16-Zone Thermal Manikin (Dry Type)

The 16-zone thermal manikin is a high-precision experimental device designed to simulate human heat and moisture exchange with the surrounding environment. By reproducing human metabolic heat generation and body surface temperature distribution, the manikin provides reliable data for research on thermal environments in clothing, buildings, vehicles, and aerospace cabins. It is mainly used to evaluate human thermal comfort, thermal protective performance of clothing, and the effectiveness of HVAC systems, and is especially suitable as a substitute for human subjects in high-risk thermal physiology experiments.

By establishing stable and controllable constant-temperature boundary conditions on the surface of the human body model, the system realistically reproduces heat exchange between the human body and air, radiation, and surrounding space under different environmental conditions. Based on multi-zone independent constant-temperature control technology, the system enables objective and repeatable acquisition of thermal environment data under standardized experimental conditions, effectively avoiding errors caused by individual differences, subjective perception, and limited controllability in human testing. The system is widely used in thermal comfort evaluation of HVAC systems in buildings and vehicles, thermal performance testing of clothing and protective equipment, and related research in human thermal environments.

Application

Simulation of human heat sources in vehicles and vessels, including buses, passenger cars, new energy vehicles, high-speed rail carriages, ships, and submarines;

Thermal comfort testing and evaluation of building HVAC systems;

Research on indoor thermal regulation performance in office buildings, residential buildings, public buildings, and test chambers;

Thermal environment testing of air-conditioning systems for automobiles, rail transit, and special vehicles;

Thermal performance evaluation of protective clothing, functional garments, workwear, and occupational apparel;

Measurement of clothing thermal resistance (Clo value) and evaporative resistance;

Universities, research institutes, third-party testing organizations, and enterprise R&D laboratories;

HVAC education and research, including indoor thermal comfort and airflow distribution studies;

Clothing thermal resistance testing to evaluate thermal protection under different environments;

Thermal source simulation for aerospace cabins, including aircraft, helicopters, space stations, and re-entry capsules;

Research related to human thermal balance and thermal physiology.

Standards

GB/T 50785 — Evaluation Standard for Thermal Comfort of Building Environment and Equipment Engineering

GB/T 18049 — Ergonomics of the Thermal Environment — Analytical Determination and Interpretation of Thermal Comfort

GB/T 17244 — Test Method for Thermal Resistance of Clothing

GB/T 18398 — General Requirements for Thermal Performance Testing of Protective Clothing

GB/T 32376 — Evaluation Method for Thermal and Moisture Comfort of Protective Clothing

GB/T 12023-2008 — Textiles — Test Method for Thermal Properties of Clothing

GB/T 11054-2013 — Textiles — Determination of Air Permeability of Fabrics

ISO 15831 — Clothing — Physiological Effects — Measurement of Thermal Insulation by Means of a Thermal Manikin

ASTM F1291 — Standard Test Method for Measuring the Thermal Insulation of Clothing Using a Heated Manikin

ASTM F1720 — Standard Test Method for Measuring the Thermal Insulation of Sleeping Bags Using a Heated Manikin

ASTM F2370 — Standard Test Method for Measuring the Evaporative Resistance of Clothing Using a Sweating Manikin

ISO 7933:2004 — Ergonomics of the Thermal Environment — Analytical Determination and Interpretation of Heat Stress

ASTM F1291-2020 — Thermal Physiological Evaluation of Clothing and Personal Protective Equipment

ISO 9920:2007 — Ergonomics of the Thermal Environment — Estimation of Thermal Insulation and Water Vapour Resistance of Clothing

Note: The system can be extended to meet enterprise standards, research specifications, and customized test protocols according to experimental requirements.

Product Specifications

Features

Independent multi-zone constant-temperature control

Sixteen independently controlled PID temperature zones ensure uniform and stable surface temperature distribution without mutual interference.

High-precision temperature control

Surface temperature control accuracy up to ±0.1 °C, meeting strict stability requirements for thermal comfort and clothing thermal performance testing.

Efficient and uniform heating structure

Nickel-chromium resistance heating provides fast response and high reliability, realistically simulating dry heat exchange between the human body and the environment.

Modular design with high system integration

Plug-and-play operation with RS485 communication to the host computer, facilitating data acquisition, monitoring, and analysis.

High posture adaptability

Adjustable joints allow standing or seated postures to meet testing needs in buildings, vehicles, and clothing applications.

Accessories

Test Principle

The manikin system simulates human heat exchange by establishing constant and controllable temperature boundary conditions on the surface of the body model. Each zone is controlled in a closed loop, with heating power adjusted to maintain the set temperature. Heat exchange between the environment and the manikin (convection, radiation, conduction) is directly reflected by changes in heating power. Under steady-state conditions, measurement and analysis of heating power enable calculation of thermal comfort indices and clothing thermal resistance (Clo value). The heating system simulates human metabolic heat, while independent PID control of each zone ensures local temperature stability. Recorded data such as zone temperature, heat flux density, and ambient temperature and humidity are used for evaluation of clothing thermal resistance, HVAC systems, and enclosed-space thermal environments.

Operation Instructions

(1) Check the connections of all zone temperature controls and sensors before testing;

(2) Lock all joints after adjusting posture to prevent movement during testing;

(3) Preheat the system to reach thermal steady state before measurements;

(4) Surface temperature settings and steady-state duration vary by standard and shall strictly follow the applicable standard;

(5) Avoid external contact with the manikin surface during testing to prevent measurement interference.

Test Procedure

(1) Place the manikin in the standard test environment and adjust to the required posture;

(2) Set target surface temperatures for all zones and start constant-temperature control;

(3) Record heating power of each zone after reaching thermal steady state;

(4) Dress the manikin with the test clothing and repeat the test;

(5) Compare power consumption between nude and clothed conditions;

(6) Calculate clothing thermal resistance (Clo value) and related thermal performance indices.

FAQ

1. What is this product?

It is a 16-zone dry-type thermal manikin used to simulate human heat exchange with the environment under controlled laboratory conditions.

2. What is this product used for?

It is used for evaluating thermal comfort, clothing thermal resistance, HVAC system performance, and human thermal environment characteristics in buildings, vehicles, and enclosed spaces.

3. Why is this product important?

It provides objective, repeatable thermal data while avoiding variability and safety risks associated with human subject testing.

4. What industries is this product suitable for?

It is suitable for HVAC engineering, automotive and rail transportation, aerospace, textile and protective clothing industries, research institutes, universities, and testing laboratories.

5. What types of this product are available?

The standard configuration is a 16-zone dry thermal manikin, with optional customization including different body sizes, postures, and modular heated components such as head, feet, child, or infant manikins.