GOVERNMENT COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND TEXTILE TECHNOLOGY,SERAMPORE

THERMAL

COMFORT
SUBMITTED TO: PREPARED BY: 1.SUBHO DAS (27)
Dr MALLIKA DUTTA 2.SUBHASHREE HAZRA (28)
3.SUBHOJIT MISTRI (29)
4.SUMIT MAHATA (30)
5.TANIYA DAS (31)
 Introduction

Comfort is difficult to explain since it is a complex and

interdependent combination of physical, psychological and
sensorial perceptions and highly depends of subjective
evaluation of the individuals.
Comfort  depends on many factors such as the environmental
parameters (i.e. air and radiant temperature, relative
humidity, and wind velocity)
the metabolic heat and humidity produced by the human body
and, of course, the characteristics of the clothing materials e.g.
materials’ thermal properties, which display the ability to
transport heat and moisture from the human body surface
into the environment.
 What is comfort

The word ‘Comfort’ has a variety of meanings as it

relates to clothing and to the wearer. The word
‘Comfort’ refers to how an individual feels.
The main types of comfort are-
1. Thermo physiological
2.Aesthetic
3.sensorial
The factors determining clothing comfort are-
 External
 Internal
 Internal clothing comfort

1.Metabolic rate
2.Level of activities
3.Health position
4.Economic position

External clothing comfort

1.Ambient temperature
2.Wind speed
3.Moisture in environment
4.Globe temperature
5.Cultural
6.Overall environment
 Types of clothing comfort

1.Thermal- heat and mass transfer

2.Sensorial- tactile, touching, handfeel
3.Movement -movement of body parts,
4.Social- status, forces dress,
5.Psychological -aesthetic sense,design is different for
kids and old people, colorful dress of ladies,
6.Functional- helpful for any function
SIX BASIC FACTORS OF THERMAL COMFORT

 Thermal comfort is perceived as the comfort of human beings under given room
conditions. Because of individual differences of the perception or sensation of
humans, an universally valid thermal room climate in which pleasantry for all is
realised , is not producible. There are six basic factors to thermal comfort.

 Environmental factors:
 Air temperature
 Radiant temperature
 Air velocity
 Humidity
 
 Personal factors:
 Clothing Insulation
 Metabolic heat
 Environmental Factors

Air temperature:
This is the temperature of the air surrounding the body. It is usually
given in degrees Celsius.
Radiant temperature:
The average temperature of the objects and surfaces that surround
us,which radiate heat to and absorb radiant heat from , our bodies.
Air velocity:
This describes the speed of air moving across the employee and may help
cool them if the air is cooler than the environment.
Relative Humidity:
Relative humidity is the amount of water vapour present in air expressed
as percentage of the amount needed for saturation at the same
temperature
 Personal Factors

Clothing insulation:
Clothing insulation is the thermal insulation provided by
clothing.The main role of clothing is to protect from the
cold,protective clothing also exists to protect from heat, such
as for metallurgical workers or fireman.as regards thermal
comfort,only the first case is considered.More layers can be
added of clothing if it felt cold.
Work rate/metabolic heat:
The amount of energy expanded by a body over a specific
period of time is called its metabolic rate. Metabolic heat
helps to keep a stable body temperature. The more heat we
produce,the more heat needs to be lost so we don’t overheat.
 Mechanism of thermal comfort

 There are endothermic and ectothermic process.

Endothermic is where a living being can maintain their own
core temperature and ectothermic is where it gains the
temperature of its surrounding environment.
living beings that regulate its own temperature are detected
by receptors in the skin and hypothalamus in the brain. this
then brings change depending on whether it is hot or cold,
signaling to the muscles and glands.
In human body if the surrounding temperature is more or
less than body temperature it depends on some external
things to feel comfortable . Clothing is the common factor to
maintain thermal comfort.
 Mechanism of thermal comfort

Heat Balance:
• Heat Balance Equation: S = M ± W ± R ± C ± K − E − RES
S – rate of heat storage , M – rate of metabolic heat production , W – rate of
mechanical work accomplished, R – rate of heat exchange by radiation, C
– rate of heat exchange by convection , K – rate of heat exchange by conduction ,
E – rate of heat exchange by evaporation, RES – rate of heat exchange by
respiration.
Heat lose:
Heat can be lost through the process of conduction, convection, radiation and
evaporation.  Conduction is the process of losing heat through physical contact
with another object or body. Convection is the process of losing heat through the
movement of air or water molecules across the skin. Radiation is a form of heat
loss through infrared rays. The last process of heat loss is evaporation.
Evaporation is the process of losing heat through the conversion of water to gas
(evaporation of sweat).
 DIFFERENT APPROACH TO THERMAL COMFORT

There are different approaches in the development of functional clothing for

improvement of thermal comfort……

“Appropriate use of textile materials”

“Garments design”
THERMAL COMFORT

“Special wearable devices”

APPROPRIATE USE OF TEXTILE MATERIALS
 APPROPRIATE USE OF TEXTILE MATERIALS

USE OF MULTI FABRIC LAYERS

Air has low thermal resistance .Air entrapped in small spaces experience low
convention and is still . More still air more insulation value of textile and the body
remains more warm.
More the number of fabric layers more amount of still air trapped and thus more
thermal insulation and more moisture vapour resistance on comparing to single
layer fabric.

