Numerical modelling of thermal comfort in non-uniform environments using real-time coupled simulation models

This research aimed to test and validate the only existing real-time coupled model of human thermal comfort by comparing simulation results and measured data for a number of different realistic non-uniform scenarios. This model incorporates detailed and realistic human figures in CFD, coupled with the IESD-Fiala model which enables the reaction of human occupants and their influence on the environment by heat and mass transfer to be modelled. A set of likely configurations have been created in an environmental chamber. Typical furniture, a thermal manikin and a portable fan have been used to generate non-uniform controlled environments, and detailed measurements have been taken. The same configurations have been modelled using the coupled model. The initial results highlight that this coupled model can effectively predict human thermal comfort in non-uniform environments, being able to represent dynamic conditions around the body in real time. Further work is addressing more complex configurations.