Calorimetry Minisensor for the Localised Measurement of Surface Heat Dissipated from the Human Body
We have developed a calorimetry sensor that can perform a local measurement of the surface heat dissipated from the human body. The operating principle is based on the law of conductive heat transfer: heat dissipated by the human body passes across a thermopile located between the individual and a t...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2016-11-01
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| Series: | Sensors |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/16/11/1864 |
| _version_ | 1798035382593388544 |
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| author | Fabiola Socorro Pedro Jesús Rodríguez de Rivera Manuel Rodríguez de Rivera |
| author_facet | Fabiola Socorro Pedro Jesús Rodríguez de Rivera Manuel Rodríguez de Rivera |
| author_sort | Fabiola Socorro |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We have developed a calorimetry sensor that can perform a local measurement of the surface heat dissipated from the human body. The operating principle is based on the law of conductive heat transfer: heat dissipated by the human body passes across a thermopile located between the individual and a thermostat. Body heat power is calculated from the signals measured by the thermopile and the amount of power dissipated across the thermostat in order to maintain a constant temperature. The first prototype we built had a detection area measuring 6 × 6 cm2, while the second prototype, which is described herein, had a 2 × 2 cm2 detection area. This new design offers three advantages over the initial one: (1) greater resolution and three times greater thermal sensitivity; (2) a twice as fast response; and (3) it can take measurements from smaller areas of the body. The sensor has a 5 mW resolution, but the uncertainty is greater, up to 15 mW, due to the measurement and calculation procedure. The order of magnitude of measurements made in healthy subjects ranged from 60 to 300 mW at a thermostat temperature of 28 °C and an ambient room temperature of 21 °C. The values measured by the sensor depend on the ambient temperature and the thermostat’s temperature, while the power dissipated depends on the individual’s metabolism and any physical and/or emotional activity. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T20:57:18Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-518c6c5f5c6848c3b1abc565ccb519c9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-8220 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T20:57:18Z |
| publishDate | 2016-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Sensors |
| spelling | doaj.art-518c6c5f5c6848c3b1abc565ccb519c92022-12-22T04:03:38ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202016-11-011611186410.3390/s16111864s16111864Calorimetry Minisensor for the Localised Measurement of Surface Heat Dissipated from the Human BodyFabiola Socorro0Pedro Jesús Rodríguez de Rivera1Manuel Rodríguez de Rivera2Departamento de Física, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria E-35017, SpainDepartamento de Física, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria E-35017, SpainDepartamento de Física, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria E-35017, SpainWe have developed a calorimetry sensor that can perform a local measurement of the surface heat dissipated from the human body. The operating principle is based on the law of conductive heat transfer: heat dissipated by the human body passes across a thermopile located between the individual and a thermostat. Body heat power is calculated from the signals measured by the thermopile and the amount of power dissipated across the thermostat in order to maintain a constant temperature. The first prototype we built had a detection area measuring 6 × 6 cm2, while the second prototype, which is described herein, had a 2 × 2 cm2 detection area. This new design offers three advantages over the initial one: (1) greater resolution and three times greater thermal sensitivity; (2) a twice as fast response; and (3) it can take measurements from smaller areas of the body. The sensor has a 5 mW resolution, but the uncertainty is greater, up to 15 mW, due to the measurement and calculation procedure. The order of magnitude of measurements made in healthy subjects ranged from 60 to 300 mW at a thermostat temperature of 28 °C and an ambient room temperature of 21 °C. The values measured by the sensor depend on the ambient temperature and the thermostat’s temperature, while the power dissipated depends on the individual’s metabolism and any physical and/or emotional activity.http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/16/11/1864direct calorimetryheat conduction calorimetersisothermal calorimetersmedical calorimetrynon-differential calorimeters |
| spellingShingle | Fabiola Socorro Pedro Jesús Rodríguez de Rivera Manuel Rodríguez de Rivera Calorimetry Minisensor for the Localised Measurement of Surface Heat Dissipated from the Human Body Sensors direct calorimetry heat conduction calorimeters isothermal calorimeters medical calorimetry non-differential calorimeters |
| title | Calorimetry Minisensor for the Localised Measurement of Surface Heat Dissipated from the Human Body |
| title_full | Calorimetry Minisensor for the Localised Measurement of Surface Heat Dissipated from the Human Body |
| title_fullStr | Calorimetry Minisensor for the Localised Measurement of Surface Heat Dissipated from the Human Body |
| title_full_unstemmed | Calorimetry Minisensor for the Localised Measurement of Surface Heat Dissipated from the Human Body |
| title_short | Calorimetry Minisensor for the Localised Measurement of Surface Heat Dissipated from the Human Body |
| title_sort | calorimetry minisensor for the localised measurement of surface heat dissipated from the human body |
| topic | direct calorimetry heat conduction calorimeters isothermal calorimeters medical calorimetry non-differential calorimeters |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/16/11/1864 |
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