l of Ergono

na
Kurazumi et al., J Ergonomics 2014, 4:1
Journal of Ergonomics
r

m
Jou

ics
DOI: 10.4172/2165-7556.1000126
ISSN: 2165-7556

Research Article Open

OpenAccess
Access

Convective Heat Transfer Coefficients of the Human Body under Forced

Convection from Ceiling
Yoshihito Kurazumi1*, Lauris Rezgals2 and Arsen Krikor Melikov3
1
School of Life Studies, Sugiyama Jogakuen University, Japan
2
Faculty of Civil Engineering, Riga technical University 1 Kalku Street, Riga, LV 1658, Latvia
3
International Centre for Indoor Environment and Energy, Technical University of Denmark Nils Koppels Allé, Building 402, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark

Abstract
The average convective heat transfer coefficient for a seated human body exposed to downward flow from
above was determined. Thermal manikin with complex body shape and size of an average Scandinavian female
was used. The surface temperature distribution of the manikin’s body was as the skin temperature distribution of an
average person. The measurements were performed in a room with controlled thermal environment. Air temperature
was set at 26ºC for cooling and at 20ºC for heating. The radiant temperature asymmetry in horizontal and vertical direction
was close to zero, i.e. mean radiant temperature was equal to the air temperature. The air velocity of the isothermal
downward flow from the ceiling at height of 1.5 m above the floor (above the top of the head) was set in a range between
still air and 0.73 m/s. Based on the analyses of the results relationships for determination of the convective heat transfer
coefficient of the whole body (hc [W/(m2•K)]) was proposed: hc=4.088+6.592V1.715 for a seated naked body at 20ºC and
hc=2.874+7.427V1.345 for a seated naked body at 26ºC. Differences in the convective heat transfer coefficient of the whole
body in low air velocity range, V<0.3 m/s, due to the natural convection were found. The results may be useful during
design of air distribution in rooms, e.g. low impulse ventilation, diffuse ventilation, etc.

Keywords: Human body; Convective heat transfer coefficient; Previous researches on convective heat transfer from human
Downward airflow; Office environment; Sitting posture body have focused on experimental rather than theoretical approach.
In some studies simple heat emitting devices or assemblies has been
Introduction used to model the convective heat transfer coefficient of the human
Air conditioning in office spaces is conventionally based on supply body, other studies have used real subjects or thermal mannequins to
investigate the heat balance of the human body. The mass and heat
of air from the ceiling. Often occupants’ comfort (thermal comfort
transport properties of naphthalene have been used as well. Most of
and inhaled air quality) depends on the interaction of the supplied
these experimental studies on forced convections use wind tunnels or
downward ventilation flow with the thermal plume generated by
artificial climate chambers, and focus on the confronted airflow from
human body. This interaction is essential for the heat transfer from
the frontal coronal plane of the body. Under some conditions natural
the human body and thus for its cooling. Convective cooling of the
convection of an updraft from the lower horizontal plane of the body
body at warm environment improves peoples’ thermal comfort and
exists, but its characteristics differ from forced convection.
may cause thermal discomfort due to draught at comfortable or cooler
environment. Research focused on the impact of direction of airflow on the
heat transfer from human body has been reported [11-15]. Colin
Draft is defined as local cooling of the body due to air movement.
and Houdas [11] examined the convective heat transfer coefficient of
Studies that consider the issues of draft include those by Houghten
a human body to airflow from the foot direction of the body to the
et al. [1], Fanger et al. [2,3], McIntyre [4], Mayer [5], Berglund and
horizontal plane, and the lateral direction of the body to the sagittal
Fobelets [6], Melikov [7] and Lee et al. [8]. The studies by Houghten
plane, for a body in a dorsal position. de Dear et al. [12] considered
et al. [1], Fanger et al. [2,3], McIntyre [4], Berglund and Fobelets [6],
the convective heat transfer coefficient of human body in standing and
Melikov [7] and Lee et al. [8] target forced convection by confronting
seated posture to airflow from 8 horizontal directions, focusing on the
the airflow from the frontal coronal plane of the body, and do not target
frontal coronal plane of the body. Kurazumi et al. [15] determined
downdraft from the upper horizontal plane of the body. On the other
the convective heat transfer coefficient of the human body to airflow
hand, Mayer [5] considers the head as the subject but does not consider
from the front and back of the coronal plane of the body in a sitting
the influence of other parts of the body.
with legs out position, and seated position. Mayer and Schwab [13,14]
When taking the air conditioners from the ceiling into consideration focused on the head area of the body, and examined the convective
for offices, it is essential to have a grasp on the heat balance of the
human body when planning, designing or evaluating the thermal
environment. The usual angle factor of the human body and radiative *Corresponding author: Yoshihito Kurazumi, 17-3 Hoshigaoka-motomachi,
heat transfer area is applicable for thermal radiation. In office spaces, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 464-8662, Japan, Tel: +81-52-781-4913; Fax: +81-
52-782-7265; E-mail: kurazumi@sugiyama-u.ac.jp
the conductive heat transfer area is small. Moreover, the difference
between the floor surface temperature and the skin temperature of the Received February 19, 2014; Accepted April 07, 2014; Published April 15, 2014
body is little. Therefore, It is possible to neglect the heat conduction Citation: Kurazumi Y, Rezgals L, Melikov AK (2014) Convective Heat Transfer
[9,10]. However, the direction of airflow from the ceiling is different Coefficients of the Human Body under Forced Convection from Ceiling. J
Ergonomics 4: 126. doi:10.4172/2165-7556.1000126
from previous studies. The previous ones are the direction of the
confronting airflow from the body’s frontal coronal plane. Therefore, Copyright: © 2014 Kurazumi Y, et al. This is an open-access article distributed
under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits
it is indispensable to determine whether the conventional research unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the
findings are applicable. original author and source are credited.

