The interrelation of local and overall thermal comfort of passengers in aircraft cabins

A study on the interrelation between local and overall thermal comfort was performed in a simulated aircraft environment. Physical and subjective data of thirteen simulated flights have been analyzed. For each of the tests forty subjects filled out questionnaires regarding their perceived overall and local thermal comfort at temperatures of 20°C to 25°C, which were measured at every second seat. Body segments rated similarly have been detected and such segments have been pooled to distinct body regions using principal component analysis. Regarding the local thermal sensation of these body regions, an overall thermal sensation model has been derived. Finally multiple linear regression models calculating the overall thermal comfort in dependence of the overall thermal sensation and the sensation of the local body regions have been developed.