A Thermal Comfort Evaluation Model for Contact Heat Transfer Based on Thermophysiology

¹ School of Mechanical Engineering Tongji University, 4800 Cao’an Road, Jiading District, Shanghai, China
² CATARC Automotive Tes tCenter (Ningbo) Co., Ltd, No. 727, Binhai 2nd Road, Hangzhou Bay New Area, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China

^* Corresponding author: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Abstract

This study integrates the Joint System Thermoregulation Model (JOS) with four different thermal sensation models to establish a thermophysiological-thermal sensation computational framework capable of handling complex contact heat transfer scenarios. The thermal resistance-capacitance (RC) network is embedded to characterize the heat transfer properties of the contact interface. Through experimental investigations of heated seats, we systematically collect skin temperature measurements, interfacial heat flux data, and subjective thermal evaluations. These experimental data are employed to validate the predictive accuracy of the integrated model in determining human thermal states under combined conditions of low ambient temperatures and high-intensity conductive heat flux. The developed model provides a robust analytical tool for thermal sensation prediction in automotive applications and other confined environments with active thermal interfaces.