J Ergonomics
ISSN: 2165-7556 JER, an open access journal Volume 4 • Issue 1 • 1000126
Citation: Kurazumi Y, Rezgals L, Melikov AK (2014) Convective Heat Transfer Coefficients of the Human Body under Forced Convection from Ceiling.
J Ergonomics 4: 126. doi:10.4172/2165-7556.1000126

Page 2 of 6

heat transfer coefficient of the head to the airflow from above, bellow, Tr: Mean radiant temperature of thermal mannequin [K]
front and back. However, the convective heat transfer coefficient of the
εh: Emissivity of thermal mannequin surface [ND]
whole body has not been clarified. de Dear et al. [12] and Kurazumi et
al. [15] show that the convective heat transfer coefficient of the human εw: Emissivity of the interior surface configuration [ND]
body is significantly different depending on the direction of the airflow.
σ: Stefan-Boltzmann constant [W/(m2•K4)]
In the case of air conditioning facilities in the ceiling surface of
Fw-h: Angle factor between thermal mannequin and room
an office space, the direction of airflow is in downward, vertical to
configuration [ND]
the main axis of the human body in a standing or seated position.
However, previous research does not cover the convective heat transfer fconv: Convective heat transfer area ratio of thermal mannequin
coefficient of the whole body with respect to the orientation of airflow [ND]
at all. The purpose of this study was to examine the convective heat
transfer by forced convection from seated human body exposed to frad: Radiative heat transfer area ratio of thermal mannequin [ND].
airflow from above. Experimental Design
Calculation of Convective Heat Transfer Coefficient The experiment was carried out in an experimental test room (4.71
In previous studies, the total amount of heat transfer was obtained m×5.33 m×2.60 m) located in a large room (11.84 m×9.73 m×10.13
by using physiological measurements and a heat flow meter. The m). The test room was isolated and placed 0.75 m above the floor.
convective heat transfer was determined by subtracting the radiant heat The air temperature in the climatic room and experimental test room
transfer from the total heat transfer. The angle factor value of the human was kept the same, i.e. mean radiant temperature was the same as the
body is essential to calculate the radiation heat transfer. However, the air temperature and radiant temperature asymmetry in horizontal
angle factor value between the measurement unit corresponding to the and vertical direction was the same. Air was supplied isothermally
body section and enclosure has not been determined. Moreover, the downward from the ceiling. The supplied airflow was with low initial
appropriateness of the estimated value is inaccurate. turbulence intensity. The size of the air supply device, leveled with the
ceiling, was 1.08 m×1.00 m.
The radiative heat transfer coefficient of the whole body can be
calculated in the process of determining the convective heat transfer Human body was resembled by a thermal mannequin with a body
coefficient or heat balance of the human body, but this specific value is surface area of 1.4794 m2. The body of the thermal mannequin was
rarely mentioned. Stolwijk [16], de Dear et al. [12], Ichihara et al. [17], divided into 23 segments: top of head and face (left and right), back of
Ishii [18] and Kurazumi et al. [15] have calculated the specific value. head and neck, chest (left and right), back, abdomen, buttocks, upper
Values provided by Stolwijk [16], de Dear et al. [12], Ichihara et al. arm (left and right), forearm (left and right), hands (left and right),
[17] and Kurazumi et al. [15] are for a human body model, and values anterior thigh (left and right), posterior thigh (left and right), lower leg
by Ishii and Kurazumi et al. are for a human body. Studies by Stolwijk (left and right), and feet (left and right), making it possible to control
[16], de Dear et al. [12], Ichihara et al. [17] and Ishii [18] do not directly the calorific value and surface temperature of each region. Table 1
measure the amount of radiant heat transfer, but determine the angle shows the surface area ratio of each region of the thermal mannequin.
factor of the space between the surface and each part, and conduct The emissivity of the surface of the thermal mannequin is 0.95.
calculations through the Stefan-Boltzmann law. On the other hand, the
studies carried out by Kurazumi et al. are on directly measured values Regin Area ratio [-]
[15,19-21]. These studies produce results that strongly illustrate the Parietal region 0.034
influence of radiative heat transfer area and body surface distribution. Left face 0.018
Right face 0.017
In this paper, the total sensible heat transfer coefficient is obtained Back of neck 0.017
through experiments in a thermal environment in which the air Left upper arm 0.049
temperature and each surrounding wall temperature are equal. The Right upper arm 0.053
convective heat transfer coefficient, hc can be calculated by using the Left forearm 0.034
total amount of sensible heat transfer Q from the body. Right forearm 0.034

