Usage of Heat Flux Density Sensors to Study Thermal Processes on the Surface of the Human Body

The paper presents the investigation results of thermal processes on the surface of the human forearm with using a heat flux density sensor. Thermoelectric sensor of the “additional wall” type was use for the investigation. The left and right forearms were divided into 12 zones. In every zone, the heat flux density and the distribution of the surface temperature were measured. Based on the obtained values of the heat flux density and the calculated values of the average surface temperature the values of the heat transfer coefficient with an environment for every zone of the forearm were determined. For the left and right forearms, the distribution along the forearm of the surface temperature, the heat flux density and the heat transfer coefficient and their standard deviations were investigated. The mean values of these parameters for each forearm were obtained using those for zones. The value of the relative systematic error of the heat flux density sensor was analytically determined and compared with the relative standard deviation found as a result of measurements. The obtained results show clearly that the sensor of the “additional wall” type can be used for investigation thermal processes on the surface of a human body.