Abstract
The average convective heat transfer coefficient for a seated human body exposed to downward flow from
above was determined. Thermal manikin with complex body shape and size of an average Scandinavian female
was used. The surface temperature distribution of the manikin’s body was as the skin temperature distribution of an
average person. The measurements were performed in a room with controlled thermal environment. Air temperature
was set at 26ºC for cooling and at 20ºC for heating. The radiant temperature asymmetry in horizontal and vertical direction
was close to zero, i.e. mean radiant temperature was equal to the air temperature. The air velocity of the isothermal
downward flow from the ceiling at height of 1.5 m above the floor (above the top of the head) was set in a range between
still air and 0.73 m/s. Based on the analyses of the results relationships for determination of the convective heat transfer
coefficient of the whole body (hc [W/(m2•K)]) was proposed: hc=4.088+6.592V1.715 for a seated naked body at 20ºC and
hc=2.874+7.427V1.345 for a seated naked body at 26ºC. Differences in the convective heat transfer coefficient of the whole
body in low air velocity range, V<0.3 m/s, due to the natural convection were found. The results may be useful during
design of air distribution in rooms, e.g. low impulse ventilation, diffuse ventilation, etc.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 1000126 |
Journal | Journal of Ergonomics |
Volume | 4 |
Issue number | 1 |
ISSN | 2165-7556 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2014 |
Bibliographical note
© 2014 Kurazumi Y, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.Keywords
- Human body
- Convective heat transfer coefficient
- Downward airflow
- Office environment
- Sitting posture