Developing a new individualized 3-node model for evaluating the effects of personal factors on thermal sensation

• Published in: Journal of thermal biology 2017-10, Vol.69, p.1-12
• Main Authors: Davoodi, Farzin, Hasanzadeh, Hasan, Alireza Zolfaghari, Seyed, Maerefat, Mehdi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aging; Algorithms; Basal Metabolism; Body Mass Index; Body Temperature Regulation; Data processing; Female; Human subjects; Humans; Individual parameters; Male; Mathematical models; Metabolic rate; Models, Biological; Sex Differentiation; Skin; Skin Temperature; Thermal comfort; Thermal energy; Thermal sensation; Thermosensing; Three-node model
• ISSN: 0306-4565; 1879-0992
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2017.05.004

Individual differences, such as weight, height, gender, age, and Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR), between human subjects can significantly affect body thermoregulatory mechanisms. Therefore, application of common population-based thermal comfort models cannot provide accurate results for an individual's thermal sensation. Based on the standard thermal models, including those of Fanger and Gagge, individual parameters are not considered in the evaluation of thermal sensations. Thus, these simplified standard models have some limitations under varied individual conditions. In this study, a new individualized thermal comfort model is presented on the basis of a simplified 3-node model. This model was developed by regarding the effects of individual characteristics, such as age, gender, Body Mass Index (BMI), and BMR on the thermal sensations of the bare and clothed parts of the body. A good agreement was found in the current model, which was verified based on the experimental data. In conclusion, the results indicated that the mean error in the prediction of skin temperature decreased from 1.2°C to 0.4°C when using the new individual model instead of a non-individualized 3-node model. [Display omitted] •A new individualized thermal comfort model has been presented.•Present model is able to separately estimate the thermal sensation of bare and clothed parts of the body.•The difference between the mean skin temperature of an obese and a lean person is significant.•Women are more sensitive than men under cold exposure.