A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
Human comfort modelling for elderly people by infrared thermography: Evaluating the thermoregulation system responses in an indoor environment during winter
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5469-7291
Abstract Elderly people are vulnerable to cold environments, due to aging's impact on the density of nerve fibers. Nevertheless, automatic controls of HVAC systems do not consider the user's real-time thermal sensation and most of algorithms were tested in manikins using climatic chambers or simulated by CFD. Indeed, a standardization of a non-invasive technique as infrared thermography (IRT) for human body responses was not detected in the literature review. This paper proposes a method to determine the indoor thermal comfort of elderly people by IRT. The campaigns took place in a nursing home of the Mediterranean Climate during Winter. A total of 15 old adults were monitored to measure the skin temperature of four face points (nose, forehead, cheekbone and chin) and clothing temperature. A thermal sensation questionnaire and indoor conditions were also collected. The results demonstrated that the IRT model could estimate the thermal exchange from three body-segments (head, back-pelvis, thorax-limbs) to the surroundings by user's features and environmental parameters. The thermal neutrality was achieved when all facial points reached a skin temperature of 35 °C, the clothing temperature was equal to 31 °C, and the operative temperature and relative humidity were 23.5 °C and 54% respectively. Statistically, 31.70% of the variance of PMV could be attributed to increases of facial skin temperature, while changes in user's features could have minor influence (from 0.88 to 6.40%). As regards the main contributions of heat losses, they were given by respiration (11–21%), convection (20–32%) and radiation (35–39%). Finally, an innovative HVAC control strategy was posed.
Highlights A IRT method for determining indoor thermal comfort of elderly people is proposed. Fifteen European older adults were monitored in a nursing home during Winter season. The human model assessed the thermal exchange from three body-segments to the surroundings. Thermal neutrality was achieved when all facial points reached 35 °C. A personalized HVAC control strategy was posed.
Human comfort modelling for elderly people by infrared thermography: Evaluating the thermoregulation system responses in an indoor environment during winter
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5469-7291
Abstract Elderly people are vulnerable to cold environments, due to aging's impact on the density of nerve fibers. Nevertheless, automatic controls of HVAC systems do not consider the user's real-time thermal sensation and most of algorithms were tested in manikins using climatic chambers or simulated by CFD. Indeed, a standardization of a non-invasive technique as infrared thermography (IRT) for human body responses was not detected in the literature review. This paper proposes a method to determine the indoor thermal comfort of elderly people by IRT. The campaigns took place in a nursing home of the Mediterranean Climate during Winter. A total of 15 old adults were monitored to measure the skin temperature of four face points (nose, forehead, cheekbone and chin) and clothing temperature. A thermal sensation questionnaire and indoor conditions were also collected. The results demonstrated that the IRT model could estimate the thermal exchange from three body-segments (head, back-pelvis, thorax-limbs) to the surroundings by user's features and environmental parameters. The thermal neutrality was achieved when all facial points reached a skin temperature of 35 °C, the clothing temperature was equal to 31 °C, and the operative temperature and relative humidity were 23.5 °C and 54% respectively. Statistically, 31.70% of the variance of PMV could be attributed to increases of facial skin temperature, while changes in user's features could have minor influence (from 0.88 to 6.40%). As regards the main contributions of heat losses, they were given by respiration (11–21%), convection (20–32%) and radiation (35–39%). Finally, an innovative HVAC control strategy was posed.
Highlights A IRT method for determining indoor thermal comfort of elderly people is proposed. Fifteen European older adults were monitored in a nursing home during Winter season. The human model assessed the thermal exchange from three body-segments to the surroundings. Thermal neutrality was achieved when all facial points reached 35 °C. A personalized HVAC control strategy was posed.
Human comfort modelling for elderly people by infrared thermography: Evaluating the thermoregulation system responses in an indoor environment during winter
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5469-7291
Abstract Elderly people are vulnerable to cold environments, due to aging's impact on the density of nerve fibers. Nevertheless, automatic controls of HVAC systems do not consider the user's real-time thermal sensation and most of algorithms were tested in manikins using climatic chambers or simulated by CFD. Indeed, a standardization of a non-invasive technique as infrared thermography (IRT) for human body responses was not detected in the literature review. This paper proposes a method to determine the indoor thermal comfort of elderly people by IRT. The campaigns took place in a nursing home of the Mediterranean Climate during Winter. A total of 15 old adults were monitored to measure the skin temperature of four face points (nose, forehead, cheekbone and chin) and clothing temperature. A thermal sensation questionnaire and indoor conditions were also collected. The results demonstrated that the IRT model could estimate the thermal exchange from three body-segments (head, back-pelvis, thorax-limbs) to the surroundings by user's features and environmental parameters. The thermal neutrality was achieved when all facial points reached a skin temperature of 35 °C, the clothing temperature was equal to 31 °C, and the operative temperature and relative humidity were 23.5 °C and 54% respectively. Statistically, 31.70% of the variance of PMV could be attributed to increases of facial skin temperature, while changes in user's features could have minor influence (from 0.88 to 6.40%). As regards the main contributions of heat losses, they were given by respiration (11–21%), convection (20–32%) and radiation (35–39%). Finally, an innovative HVAC control strategy was posed.
Highlights A IRT method for determining indoor thermal comfort of elderly people is proposed. Fifteen European older adults were monitored in a nursing home during Winter season. The human model assessed the thermal exchange from three body-segments to the surroundings. Thermal neutrality was achieved when all facial points reached 35 °C. A personalized HVAC control strategy was posed.
Human comfort modelling for elderly people by infrared thermography: Evaluating the thermoregulation system responses in an indoor environment during winter
Tejedor, Blanca (author) / Casals, Miquel (author) / Gangolells, Marta (author) / Macarulla, Marcel (author) / Forcada, Núria (author)
Building and Environment ; 186
2020-09-30
Article (Journal)
Electronic Resource
English
| British Library Online Contents | 2016