Simulation study of heat transfer in the space under the clothing of mining ventilation suits in typical human labour positions

Abstract

The objective of this study is to examine the distribution of space under a ventilated suit when the human body is wearing a ventilated suit with different piping structures in labor postures, such as lifting the arms and bending the waist. Additionally, the study aims to investigate the impact of the space under the ventilated suit on heat transfer through numerical simulation, with the goal of identifying the optimal piping design. The study demonstrates that in an inhomogeneous space, the airflow is susceptible to turbulence, which results in the accumulation of heat. Furthermore, the implementation of distinct air flow patterns within the transverse and longitudinal piping structures of the ventilated suit can result in notable alterations to the heat transfer process and the overall cooling effect. The transverse piping structure offers superior support and a more uniform air flow distribution, thereby significantly enhancing the cooling effect of the ventilated suit. In contrast, the longitudinal piping structure is designed to concentrate the air flow on the back side, resulting in a comparatively weaker ventilation effect on the front side. A comparison of the weights of the two piping structures using the entropy value method revealed that the transverse piping structure had a weight that was approximately 4.5 % higher than that of the longitudinal piping structure. This finding suggests that the cooling effect of the transverse piping structure is more pronounced.