TCOMSYS01 Hot Cube

TCOMSYS01 is a system designed to measure and quantify factors influencing human thermal comfort. The TCOM01 sensor, stabilized at 33 °C, simulates the human experience by providing direct measurements through the innovative Hot Cube method, effectively acting as a miniature thermal mannequin. The primary measurement is the heater power needed to maintain TCOM01 at a constant temperature.

Equipped with 5 heat flux sensors and a black absorber, TCOM01 delivers a comprehensive view of heat gain and loss from various directions, offering insights into convective and radiative asymmetry. Additionally, it measures sensor body temperature, air temperature, and relative humidity.

In its standard setup, the system includes a Measurement and Control Unit (MCU) and the TCOM01 sensor, with the MCU enabling direct connection to any local area network and supporting “Ethernet over USB.” TCOM01 is also available as a standalone sensor.

TCOMSYS01 advantages

  • direct representation of the human body
  • helps understand and quantify the detailed physical cause and effect of thermal comfort
  • simple experiments can be used to quantify the sources of heat gain or loss
  • offers directional information
  • good addition to Wet-Bulb Globe temperature measurement
  • robust, student-proof
  • “stand-alone”; equipped with its own clock and memory
  • safe, low voltage power supply
  • communication by (virtual) Ethernet link
  • user interface program on MCU
SKU: Thermal comfort measuring system simulating human experience, capturing heat flux and environmental parameters for research and education Categories: , , Tags: , , , , ,

Description

Specifications

Measurand heating power for stabilization, heat flux (5x), ambient air temperature, relative humidity, TCOM01 body temperature
TCOMSYS01 specifications :
TCOM01 temperature setting 33 °C (user adjustable)
Included cable 2 x cable with 2 connectors (1.5 m)
Standard rated operating temperature range +10 to +25 °C
Limiting temperature range – 25 to +50 °C
Required data analysis To be performed by the user
Data display in web browser
Start up interval < 10 min
TCOM01 specifications :
Weight 1.12 kg
Temperature sensor 10 kΩ thermistor
IP protection class IP65
Mounting tripod with ¼ inch -20 UNC screw; a Manfrotto Pixi EVO 2-section tripod is included
MCU specifications :
User interface on MCU as a web page
Connection via LAN or “Ethernet over USB”
Voltage measurement accuracy 4 x 10-6 V (0.8 W/m²)
Rated power supply voltage 10 to 16 VDC
Adapter power supply 100 – 240 VAC, 50/60 Hz
Rated operating temperature range MCU – 25 to +50 °C
Data storage capacity 2GB; > 1 year of data
Options TCOM01 sensor only
extended rated operating conditions; temperature, irradiance, wind speed

Overview

TCOMSYS01 Hot Cube 6 TCOM01 webXLv1801Introduction

TCOMSYS01 was originally designed to study the effect of radiation sources on human comfort. Equipped with heat flux sensors that measure in 5 directions and a humidity and temperature probe, it offers a good picture of energy gains and losses from all sides to a metal body that thermally resembles the human body; the TCOM01 sensor is in essence a miniature thermal mannequin.

TCOMSYS01 Hot Cube 4 TCOM01 webXLv1801

The TCOMSYS01 system employs dedicated sensors and electronics, measuring thermal comfort according to the new Hot Cube method.
The high accuracy of the MCU (Measurement and Control Unit) ensures that TCOMSYS01 will still measure down to very low heat fluxes. The MCU has a robust aluminum housing. The system generates a measurement file, including a time-stamp. The measurement data are stored in the MCU and are later downloaded to a PC. The user is responsible for data analysis.

 

hfluxman TCOMSYS01 Hot Cube in car webXLv1801How to employ TCOMSYS01

The primary source of information from TCOMSYS01 simply is the power [W] required to keep the TC0M01 sensor at a constant temperature; a very direct measure of human comfort. This power may be compared to the power required at 20 °C ambient air temperature, no convection (zero wind speed), and no radiation. Power consumption will immediately show if there is a situation of overheating or heat stress or a situation of overcooling or cold stress.

The second direct information supplied by the heat flux sensors of TCOMSYS01 is the heat loss or gain [W/m2] as a function of direction. If radiative sources are dominant, TCOMSYS01 will measure radiative asymmetry.