Q = C + R (1) Left hand 0.026

Right hand 0.025
Left chest 0.047
Q=hc (Ts − Ta ) f conv + ε hε wσ (Ts − Tr ) Fw− h f rad
4 4 (2)
Right chest 0.047
Back 0.088
(Q − ε hε wσ (Ts 4 − Tr 4 ) Fw− h f rad ) / ((Ts − Ta ) f conv )
hc = (3) Abdomen 0.074
Pelvis 0.037
Left front thigh 0.054
Here,
Right front thigh 0.056
Q: Total sensible heat transfer [W/m2] Left back thigh 0.054
Right back Thigh 0.056
C: Convective heat transfer [W/m2]
Left lower leg 0.061
hc: Convective heat transfer coefficient [W/(m2•K)] Right lower leg 0.061
Left foot 0.029
Ts: Surface temperature of the thermal mannequin [K]
Right foot 0.029
Ta: Surrounding air temperature [K] Table 1: Surface area ratios of segments of thermal mannequin.

J Ergonomics
ISSN: 2165-7556 JER, an open access journal Volume 4 • Issue 1 • 1000126
Citation: Kurazumi Y, Rezgals L, Melikov AK (2014) Convective Heat Transfer Coefficients of the Human Body under Forced Convection from Ceiling.
J Ergonomics 4: 126. doi:10.4172/2165-7556.1000126

