Numerical study of anisotropic thermal conductivity fabrics with heating elements

Abstract

Purpose

This work seeks to analyze the heat transfer phenomena of anisotropic thermal conductivity fabrics containing electric conductive yarns.

Design/methodology/approach

A numerical program, based on a spectral element method, is used to assess the heating fabric with a temperature control model. The study determines suitable parameters for the fabric by evaluating the temperature uniformity on the fabric surface. Effective thermal conductivities of the fabric are obtained by comparing the experimental and numerical results with each other, using a nonlinear least‐square fitting method.

Findings

The results indicate that employing high effective thermal conductivity of non‐electric conductive yarns in a direction perpendicular to electric conductive yarns helps to increase temperature uniformity. However, the effect of the high effective thermal conductivity of electric conductive yarns is not evident. Adopting a short distance between the electric conductive yarns and a thick fabric is also beneficial in increasing temperature uniformity. If the heating fabric is applied in a place where there is easy energy transfer between the surface of the fabric and moving air, collocation with high heating power is needed to maintain the temperature. Choosing an appropriate heating source is essential when considering temperature uniformity and energy savings using a temperature controller.

Originality/value

The findings will be useful in the design of heating fabrics.

Citation

Yen, R., Chen, C., Huang, C. and Chen, P. (2013), "Numerical study of anisotropic thermal conductivity fabrics with heating elements", International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, Vol. 23 No. 5, pp. 750-771. https://doi.org/10.1108/HFF-03-2011-0050