Abstract
A calorimetric sensor has been designed to measure the heat flow dissipated by a 2 × 2 cm2 skin surface. In this work, a non-invasive method is proposed to determine the heat capacity and thermal conductance of the area of skin where the measurement is made. The method consists of programming a linear variation of the temperature of the sensor thermostat during its application to the skin. The sensor is modelled as a two-inputs and two-outputs system. The inputs are (1) the power dissipated by the skin and transmitted by conduction to the sensor, and (2) the power dissipated in the sensor thermostat to maintain the programmed temperature. The outputs are (1) the calorimetric signal and (2) the thermostat temperature. The proposed method consists of a sensor modelling that allows the heat capacity of the element where dissipation takes place (the skin) to be identified, and the transfer functions (TF) that link the inputs and outputs are constructed from its value. These TFs allow the determination of the heat flow dissipated by the surface of the human body as a function of the temperature of the sensor thermostat. Furthermore, as this variation in heat flow is linear, we define and determine an equivalent thermal resistance of the skin in the measured area. The method is validated with a simulation and with experimental measurements on the surface of the human body.
Highlights
The study of the thermal dissipation of the human body is of great interest in multiple fields
The calorimetric signal (y), the temperature of the thermostat (T2 ) and the power dissipated in the thermostat (W 2 ) are known
In this work a calorimetric sensor has been used to measure, by applying it to the skin, the heat flow dissipated by the human body
Summary
The study of the thermal dissipation of the human body is of great interest in multiple fields. It is necessary to know the dissipation of the occupants according to their activity. In the study of a subject’s metabolism, thermal dissipation is determined indirectly, measuring the absorbed. VO2 or VCO2 emitted by the subject [1]. In the field of human physiology, all available data and techniques are used. Contact and remote thermometry are irreplaceable tools. There are numerous publications that provide temperature data of different areas and organs of the human body [2]. The thermal properties (thermal conductivity and specific heat capacity) of different parts of the human body are of interest
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