Page 3 of 6

The mannequin measurements were taken in a seated position. The Once thermal equilibrium was established between the thermal
thermal mannequin was seated in a support base made with support mannequin and the surrounding environment, the measurements
rods that only touch the mannequin in 3 locations, and the experiment began. Each region of the thermal mannequin’s electric energy was
was carried out in conditions where the heat transfer amount between controlled to maintain each region’s surface temperature at a constant
the thermal mannequin and the environment could be ignored. level of 34ºC.
Therefore, all body segments were exposed to the airflow. The thermal
After confirming that the set thermal environment conditions and
mannequin was set up so that the soles of the feet were 0.10 m above
the floor. The thermal mannequin and thermal environment were kept the heat loss from the thermal mannequin were in a steady state, the
in a steady state. amount of heat supplied to the thermal mannequin and the surface
temperature of the thermal mannequin were recorded. The thermal
Measurements were performed at two constant levels of air environment conditions 5 minutes before the end of the experiment
temperature: 26ºC (assuming cooling) and 20ºC (assuming heating and the surface temperature and amount of heat supplied to the
period). The air velocity, determined from preliminary measurements, thermal mannequin were used for the analysis.
was set at six levels: still air, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.7 m/s, where is near the
top of head at 1.5 m above the floor. Relative humidity was the same Results and Discussion
for all conditions. The measured results of the thermal environment are shown in
The air temperature and humidity, vertical air temperature Table 3. The air temperature in setting conditions was kept in the
distribution, air velocity, and surface temperature of each side of the range of ± 0.2ºC from the set value. The difference between the mean
room configuration were measured for the thermal environmental radiant temperature and the air temperature was about 0.1ºC. The
conditions. A thermistor thermometer was used to measure the air calculation of the mean radiant temperature was performed using
temperature and humidity at 0.93m vertically above the floor at the chest- Fanger et al.’s angle factor value of the human body [22]. The vertical
level of the mannequin, and the vertical air temperature distribution air temperature distribution measured at the vicinity of the thermal
and surface temperature of each side of the room configuration was mannequin identified almost constant temperature with differences in
measured with a thermistor thermometer at 10 seconds intervals. The the range of ± 0.1ºC. The supplied airflow rate was stable throughout
vertical air temperature distribution was measured at the soles (0.12 the experiment. Relative humidity was at around 15%. Therefore
m), lower leg (0.53 m), chest (0.93 m), top of head (1.55 m), and at the thermal environment during each experiment nearly satisfied all
2.00, 2.15 and 2.29 m above the floor. The downdraft air velocity setting conditions. Since the vertical air temperature distribution in
sensor itself is a disturbance factor for the distribution of air velocity the range of the thermal mannequin differed very little (in the range
in the intervening areas of the body. Therefore, prior to the start of of ± 0.1ºC), and the difference between the mean radiant temperature
the experiments, the air velocity 1.50 m above the floor (corresponding and the air temperature was around 0.1ºC, it can be concluded that the
to the top of the head level) was measured using an omni-directional thermal environment was nearly homogeneous.
anemometer (measurement accuracy ± 0.03 m/s). The initial velocity
field at the air supply device was identified by measurements at 64 The measured results of the thermal mannequin’s surface temperature
points positioned at 0.15 m intervals. Table 2 shows the air velocity are shown in Table 3. It was determined to be around 34ºC for all
and the measured results. During the experiment, the air velocity was conditions. Therefore the thermal mannequin’s environment satisfied the
controlled by monitoring the amount of air supplied to the room. setting conditions.

The surface temperature and heat supply to the 23 segments of the The convective heat transfer coefficient of the whole body of the thermal
thermal mannequin was measured in 10 seconds intervals. mannequin as a function of the air velocity shown in Figure 1. A trend for

Air flow rate 0.00 m3/s 0.17 m3/s 0.27 m3/s 0.34 m3/s 0.46 m3/s 0.58 m3/s
Ta = 20ºC 0.012 ± 0.018 0.193 ± 0.063 0.351 ± 0.065 0.438 ± 0.078 0.586 ± 0.096 0.734 ± 0.124
Ta = 26ºC 0.005 ± 0.004 0.170 ± 0.040 0.311 ± 0.069 0.397 ± 0.083 0.544 ± 0.124 0.709 ± 0.141
Ta is air temperature [ºC]. Air velocity is mean ± standard deviation [m/s]
Table 2: Measured values of air velocity.

