Simulation and analysis of heat transfer performance of electrical heating fabric at low temperature based on skin tissue

PurposeAt present, electrical heating clothing is widely used to keep ourselves warm at low temperature. The purpose of this paper is to explore the heat transfer performance of electrical heating fabric and the thermal comfort of human skin at low temperature.Design/methodology/approachThe combined model of skin-electrical heating fabric system was established to simulate human skin tissue wearing electrical heating clothing. A series of simulation experiments are designed on the basis of verifying the effectiveness of the combined model. The temperature distribution inside the combined model and on the skin surface under different heating powers is simulated and analyzed. At the same time, the influence of ambient temperature on the thermal performance of electrical heating fabric was explored.FindingsThe skin model with blood vessels reflected the temperature change of human skin wearing electrical heating clothing. The higher the heating power of the electrical heating fabric was, the greater the temperature of the skin surface changed, the faster the temperature rose and the longer the time required to reach the stable state would be. After the heating element was electrified, it had the greatest effect on the average temperature of the epidermis and dermis, had smaller effect on the average temperature of subcutaneous layer and had little effect on the temperature of blood vessels. When the heating power was the same, the higher the ambient temperature was, the more obvious the heating effect of electrical heating fabric was. Electrical heating fabrics with different heating powers were suitable for different ambient temperature ranges.Originality/valueA reasonable and effective evaluation method for the thermal comfort of electrical heating fabric was provided by establishing the skin model and combined model of the skin-electrical heating fabric system. It provides a reference for the design and application of electrical heating clothing.