Structural Model Of Heath And Water Vapour Exchange In Multilayer Textile Packages

The work presents a structural computational model developed for investigation of heat and air - water vapour mass exchange between the multilayer textile packages and human body. Each fabric layer is represented by a single element, characterized by its air and water vapour permeability, thermal resistance and heat capacity, as well as, water vapour absorption properties. While characteristics of each layer are obtained experimentally, the computational model enables to predict the variation of temperature and humidity in the gaps between each pair of adjacent layers in time. The element equations are derived on the base of ideal gas state equation. Though the condensation of water vapour was not considered in this model, the time point of initiation of sweating at given heat and water vapour generation rates could be predicted. The results of numerical calculation of transient heat and mass exchange in a sample textile multilayer are presented.