Air flow rate 0.00 m3/s 0.17 m3/s 0.27 m3/s 0.34 m3/s 0.46 m3/s 0.58 m3/s
Ta = 20ºC
Ta 20.19 20.60 20.47 20.42 20.30 20.29
Tr 20.22 20.71 20.56 20.52 20.37 20.36
∆Th 0.13 0.04 0.05 0.05 0.04 0.04
RH 19 17 16 16 16 17
Ts 34.00 34.00 34.00 34.00 33.94 33.80
Ta =26ºC
Ta 26.03 26.19 26.30 26.30 26.28 26.27
Tr 26.01 26.18 26.30 26.31 26.29 26.29
∆Th 0.23 0.19 0.06 0.07 0.07 0.07
RH 18 14 13 13 14 14
Ts 34.00 34.00 34.00 34.00 34.00 34.00
Ta is air temperature [ºC]. Tr is mean radiant temperature [ºC]. ∆Th is deviation of vertical air temperature in the vicinity of thermal mannequin [ºC]. RH is relative humidty
[%]. Ts is mean surface temperature of thermal manneqin [ºC]
Table 3: Results of thermal conditions.

J Ergonomics
ISSN: 2165-7556 JER, an open access journal Volume 4 • Issue 1 • 1000126
Citation: Kurazumi Y, Rezgals L, Melikov AK (2014) Convective Heat Transfer Coefficients of the Human Body under Forced Convection from Ceiling.
J Ergonomics 4: 126. doi:10.4172/2165-7556.1000126

Page 4 of 6

generated over the head of the seated heated mannequin and affected
the relationships between the convective heat transfer coefficient and
HEAT TRANSFER COEFFICIENT [W/(m2•K)]

air velocity. Therefore, the interaction between the downward flows

20ºC J hc= 4.088 + 6.592 V 1.715
W/(m2•ºC)
with the upward thermal flow is rather complex and different than
26ºC B hc= 2.874 + 7.427 V W/(m2•ºC)
10
1.345

the interaction of a horizontal flow with an upward thermal flow. In

addition, in order to isolate and capture the effect of natural convection
J
B from the convective heat transfer coefficient by downdraft from the
J
B ceiling is extremely difficult.
J J The results of this study show that for downward flows with velocity
B
JB 0.3 m/s and higher the same regression equation can be used regardless
J of the surrounding air temperature, i.e. 20ºC or 26ºC. The regression
equation for the convective heat transfer coefficient (hc [W/(m2•K)])
B for the whole body in forced convection is shown below.
B
20ºC nude seated position downward flow:
hc = 4.088+6.592V1.715 (4)
26ºC nude seated position downward flow:
hc = 2.874+7.427V1.345 (5)
1 Here,
0.001 0.01 0.1 1
hc: convective heat transfer coefficient [W/(m2•K)]
AIR VELOCITY [m/s]
V: air velocity [m/s].
Figure 1: Relation between heat transfer coefficients and air velocity. hc: con- It is difficult to isolate the effect of natural convection from the
vective heat transfer coeffi-cient [W/(m2•ºC)]. V: air velocity [m/s]. convective heat transfer coefficient by downdraft from the ceiling,
but the regression line slope of the convective heat transfer coefficient
at a velocity of 0.2 m/s or less is not strongly affected by air velocity.
There are differences in the average values of convective heat transfer
coefficient for different temperature conditions. Kurazumi et al. [21]
a larger convective heat transfer coefficient can be seen at a temperature of
Fig. 1 Relation between heat transfer coefficients and air velocity. hc: convective heat transfer coeffi- proposed a formula for convective heat transfer coefficient due to
20ºC when compared
cient [W/(m •ºC)]. to 26ºC.
V: air Remarkable
velocity
2
[m/s]. difference in the heat transfer
natural convection while seated. If the thermal mannequin’s surface
coefficient at the two temperatures can be seen for velocities up to 0.3 m/s.
temperature and the air temperature differ by 8ºC or 14ºC, the
The buoyancy flow generated by natural convection around mannequin’s
calculated convective heat transfer coefficient changes by about 20%.
body, (due to the temperature difference of the thermal mannequin’s
surface temperature and the air temperature as a driving force) can be The convective heat transfer coefficient at an air velocity of below 0.2m/s
thought of as being more dominant than the downdraft from the ceiling. at air temperatures of 20ºC and 26ºC can be expressed respectively at
different air temperature conditions at mean values of 4.29W/(m2•K)
Colin et al. [11] establish the air velocity of confronted airflow and 3.04W/(m2•K).
from the frontal coronal plane of a body at 0.15 m/s or less as a natural
convection region. Rapp [23] defines the confronted airflow from the Figure 2 compares the convective heat transfer coefficient of the
frontal coronal plane at 0.05-0.2 m/s as a combined convection region, seated nude body due to downward airflow from the ceiling with the
0.05 m/s or less as a natural convection region, and 0.2 m/s or more convective heat transfer coefficient of the seated nude body. Since no
as a forced convection region. Mitchell [24] defines the air velocity comparative research has been conducted on the same direction of
of confronted airflow from the frontal coronal plane of a body at 0.2 airflow a strict comparison cannot be done, but the dependent tendency
m/s or less as the natural convection region. Mayer and Schwab [13] of the convective heat transfer coefficient at an air velocity of 0.2 m/s
have clarified the convective heat transfer coefficient for the head in or more to the air velocity can be regarded similarly in all experiments.
the case of downward flow. At a head surface temperature of 34ºC and Air temperature conditions at 20ºC where the temperature difference
air temperature of 23ºC, downward airflow with velocity of up to 0.3 between the skin temperature and air temperature are nearly equal,
m/s shows a strong impact on the natural convection and thus on the show very similar calculated values for forced convection regions over
convective heat transfer coefficient. Lee et al. [8] detected that in forced 0.2 m/s as studies conducted by Mochida et al. [25]. In addition, air
convection by confronted airflow from the frontal coronal plane of the temperature conditions at 26ºC show nearly the same calculated value
body at less than 0.2 m/s, the updraft from natural convection makes an as those of Mitchell [24].
impact on the convective heat transfer coefficient. Mochida et al. [25]
At air velocities of less than 0.2 m/s, where the effect of natural
stated that due to a large variation in measured data from experiments
convection on the convective heat transfer coefficient becomes
using human subjects, separating the effect of natural convection in the
strong, the convective heat transfer coefficient is strongly affected
low air velocity range of confronted airflow from the frontal coronal
by the temperature difference between the skin temperature and
plane of the body is difficult. Judging from the experimental results, the
air temperature. Kurazumi et al. [21] focused on the temperature
air velocity is inferred 0.3 m/s.
difference between the skin temperature and air temperature during
In the present experiment downward flow with velocity of 0.3 natural convection, and have proposed a formula for the convective
m/s and higher became dominant over the upward thermal flow heat transfer coefficient. Comparing the results calculated for different

