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Human convective boundary layer and its interaction with room ventilation flow
Author(s) -
Licina D.,
Melikov A.,
Sekhar C.,
Tham K. W.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
indoor air
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.387
H-Index - 99
eISSN - 1600-0668
pISSN - 0905-6947
DOI - 10.1111/ina.12120
Subject(s) - thermal manikin , airflow , mechanics , particle image velocimetry , boundary layer , flow (mathematics) , flow visualization , flow velocity , convective boundary layer , convection , ventilation (architecture) , materials science , meteorology , physics , thermodynamics , layer (electronics) , planetary boundary layer , turbulence , composite material , thermal insulation
This study investigates the interaction between the human convective boundary layer ( CBL ) and uniform airflow with different velocity and from different directions. Human body is resembled by a thermal manikin with complex body shape and surface temperature distribution as the skin temperature of an average person. Particle image velocimetry ( PIV ) and p seudocolor visualization ( PCV ) are applied to identify the flow around the manikin's body. The findings show that the direction and magnitude of the surrounding airflows considerably influence the airflow distribution around the human body. Downward flow with velocity of 0.175 m/s does not influence the convective flow in the breathing zone, while flow at 0.30 m/s collides with the CBL at the nose level reducing the peak velocity from 0.185 to 0.10 m/s. Transverse horizontal flow disturbs the CBL at the breathing zone even at 0.175 m/s. A sitting manikin exposed to airflow from below with velocity of 0.30 and 0.425 m/s assisting the CBL reduces the peak velocity in the breathing zone and changes the flow pattern around the body, compared to the assisting flow of 0.175 m/s or quiescent conditions. In this case, the airflow interaction is strongly affected by the presence of the chair.