Indoor flow response modelling of convective heat transfer coefficients on human manikin

To predict the climatic impact to individuals in terms of a detailed analysis of the body microclimate, multi-physics processes need to be integrated for accurately calculating the heat transfer between humans and its environments. Human body heat gains and losses are due to convection heat transfer, which can be expressed by linearized heat transfer coefficients or by detailed numerical methods. Convective heat transfer coefficients (CHTC) vary significantly on human body segments in response to local air flow. Existing analytical studies mainly deal with the whole body coefficient, not giving details about the various body segments. We use the CFD approach to develop an empirical model database that approximates the CHTC in non-uniform conditions. The need for developing models which helps in predicting local comfort is described in this article. In this regard common flows around the human body and the influence of CHTC with an example application is explained. A sensitivity study of reference fluid temperature in calculating the CHTC is detailed. The fundamental nondimensional numbers and the influencing parameters are used to classify the flow regimes in enclosed spaces.