J Ergonomics
ISSN: 2165-7556 JER, an open access journal Volume 4 • Issue 1 • 1000126
Citation: Kurazumi Y, Rezgals L, Melikov AK (2014) Convective Heat Transfer Coefficients of the Human Body under Forced Convection from Ceiling.
J Ergonomics 4: 126. doi:10.4172/2165-7556.1000126

Page 5 of 6

Winslow hc=12.13V0.5 W/(m2•ºC) V>0.05m/s (Winslow et al., 1939)[26]

Mitchell(V<0.2) hc=3.1 W/(m2•ºC) V<0.2m/s (Mitchell et al., 1974)[24]
Mitchell(0.2<V<4) hc=8.3V0.6 W/(m2•ºC) 0.2<V<4m/s (Mitchell, 1974)[24]
Ishigaki hc=13.26V0.57 W/(m2•ºC) 0.4<V<1.5m/s (Ishigaki et al., 1993)[27]
Ichihara hc=12.1V0.404 W/(m2•ºC) 0.05<V<1.2m/s (Ichihara et al., 1997)[17]
de Dear hc=10.3V0.6 W/(m2•ºC) 0.2<V<0.8m/s (de Dear,1997)[12]
Mochida hc=2.82+6.35V0.848 W/(m2•ºC) 0.1<V<1.1m/s (Mochida et al., 1999)[25]
Kurazumi(∆T=8ºC) hc=1.175∆T0.351 W/(m2•ºC) V<0.2m/s (Kurazumi et al., 2008)[21]
HEAT TRANSFER COEFFICIENT [W/(m2•K)]

Kurazumi(∆T=14ºC) hc=1.175∆T0.351 W/(m2•ºC) V<0.2m/s (Kurazumi et al., 2008)[21]

