jaue2023044: Study on the Predictability of Thermal Comfort Using Skin Temperature Based on Thermal Imaging

Abstract

Increasing emphasis is being placed on the importance of occupant-centric control (OCC) to ensure energy-saving air conditioning operation while also satisfying the thermal comfort of occupants. This study analyzed the correlations between different skin temperatures extracted from thermal images and thermal comfort, without considering other influencing factors (e.g., temperature, activity level, and amount of clothing). The following conclusions were determined: 1) A higher skin temperature indicated a higher thermal sensation, and each skin temperature can be used to infer an occupant's TSV. 2) The skin temperatures of the forehead and neck indicated greater correlation, where the pattern of change and combination of these two temperatures pointed to the possibility of inferring TSV. 3) Each skin temperature was found to change as the thermal equilibrium of a human body with limited activity was maintained. A limitation of this study is that it included only participants in their 20s and was conducted during the period of seasonal changes, which does not reflect the extreme temperature conditions of winter and summer.