A Moving Thermal Manikin for the Simulation of Walking Passengers in Aircraft or Trains

Abstract

Our experimental investigations focused on non-stationary effects on the flow and temperature fields within a generic train compartment caused by a newly developed moving thermal manikin. This study is intended to demonstrate how this thermal manikin can be used for investigations in terms of effects on thermal comfort caused by passengers walking through the aisle of a train or an airplane. Therefore, a 6 m long traverse system was equipped with a standing thermal manikin. Using a control system, we can precisely adjust the moving speed of the manikin and its total amount of emitted sensible heat. Furthermore, the manikin provides a similar blockage as real humans. Accordingly, the moving manikin can be used to experimentally simulate walking passengers. The study was conducted in a generic laboratory, representing the lower cabin of the DLR’s next generation train (NGT). 24 thermal manikins were seated in six rows and the ventilation was realized by cabin displacement ventilation. Local temperature and omnidirectional velocity measurements as well as laser-smoke visualizations were conducted to capture the effect of the moving manikin.