Kurazumi(Front) hc=14.41V0.358 W/(m2•ºC) 0.02<V<2.3m/s (Kurazumi et al., 2013)[15]
Kurazumi(Rear) hc=13.09V0.330 W/(m2•ºC) 0.02<V<2.3m/s (Kurazumi et al., 2013)[15]
Authors(20ºC) hc=4.088+6.592V1.715 W/(m2•ºC) 0.01<V<0.73m/s
Authors(26ºC) hc=2.874+7.427V1.345 W/(m2•ºC) 0.005<V<0.71m/s

10
Kurazumi(Front) Ishigaki
Kurazumi(Rear)

Authors(20ºC)

Mochida de Dear
Ichihara Mitchell(0.2<V<4)
Mitchell(V<0.2)

Authors(26ºC) Kurazumi(∆T=14℃)
Winslow
Kurazumi(∆T=8℃)

1
0.001 0.01 0.1 1
AIR VELOCITY [m/s]
Figure 2: Comparison of convective heat transfer coefficients of the human body in previous studies. hc: convective heat transfer coefficient [W/(m2•ºC)]. V: air velocity
[m/s]. ∆T: difference between mean skin temperature and air temperature [ºC].

conditions at air temperatures of 20ºC and 26ºC, either condition been revealed through measurements using a thermal mannequin.
shows the convective heat transfer coefficient as a significant result. At flow velocity over 0.3 m/s, the relationship between the convective
heat transfer coefficient and the air velocity does not depend on
Conclusion the surrounding temperature, while at velocity up to 0.2 m/s, the
The convective heat transfer coefficient of the whole seated body free convection flow plays the major role for the heat exchange.
during forced convection by downward flow from the ceiling has The following empirical formula is suggested for calculation of the
convective heat transfer coefficient of the whole body (hc [W/(m2•K)]).

J Ergonomics
Volume 4 • Issue 1 • 1000126
Fig. 2 Comparison
ISSN: 2165-7556 ofjournal
JER, an open access convective heat transfer coefficients of the human body in previous studies. hc:
convective heat transfer coefficient [W/(m2•ºC)]. V: air velocity [m/s]. ∆T: difference between
mean skin temperature and air temperature [ºC].
Citation: Kurazumi Y, Rezgals L, Melikov AK (2014) Convective Heat Transfer Coefficients of the Human Body under Forced Convection from Ceiling.
J Ergonomics 4: 126. doi:10.4172/2165-7556.1000126

Page 6 of 6

20ºC nude seated position downdraft 14. Mayer E, Schwab R (1990) Untersuchung der physikalischen Ursachen.
Gesundheits Ingenieur Haustechnik Bauphysik Umwelttechnik 111(1): 17-30.
hc 4.088 + 6.592V 1.715 (0.01m / s ≤ V ≤ 0.73 m / s )
= 15. Kurazumi Y, Tsuchikawa T, Yamato Y, Sakoi T, Bolashikov ZD, et al. (2013)
Measurement of heat transfer coefficients of leg-out sitting and chair sitting
26ºC nude seated position downdraft
human body under forced convection from front and back. Journal of Human
hc 2.874 + 7.427V 1.345 (0.0005m / s ≤ V ≤ 0.71 m / s )
= and Living Environment 20: 51-61.