To study the exact effect of radiative sources, in many cases a simple experiment, like switching a radiation source [on] and [off] or shielding a radiation source, can be used to distinguish between convective and radiative heat transport.

Far-infrared radiation sources may be studied by temporary shielding with a silicon wafer. Silicon has around 50 % transmission. Radiation from the sun or lamps may be quantified by shading and unshading.

To study the insulating effect of clothing, TCOM01 may be insulated using the same fabrics.

A web browser may be used for real-time measurement review, data collection, and for changing control settings such as TCOM01 body temperature.

HistoryTCOMSYS01 Hot Cube 1 system webXLv1801 0

Already in 1929 the Eupatheoscope (from Greek “wellbeing–emotion–examination”) was designed by A.F. Dufton to quantify the condition in a room from the point of view of comfort. It consists of a blackened cylinder that is controlled to maintain a temperature of 23 °C. The power used is interpreted in terms of equivalent temperatures.

In 1990 the company Bruel & Kjear carried a thermal comfort meter (model 1212), based on the same principle, in addition to processing Fangers equation.

Both models involved only an integrated power measurement. The new Hot Cube method improves on this by incorporating omnidirectional heat flux measurements.

TCOMSYS01 Hot Cube 5 TCOM01 lwebXLv1801What makes TCOMSYS01 different?

The main contributors to thermal comfort are air temperature, airspeed, radiant temperature, and humidity. Apart from this, there are personal contributors such as metabolic rate and insulation by clothing.

Many studies use Fanger’s thermal comfort equation as applied in EN ISO 7730: Moderate Thermal Environments – Determination of the PMV and PPD indices and specification of the condition for thermal comfort. Another approach utilizes a globe temperature measurement: EN ISO 27243: Hot environments. Estimation of the heat stress on working man, based on the WBGT Index (Wet Bulb Globe Temperature).

These methods are quite indirect in particular when determining the heat flow from airspeed and radiation.

  • TCOMSYS01 offers heat flux measurements. This approach is a lot more direct than the indirect estimate from airspeed and radiation.
  • TCOMSYS01 offers directional information.
  • TCOMSYS01 works at a realistic skin temperature of 33 °C (user adjustable).

Rated operating conditionshfluxman TCOMSYS01 Hot Cube in building webXL photov1801

TCOMSYS01 is designed to work between +10 and +25 °C. In its standard configuration, uninsulated and stabilized at 33 °C, it is rated for operation in indoor conditions including significant radiative heating.

It will stabilize at 33 °C under approximately one of the following conditions:

  • air speeds < 5 m/s
  • irradiance < 400 W/m2
  • ambient air temperature > 5 °C

Under other conditions, the sensor may not be able to stabilize its body temperature due to overheating (indicating overheating or heat stress) or shortage of electrical power (indication of overcooling or cold stress). Powered using a low voltage, TCOMSYS01 is safe to use.

TCOMSYS01 may be used for short-term outdoor experiments in the order of weeks. Under long-term exposure to solar radiation, the black heat flux sensor coating may become more reflective.

TCOMSYS01 Hot Cube 3 ethernet webXLphotov1801User interface: MCU is a web server

The MCU serves as a web server and can be connected to any local area network. No more downloading USB drivers and special interface software! Alternatively, it offers an “Ethernet over USB” or virtual Ethernet link, where you connect to the MCU using a USB cable. If you type into your web browser the MCU’s IP address (192.168.66.1 by default), you have access to the user interface.

Ordering the TCOM01 sensor onlyTCOMSYS01 Hot Cube 6 TCOM01 webXLv1801

The sensor TCOM01 is also available as a “sensor only”; The configuration then includes the mannequin with 5 x heat flux, 1 x temperature, 1 x heater, 2 x cable, 2 x chassis connector, and 1 x tripod. The user then must combine it with his or her own measurement and control unit.

Suggested Use

  • surveys of human thermal comfort
  • studies of the effect of radiating sources
  • workplace investigations
  • car passenger comfort testing
  • educational purposes, illustrating heat transfer
  • bio-meteorology
  • microclimate studies
  • wind-chill analysis
  • analysis of fabric insulation

Areas of Application
Building physics / insulation, thermal comfort, and energy budget measurement