Exchange of simulation data between CFD programmes and a multisegmented human thermal comfort model

This paper describes the methods developed to extend the functionality of a commercial CFD program to provide a means of exchanging simulation data with a multi-segmented model of human thermal comfort and physiology. A CFD model is able to predict detailed patterns and velocities of airflow around a human body, whilst a thermal comfort model is able to predict the response of a human to the environment surrounding it. By coupling the two models and exchanging information about the heat exchange at the body surface the coupled system can potentially predict the response of a human body to detailed local environmental conditions. This paper presents a method of exchanging data between the two models using shared files. A test case is presented in which the results of a coupled system simulation are compared with experimental data of heat transfer coefficients predicted at the body surface under similar environmental conditions.