Effects of clothing size and air ventilation rate on cooling performance of air ventilation clothing in a warm condition

Abstract

Effects of clothing size and air ventilation rate on the cooling performance of three air ventilation jackets (size small, medium and large) were investigated. Two ventilation rates were chosen: low ventilation (12 L/s) and high ventilation (20 L/s). A significant difference in the dry heat loss at the upper body excluding the head and hands (UBody) was noted among the three sizes (p < 0.05). The ventilation rate significantly increased the total UBody heat loss and thereby reduced UBody’s apparent evaporative resistance (p < 0.05). Clothing size showed varied impact on the UBody heat loss and the impact varied with air ventilation rates. Air ventilation could greatly reduce predicted core temperatures, mean skin and UBody temperatures in both sizes small and large . In contrast, clothing size had almost no impact on predicted thermophysiological responses in high ventilation. This work may be useful for designing and improving high-performance air ventilation clothing.

Keywords:

• heat stress
• personal cooling
• clothing size
• forced convection
• thermal manikin
• physiological responses

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.