HONEYCOMB
Temperature Control and Thermal Comfort One essential factor which allowed life to survive and evolve on Earth is the air temperature (a direct implication of our location relative to the Sun). An individual’s satisfaction with the thermal environment is called thermal comfort and maintaining this standard across our entire settlement has been one of the important goals when coming up with the design. Controlling the rate of heat gain and loss is the first step in assuring thermal comforts for the inhabitants of the spacecraft. There are six factors that directly affect the comfort levels and they can be grouped in two categories: personal factors and environm ental factors. Personal factors:
metabolic rate – the level of transformation of chemical energy into heat and mechanical work by metabolic activities within an organism (ASHRAE 55-2010) 1 met = 58.2 W/m² common values are 0.7 met for sleeping, 1.0 met for a seated position, 1.2-1.4 met for light activities standing, 2.0 met or more for activities that involve movement clothing insulation – thermal insulation provided by clothing 1 cl = 0.155 m²·K/W (trousers, a long sleeved shirt, and a jacket)
Environmental factors
air temperature mean radiant temperature (radiant heat transferred from a surface)
air speed (just as important in space as it is on Earth, preventing regions of
toxic gas from forming in the absence of air currents relative humidity
The four environmental factors are controlled by the spacecraft’s life-support system, which draws inspiration from the International Space Station’s own ECLSS.
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