Ribbed ventilating undergarment for protective garments

A garment and accessories formed substantially entirely of textile fabric having a

series of parallel raised ribs at generally equally spaced intervals to form channels
through which air may circulate and which also serves to maintain a distance when
the garment is worn beneath a non-porous outer garment such as personal body
armour worn by law enforcement and military personnel
 APPROPRIATE USE OF TEXTILE MATERIALS

WATERPROOF BREATHABLE FABRICS

These fabric are waterproof ie do not allow water
get into the fabric and breathable ie allow water
vapour to escape from fabric. To make a fabric
waterproof and breathable a coating like animal
fat ,wax, vegetable oils ,PVC etc are provided.

MOISTURE MANAGEMENT FABRIC

The main aim is to transfer the humidity to
atmosphere as soon as possible.They transfer the
body humidity to the fabric surface through a
capillary force ,wicking. They too have fine
fibres,more surface area and hence more fibre in
surface hence faster humidity evaporation.
 APPROPRIATE USE OF TEXTILE MATERIALS

PHASE CHANGE MATERIAL

PCM take advantage of latent heat that can be stored or released from material
while over a narrow temperature range ie these material store and release heat
while oscillating between states.

PCMs which have temperature range just above or below body temperature in the
form of microcapsules are incorporated within fibres or foams or are coated into
fabrics.
 Garments design for thermal comfort

INTRODUCTION

 The amount of thermal insulation worn by a person has a substantial impact on

thermal comfort, because it influences the heat loss and consequently the thermal
balance. Layers of insulating clothing prevent heat loss and can either help keep a
person warm or lead to overheating. Generally, the thicker the garment is the greater
insulating ability it has. Depending on the type of material the clothing is made out
of, air movement and relative humidity can decrease the insulating ability of the
material.
 Garment fit is also considered as one of the elements that influence thermal
insulation and evaporative resistance and there has been a clear relationship of
garment fit and clothing insulation.
 Garments design for thermal comfort

1.Garment with comprised of cords

This type of garment are made for more air circulation into the body surface. Vertical
cords are placed and bound them with knit fabric.
A minimum distance is maintained between skin and the garment. The gap is for air
flowing and it helps to come out hot air from the body surface and enters cool fresh air.
In inner surface of the garment generally warp knit fabric is placed so that air enters
through the loop holes
 Garments design for thermal comfort

2.Ventilated clothing
 Ventilated clothing allows great air-flow to keep us cool,
which providing excellent protection from stings. It has the
characteristics of wearing easily, portability, small
resistance, and better ergonomics, which can be integrated
into various operation modes to solve the heat stress for
workers.
3.Garment with structural vent
Vent are installed in this type of jacket used mainly in motorcycling
persons
At the time of bending of riders, air flows into the body and it
circulate inside which can take out the heat from body and
moisture.so it creates comfort for riding the bike
 Garments design for thermal comfort

4.Ventilated garments of protective shield layers

 A ventilated garment including a selectively openable air inlet section
adaptable to facilitate the entry of ambient air into an interior space of
the ventilated garment to thereby cool the body by natural convection,
a selectively openable air outlet section adaptable to facilitate the
removal of warm air from the interior space of the ventilated garment,
and a protective shield layer positioned adjacent to at least one of the
air inlet section and the air outlet section for protecting exposed areas
of the wearer's skin against sunlight, wind, snow and rain.

5.Garment ventilation apertures with cover flap

In this system mess for air circulation are inside the flap pocket
which are adjustable according to the requirement
Cool air from outside passes through the ventilator flap so that it
maintains the minimum temperature
Special Wearable Devices

 Wearable devices are used as a features in a

garment where additional devices are installed
to get appropriate outcomes from the products
as per requirement of end users.
 The devices are used in astronauts, fighter jet
pilots, explosive disposal army, fire fighters,
formula one (F1) racing car drivers, mine
workers dresses etc.

Air
Air cooling
cooling system
system

The most common Liquid

Liquid cooling
cooling system
system

devices used for thermal

Ice
Ice or
or cold
cold pack
pack System
System

comfort are
Special Wearable Devices

Air cooling system

 Air cooling system is basically to maintain the body temperature
 People are getting mentally and physically unbalance due to hot weather in summer, so always try
to be in front of electric fan to cool the body temperature
 New invention of air cooling system helps to install devices inside the garment where light weight
fans are set up which results to cool down the temperature inside the body
 Special Wearable Devices

Ice or Cold Pack System

 This is for the using ice or gelled packs inside the garment which
comes up with direct or indirect touch to body and make the body
cool compared to the outer area
 But ice are melt with duration of time so required frequent replacement
 The system is not applicable for long term so it is not suitable for regular use

Liquid cooling system

 In this system there is a option of cool liquid reservoir where the
fluid stores and flows with a pump which circulates the cool fluid
throughout the garment and cool the body temperature
 It’s a continuous flow of cooled fluid and after circulating the liquid
comes to reservoir and again getting chilled.
 Conclusion

A balance of heat loss from the body and heat generation in the
body has to be maintained to keep the person comfortable. Clothing
has a vital participation in maintaining this heat balance. Many
factors contribute to the thermal properties of textiles among them
yarn structure and fabric structure are major factors to decide
thermal comfort behavior of clothing.
Thank You!