Transactions of Nanjing University of Aeronautics & Astronautics
Numerical Analysis on Thermal Function of Clothing with PCM Microcapsules
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Abstract:
To study the influences of phase change material (PCM) microcapsules in clothing on human thermal responses, a mathematical model is developed. The improved Stolwijk’s model is used to simulate human thermo-regulatory process, and the coupled heat and moisture transfer including the moisture sorption /desorption of fibers and effects of phase transition temperature range on the phase change processes of the PCM is considered in clothing model. Meanwhile, the theoretical predictions are validated by experimental data. Then, the interactions between human body thermal responses and the heat and moisture transfer in clothing are discussed by comparing the prediction results with PCMs and without PCMs. Also the effects of fiber hygroscopicity on clothing and human thermal responses are compared. The conclusion shows that the clothing with PCMs microcapsules can delay the human temperature variations and decrease the sweat accumulation rate on the skin surface and heat loss during changing of ambient conditions, and fiber hygroscopicity reduces the effect of PCM microcapsules on delaying garment temperature variations very significantly.
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TN925
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