. The skin which is the largest organ of the body is the link between internal tissues and the environment.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Should whole body cryotherapy sessions be differentiated between women and men? A preliminary study on the role of the body thermal resistance

et al. 2018

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The aim of this study was to investigate how body thermal resistance between sexes evolves over time in the recovery period after a WBC session and to show how this parameter should be considered as a key parameter in WBC protocols. Eighteen healthy participants volunteered for the study (10 males and 8 females). Temperature (core and skin) were recorded pre- and post (immediately and every 5 min until 35 min post) exposure to a single bout of WBC (30 s at -60 °C, 150 s at -110 °C). From both core and skin temperatures a bio-heat transfer model was applied which led to the analytical formulation of the body thermal resistance. An unsteady behavior presenting a similar time-evolution trend in the body insulative response is shown for both females and males, possibly due to the vasodilatation process following an intense peripheral vasoconstriction during the extreme cold. Females present a 37% higher inner thermal resistance than males when reaching an asymptotical thermal state at rest due to a higher concentration of body fat percentage. Adiposity of tissues inherent in fat mass percentage appears to be a key parameter in the body thermal resistance to be taken into account in the definition of appropriate protocols for males and females. The conclusions of this preliminary study suggest that in order to achieve the same skin effects on temperature and consequently to cool efficiency tissues in the same way, the duration of cryotherapy protocols should be shorter when considering female compared to male.

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“…Therefore, knowledge of human thermal response to non-uniform and transient environments is important to accurately provide thermal boundary conditions to a CFD solver using thermoregulatory models. The coupled process includes the data exchange with respect to body segment heat fluxes and temperatures, and detailed local microenvironment parameters [163]. An early PV study coupled CFD and the thermoregulation model to investigate PV in regard to inhaled air quality and local thermal comfort [37].…”

Section: Coupling Of Cfd and Thermoregulation Modelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There are already several comprehensive reviews of thermoregulation models [163,[169][170][171]. The accuracy of transferred parameters of the environment around the human body in PV studies is vital to the accuracy of CFD simulation results.…”

Section: Coupling Of Cfd and Thermoregulation Modelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Review of CFD Analysis Methods for Personalized Ventilation (PV) in Indoor Built Environments

et al. 2019

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Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is an effective analysis method of personalized ventilation (PV) in indoor built environments. As an increasingly important supplement to experimental and theoretical methods, the quality of CFD simulations must be maintained through an adequately controlled numerical modeling process. CFD numerical data can explain PV performance in terms of inhaled air quality, occupants’ thermal comfort, and building energy savings. Therefore, this paper presents state-of-the-art CFD analyses of PV systems in indoor built environments. The results emphasize the importance of accurate thermal boundary conditions for computational thermal manikins (CTMs) to properly analyze the heat exchange between human body and the microenvironment, including both convective and radiative heat exchange. CFD modeling performance is examined in terms of effectiveness of computational grids, convergence criteria, and validation methods. Additionally, indices of PV performance are suggested as system-performance evaluation criteria. A specific utilization of realistic PV air supply diffuser configurations remains a challenging task for further study. Overall, the adaptable airflow characteristics of a PV air supply provide an opportunity to achieve better thermal comfort with lower energy use based on CFD numerical analyses.

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Review on modeling heat transfer and thermoregulatory responses in human body

Cited by 66 publications

References 100 publications

Drivers of diversity in human thermal perception – A review for holistic comfort models

Drivers of diversity in human thermal perception – A review for holistic comfort models

Should whole body cryotherapy sessions be differentiated between women and men? A preliminary study on the role of the body thermal resistance

A Review of CFD Analysis Methods for Personalized Ventilation (PV) in Indoor Built Environments

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