Chapter 5
Conclusions
This research adds new knowledge for developing an innovative textile liner
containing a hood and replaceable inserts of either PWAT or PCM materials for
helmets to reduce the heat stress of motorcyclists. Experimental evaluation of the
heat stress reduction by application of textile substrates containing PWAT or PCM
materials was analysed. This research has also shown that the PWAT and PCM materials along with forced convection provide a substantial benefit to the motorcyclist
wearing a helmet by reducing heat stress. It has been the focus of this research to
define the fundamental relationships of heat transfer for PCM or PWAT materials in
the design of textile liner to be used in the motorcycle helmet. The research presents
a mechanism to enable the computer-aided design of textile liners for cooling within
motorcycle helmets.
PWAT material is slow to evaporate water at lower temperatures and lower speeds,
but cooling is achieved faster at higher temperatures and higher speeds. If larger
quantities of water from the PWAT material had evaporated, then more heat would
have been absorbed, resulting in further cooling. If too much water is added to the
PWAT material, then it might lead to the feeling of wetness on the head. In addition,
if the motorcyclist goes at a higher speed, there would be increased cooling that
might lead to wind chill and discomfort.
It has been found that the application of PWAT material can reduce the temperature by 2.1–8.8 °C depending on the wind speed. The maximum drop in temperature
for PWAT material was achieved at 75 kph wind speed as the forced convection
contributed to the increased evaporation of water contained in the PWAT material.
Similarly, in the case of PCM materials, the drop in temperature ranged from 3.1–
3.8 °C depending on the wind speeds. The maximum drop in temperature for PCM
material was also achieved at 75 kph wind speed because of the forced convection contributing to additional cooling. Generally, the heat is transferred by conduction, convection, radiation and evaporation. In this research, forced convection and
evaporation play the major roles with a limited contribution from radiation and
conduction.
© The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license
to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2020
S. Kanesalingam and R. Nayak, Sustainable Phase Change and Polymeric Water
Absorbent Materials, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-5750-7_5
117
Conclusions
This research adds new knowledge for developing an innovative textile liner
containing a hood and replaceable inserts of either PWAT or PCM materials for
helmets to reduce the heat stress of motorcyclists. Experimental evaluation of the
heat stress reduction by application of textile substrates containing PWAT or PCM
materials was analysed. This research has also shown that the PWAT and PCM materials along with forced convection provide a substantial benefit to the motorcyclist
wearing a helmet by reducing heat stress. It has been the focus of this research to
define the fundamental relationships of heat transfer for PCM or PWAT materials in
the design of textile liner to be used in the motorcycle helmet. The research presents
a mechanism to enable the computer-aided design of textile liners for cooling within
motorcycle helmets.
PWAT material is slow to evaporate water at lower temperatures and lower speeds,
but cooling is achieved faster at higher temperatures and higher speeds. If larger
quantities of water from the PWAT material had evaporated, then more heat would
have been absorbed, resulting in further cooling. If too much water is added to the
PWAT material, then it might lead to the feeling of wetness on the head. In addition,
if the motorcyclist goes at a higher speed, there would be increased cooling that
might lead to wind chill and discomfort.
It has been found that the application of PWAT material can reduce the temperature by 2.1–8.8 °C depending on the wind speed. The maximum drop in temperature
for PWAT material was achieved at 75 kph wind speed as the forced convection
contributed to the increased evaporation of water contained in the PWAT material.
Similarly, in the case of PCM materials, the drop in temperature ranged from 3.1–
3.8 °C depending on the wind speeds. The maximum drop in temperature for PCM
material was also achieved at 75 kph wind speed because of the forced convection contributing to additional cooling. Generally, the heat is transferred by conduction, convection, radiation and evaporation. In this research, forced convection and
evaporation play the major roles with a limited contribution from radiation and
conduction.
© The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license
to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2020
S. Kanesalingam and R. Nayak, Sustainable Phase Change and Polymeric Water
Absorbent Materials, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-5750-7_5
117