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Thermodynamical analysis of human thermal comfort

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  • Prek, Matjaz

Abstract

Traditional methods of human thermal comfort analysis are based on the first law of thermodynamics. These methods use an energy balance of the human body to determine heat transfer between the body and its environment. By contrast, the second law of thermodynamics introduces the useful concept of exergy. It enables the determination of the exergy consumption within the human body dependent on human and environmental factors. Human body exergy consumption varies with the combination of environmental (room) conditions. This process is related to human thermal comfort in connection with temperature, heat, and mass transfer. In this paper a thermodynamic analysis of human heat and mass transfer based on the 2nd law of thermodynamics in presented. It is shown that the human body's exergy consumption in relation to selected human parameters exhibits a minimal value at certain combinations of environmental parameters. The expected thermal sensation also shows that there is a correlation between exergy consumption and thermal sensation. Thus, our analysis represents an improvement in human thermal modelling and gives more information about the environmental impact on expected human thermal sensation.

Suggested Citation

  • Prek, Matjaz, 2006. "Thermodynamical analysis of human thermal comfort," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 31(5), pages 732-743.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:31:y:2006:i:5:p:732-743
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2005.05.001
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    1. Šebela, Stanka & Turk, Janez, 2014. "Natural and anthropogenic influences on the year-round temperature dynamics of air and water in Postojna show cave, Slovenia," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 40(C), pages 233-243.
    2. Ucar, Aynur, 2010. "Thermoeconomic analysis method for optimization of insulation thickness for the four different climatic regions of Turkey," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 35(4), pages 1854-1864.
    3. Ribeiro, Thatiana Jessica da Silva & Mady, Carlos Eduardo Keutenedjian, 2022. "Comparison among exergy analysis methods applied to a human body thermal model," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 239(PE).
    4. Mady, Carlos Eduardo Keutenedjian & Henriques, Izabela Batista & de Oliveira, Silvio, 2015. "A thermodynamic assessment of therapeutic hypothermia techniques," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 392-402.
    5. Henriques, Izabela Batista & Mady, Carlos Eduardo Keutenedjian & de Oliveira Junior, Silvio, 2016. "Exergy model of the human heart," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 117(P2), pages 612-619.
    6. Guo, Hongshan & Luo, Yongqiang & Meggers, Forrest & Simonetti, Marco, 2019. "Human body exergy consumption models’ evaluation and their sensitivities towards different environmental conditions," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 183(C), pages 1075-1088.
    7. Henriques, Izabela Batista & Mady, Carlos Eduardo Keutenedjian & de Oliveira Junior, Silvio, 2017. "Assessment of thermal comfort conditions during physical exercise by means of exergy analysis," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 128(C), pages 609-617.
    8. Keutenedjian Mady, Carlos Eduardo & Silva Ferreira, Maurício & Itizo Yanagihara, Jurandir & Hilário Nascimento Saldiva, Paulo & de Oliveira Junior, Silvio, 2012. "Modeling the exergy behavior of human body," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 45(1), pages 546-553.
    9. Maino, Giuseppe & Lucia, Umberto, 2019. "A thermodynamic approach to the microclimate environment of museums," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 517(C), pages 66-72.
    10. Lucia, Umberto, 2012. "Irreversibility in biophysical and biochemical engineering," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 391(23), pages 5997-6007.
    11. Homod, Raad Z., 2014. "Assessment regarding energy saving and decoupling for different AHU (air handling unit) and control strategies in the hot-humid climatic region of Iraq," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 762-774.
    12. Prek, Matjaž & Butala, Vincenc, 2017. "Comparison between Fanger's thermal comfort model and human exergy loss," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 228-237.
    13. Mady, Carlos Eduardo Keutenedjian & Albuquerque, Cyro & Fernandes, Tiago Lazzaretti & Hernandez, Arnaldo José & Saldiva, Paulo Hilário Nascimento & Yanagihara, Jurandir Itizo & de Oliveira, Silvio, 2013. "Exergy performance of human body under physical activities," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 370-378.
    14. Ahn, Jonghoon & Chung, Dae Hun & Cho, Soolyeon, 2018. "Energy cost analysis of an intelligent building network adopting heat trading concept in a district heating model," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 151(C), pages 11-25.
    15. Diana Enescu, 2019. "Models and Indicators to Assess Thermal Sensation Under Steady-State and Transient Conditions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-43, March.

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