Internal Heat Transfer
This section describes the internal heat transfer model.
Generally, the heat flux is directed from inside the body to the peripheral regions. This heat transfer is called internal heat transfer. The border to the environment is the skin. The heat transfer is characterized by heat conduction and convection.
Heat conduction between two elements i and i+1 of a segment j is given by:
The conductivities between the different shells are listed in the following table:
Segment | Core - Muscle | Muscle - Fat | Fat - Skin |
---|---|---|---|
Head |
4.650 |
9.070 |
15.350 |
Torso |
1.690 |
6.450 |
18.260 |
Upper arm |
0.843 |
2.790 |
8.373 |
Forearm |
0.843 |
2.790 |
8.373 |
Hand |
2.835 |
5.580 |
5.580 |
Thigh |
1.833 |
4.920 |
17.619 |
Lower leg |
1.222 |
3.280 |
11.746 |
Foot |
2.935 |
10.000 |
8.085 |
Heat is transferred between body parts through the transport of blood in a circulatory system. The blood extracts the heat from the warmer regions of the body and releases it to the colder regions.
Heat transfer from one element of a segment to the corresponding element in the next segment is calculated as:
The density of blood is assumed to be 1111 kg/m3. The volumetric flow rate of blood varies according to the individual segments. Each body element has a base volumetric flow rate that is listed in the following table:
Segment | Core | Muscle | Fat | Skin |
---|---|---|---|---|
Head |
13.330 |
0.075 |
0.033 |
0.400 |
Torso |
64.400 |
1.777 |
0.638 |
0.583 |
Upper arm |
0.048 |
0.086 |
0.022 |
0.035 |
Forearm |
0.048 |
0.086 |
0.022 |
0.035 |
Hand |
0.014 |
0.007 |
0.007 |
0.277 |
Thigh |
0.183 |
0.308 |
0.067 |
0.238 |
Lower leg |
0.122 |
0.206 |
0.044 |
0.158 |
Foot |
0.021 |
0.004 |
0.011 |
0.417 |
In addition to the constant base values, the blood volumetric flow rates of the skin and muscle shell can change due to physical activity or thermoregulation. The blood volumetric flow rates of the core and fat, however, always have the same base value.