16. Stolwijk JAJ (1970) Mathematical model of thermoregulation. Physiological and
Acknowledgement
Behavioral temperature regulation: 703-721.
This study was performed at the International Centre for Indoor Environment
17. Ichihara M, Saitou M, Nishimura M, Tanabe S (1997) Measurement of
and Energy, Department of Civil Engineering, Technical University of Denmark.
convective and radiative heat transfer coefficients of standing and sitting
References human body by using a thermal manikin. Journal of Architecture, Planning and
Environmental Engineering (Transactions of AIJ) 501: 45-51.
1. Houghten FC (1938) Draft temperatures and velocities in relation to skin
temperature and feeling of warmth. ASHVE Transactions 44: 289-308 18. Ishii J (2000) The combined effect of operative temperature, illuminance and
light source on the human physiological and psychological responses in indoor
2. Fanger PO, Pedersen CJK (1977) Discomfort due to air velocities in spaces. environment. Doctoral Thesis, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Nagoya Institute
Proceedings of Meeting of Commision B1, B2, E1 of International Institute of of Technology: 37-68.
Refrigeration 4, Belgrade: 289-296.
19. Kurazumi Y, Tsuchikawa T, Matsubara N, Kobayashi K (2006) Convective heat
3. Fanger PO, Melikov AK, Hanzawa H, Ring J (1988) Air turbulence and transfer coefficient of the human body with leg-outsitting posture in natural
sensation of draught. Energy and Buildings 12: 21-39. convection. Transactions of the Society of Heating. Air-Conditioning and
Sanitary Engineers of Japan 114: 51-60.
4. McIntyre DA (1979) The effect of air movement on thermal comfort and
sensation. In: Fanger PO, Valbjorn O (eds), Indoor Climate, Danish Building 20. Kurazumi Y, Ishii J, Fukagawa K, Yamato Y, Tobita K, et al. (2008) Body heat
Research Institute, Copenhagen, Denmark: 541-560. balance for evaluation of sleep environment - Measurement of radiative and
convective heat transfer coefficients of the human body with supine position by
5. Mayer E (1984) Influence of air turbulence on the convective-surface-heat- using a thermal mannequin. Japanese Journal of Physiological Anthropology
transfer-coefficient. Proceedings of Third International Conference on Indoor 13: 17-26.
Air Quality and Climate 5, Stockholm, Sweden: 377-382.
21. Kurazumi Y, Tsuchikawa T, Ishii J, Fukagawa K, Yamato Y, et al. (2008)
6. Berglund LG, Fobelets A (1987) Subjective human response to low-level air Radiative and convective heat transfer coefficients of the human body in
current and asymmetric radiation. ASHRAE Transactions 93: 497-523. natural convection. Building and Environment 43: 2142-2153.
7. Melikov AK (1988) Quantifying draught risk, Technical review 2, Brüel & Kjaer. 22. Fanger PO, Angelius O, Jensen PK (1970) Radiation data for the human body.
8. Lee C, Sawachi T, Honma H (1991) An experimental study on convective heat ASHRAE Transactions 76-II: 338-373.
transfer coefficient distribution on thermal manikin by air flow with various 23. Rapp GM (1973) Convective heat transfer and convective coefficients of nude man,
velocities and turbulence intensities. Journal of Architecture, Planning and cylinders and spheres at low air velocities. ASHRAE Transactions 79-I: 75-87.
Environmental Engineering (Transactions of AIJ) 429: 25-31.
24. Mitchell D (1974) Convective heat transfer in man and other animals. In:
9. Kurazumi Y, Matsubara N, Nagai H, Furukawa N, Fujiwara M, Ue A, Ueki Y, Montieth JL, Mount LE, Heat loss from animals and man: assessment and
Yamamoto S (1999) The effect of conductive heat exchange for evaluation of control, Butterworth Publishing London
the thermal environment on the human body.
25. Mochida T, Nagano K, Shimakura K, Kuwabara K, Nakatani T, et al. (1999)
10. Kurazumi Y, Tsuchikawa T, Matsubara N, Horikoshi T (2008) Effect of posture Characteristics of convective heat transfer of thermal manikin exposed in air
on the heat transfer areas of the human body. Building and Environment 43: flow from front. Journal of Human and Living Environment 6: 98-103.
1555-1565.
26. Winslow CEA, Gagge AP, Herrington LP (1939) The influence of air movement
11. Colin J, Houdas Y (1967) Experimental determination of coefficient of heat upon heat losses from the clothed human body. American Journal of Physiology
exchanges by convection of human body. J Appl Physiol 22: 31-38. 127: 505-518.
12. de Dear RJ, Arens E, Hui Z, Oguro M (1997) Convective and radiative heat 27. Ishigaki H, Horikoshi T, Uematsu T, Sahashi M, Tsuchikawa T, et al. (1993)
transfer coefficients for individual human body segments. Int J Biometeorol 40: Experimental study on convective heat transfer coefficient of the human body.
141-156. Journal of thermal Biology 18: 455-458.
13. Mayer E, Schwab R (1988) Direction of low turbulence air flow and thermal
comfort. Proceedings of Healthy Buildings 2, Stockholm, Sweden: 577-588.

J Ergonomics
ISSN: 2165-7556 JER, an open access journal Volume 4 • Issue 1 • 1000126