This study utilized a comprehensive testing system comprising thermal manikins, high-precision sensors, data acquisition and processing equipment, and a controlled test chamber designed to simulate real-life residential conditions. The primary goal is to replicate human thermal sensation and evaluate home air conditioners’ thermal comfort performance.
The test chamber mimics a typical residential indoor environment, including temperature, humidity, airflow speed, and circulation. Conditions are maintained as stable as possible to minimize external interference. Adequate lighting and ventilation ensure testing accuracy.
The manikin’s clothing should closely match real human attire, reflecting material, thickness, and insulation appropriate to the environmental parameters. Clothing must remain clean and dry to prevent interference with measurement accuracy.
Surface temperature distribution of the thermal manikin
Ambient temperature and humidity
Airflow velocity and direction
Surface heat transfer coefficient of the manikin
Internal temperature and rate of temperature change within the manikin
Dress the thermal manikin according to the specified clothing requirements and place it in the test chamber.
Adjust the chamber’s temperature, humidity, and airflow to set values and maintain stability.
Turn on the air conditioning unit, selecting the desired mode and temperature.
Begin recording data using sensors and data acquisition equipment.
Regularly monitor and record changes in all parameters during testing.
At the end of the test period, turn off the air conditioner and conclude the experiment.
Generate surface temperature distribution maps of the manikin to analyze uniformity and trends.
Calculate average and fluctuation ranges of ambient temperature, humidity, and airflow.
Analyze variations in the manikin’s surface heat transfer coefficient to evaluate cooling or heating performance.
Perform a comprehensive analysis of all data to assess the thermal comfort performance of the home AC unit.
Room Temperature Rise/Drop Rate: Measurements show that the air conditioner reaches the set temperature quickly, providing efficient and energy-saving comfort.
Temperature Field Distribution: Thermal maps generated from the measurement matrix confirm uniform temperature distribution, with no significant hot or cold spots.
Humidity Distribution: Multi-point humidity measurements demonstrate that the AC maintains a comfortable and evenly distributed indoor humidity.
Airflow Field Distribution: Airflow analysis shows uniform distribution with no significant dead zones, ensuring a pleasant airflow experience for occupants.
Using the combined application of thermal manikins and a high-precision measurement matrix, the thermal comfort performance of the home air conditioner was evaluated.
The results indicate that the AC unit performs excellently in:
Temperature rise and drop rate: Rapidly reaches the set temperature, providing efficient comfort.
Temperature field distribution: Maintains uniform temperature throughout the room with no significant hot or cold spots.
Humidity distribution: Ensures a balanced and comfortable indoor humidity.
Airflow field distribution: Provides uniform airflow with no noticeable dead zones, delivering a pleasant airflow experience.
Overall, the test demonstrates that the air conditioner meets user requirements for a comfortable indoor environment. Additionally, these results provide a reliable reference for performance evaluation and informed purchase decisions for home HVAC systems.
