Can different convective local cooling devices satisfy the demands of elderly people in warm conditions?

Abstract

Local cooling devices can assist elderly people during heat waves and other hot conditions. However, aging makes elderly people less sensitive to environment change and less tolerance to air velocity and air temperature. It is essential to determine if convective local cooling devices can meet the requirements of elderly people. In this study, three convective local cooling devices were chosen, including normal table fan, evaporative cooling device, and air-cooled jacket. Both thermal manikin and elderly people experiments were conducted in a climate chamber under warm conditions. Three convective local cooling devices were evaluated based on objective physical parameters and subjective psychological parameters gained from these experiments. This study found that all three devices achieved an 80% thermal and airflow acceptance rate at 29°C. However, at 32°C, only the evaporative cooling device showed the potential to meet the requirements.