Construction and Mathematical Modeling of a Prototype for a Body Heat Transfer System Relying on Focused Blood Flow Through a Wearable Accessory

This work describes the construction and mathematical modelling of a prototype human body cooling system, with the purpose of determining its effectiveness as a climatization alternative. A thermoelectrical cooler (TEC) system is used to refrigerate water, as a cooling medium, which circulates in a closed circuit, passing through a wearable thermal glove conditioned for this purpose. The glove takes the heat from the hand´s surface, resulting in a reduction in the person’s body temperature by blood flow, increasing his comfort. The mathematical model of the system is formulated using thermodynamic principles and experimental measurements. The construction of the prototype is presented using simple components, to test the system as a proof of concept, that can be consider in later studies with more efficient implementations and with application in solutions for specific temperature conditioning problems.

I. Introduction

Recently, awareness has increased for a better use and savings of electrical energy. Large amounts of energy are currently used for environmental air conditioning, either for cooling or heating according to climate conditions and specific comfort requirements. This situation impacts directly all the infrastructure and furniture located around people. To reduce the ecological footprint, one alternative is to focus this energy consumption directly to the human body through the use of emerging technologies, for example, by adhering a thermoelectric cooling accessory to the skin, in order to improve thermal sensation by conduction and convection of blood flow and increasing thermal comfort. For outdoor situations, solutions are also envisaged, particularly for use in work activities in environments with adverse temperature conditions.