JP7591782B2 - Temperature load management device, temperature load management method, and computer program - Google Patents

Description

The present disclosure relates to a temperature load management device, a temperature load management method, and a computer program.

When people are exposed to extreme temperature environments such as hot or cold environments for long periods of time, in addition to mental stress such as discomfort and irritation due to the heat or cold, physical stress is generated, including damage to the internal organs caused by excessive sweating, shivering, and a rise (fall) in body temperature, as well as physiological stress on the autonomic nervous system.

Patent Document 1 proposes a portable air-conditioned room that allows workers to easily escape and take a break when they feel unwell, such as suffering from heat stroke, in hot outdoor conditions.

JP 2020-63864 A

However, the portable air-conditioning room disclosed in Patent Document 1 cools all users uniformly by keeping the temperature inside the small room low, so some users may feel that the room is too cold or, conversely, that it is not cooled enough.

The purpose of this disclosure is to enable users to appropriately utilize an environment that removes temperature loads accumulated in hot or cold environments.

A first aspect of the present disclosure is a temperature load management device (20) used when exposing a user to a second environment to remove a first temperature load accumulated in a first environment. The temperature load management device (20) includes a control unit (10) that controls the second environment or notifies the user of the timing to end the exposure based on physiological information of the user.

In the first aspect, the second environment is controlled to remove the first temperature load accumulated in the first environment, or the user's exposure to the second environment is terminated based on physiological information of the user. Therefore, the temperature and usage time of the second environment can be set according to the user. This allows the user to use the second environment appropriately.

In a second aspect of the present disclosure, in the first aspect, the control unit (10) controls the second environment or notifies the user of the timing in accordance with increased activity of a second nervous system and a part controlled by the second nervous system that acts in the opposite manner to a first nervous system and a part controlled by the first nervous system that counteracts the first temperature load in the user. In this disclosure, a part controlled by a nervous system means, for example, a part involved in thermoregulation such as blood vessels that fluctuates depending on the environmental temperature.

In the second aspect, for example, in a user who has accumulated heat load in a hot environment, the second environment is controlled in accordance with the nervous system that controls the heat dissipation promotion system (such as sweating) and the nervous system that has the opposite effect to the relevant area (the nervous system that controls the heat dissipation inhibition system (such as vasoconstriction)) and the increased activity of the relevant area. This allows the user to use the second environment more appropriately.

A third aspect of the present disclosure is the second aspect, in which the control unit (10) sets the temperature of the second environment or the timing based on the accumulated amount of the first temperature load and the accumulated amount of the second temperature load that is opposite to the first temperature load and is required to activate the second nervous system by the second temperature load.

In the third aspect, for example, the amount of heat load accumulated in a user in a hot environment and the amount of cold load required to activate the nervous system that controls the user's heat dissipation inhibition system (such as vasoconstriction) can be calculated, and the temperature and usage time of the second environment appropriate for the user can be set based on these accumulated load amounts.

A fourth aspect of the present disclosure is any one of the first to third aspects, further comprising a sensor (11) that detects the physiological information.

In the fourth aspect, the second environment can be controlled, etc., using physiological information of the user detected by the sensor (11).

The fifth aspect of the present disclosure is the fourth aspect, in which the sensor (11) is a bracelet-type sensor worn by the user and a sensor that measures body temperature at multiple positions.

In the fifth aspect, the user's physiological information, such as the amount of sweat and heart rate, can be easily detected.

A sixth aspect of the present disclosure is any one of the first to fifth aspects, in which the physiological information is at least one of metabolic rate, skin temperature, deep temperature, sweat rate, blood vessel diameter, blood flow rate, heart rate, heart rate fluctuation, respiratory rate, muscle tremor, and brown fat cell activity.

In the sixth aspect, physiological information related to the temperature load accumulated on the user can be used.

A seventh aspect of the present disclosure is any one of the first to sixth aspects, in which the controlled object of the second environment is at least one of temperature, humidity, radiant temperature, and airflow.

In the seventh aspect, the temperature load can be removed from the user by controlling the second environment.

The eighth aspect of the present disclosure is a temperature load management method used when exposing a user to a second environment to remove a first temperature load accumulated in a first environment, and controls the second environment or notifies the user of the timing to end the exposure based on physiological information of the user.

In the eighth aspect, the second environment is controlled to remove the first temperature load accumulated in the first environment, or the user's exposure to the second environment is terminated based on physiological information of the user. Therefore, the temperature and usage time of the second environment can be set according to the user, allowing the user to use the second environment appropriately.

A ninth aspect of the present disclosure is a computer program for causing a computer to execute the temperature load management method of the eighth aspect.

In the ninth aspect, the same effect as in the eighth aspect can be obtained.

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a human body mechanism model regarding temperature load. Figure 2 shows the simulation results of human body exergy accumulation under temperature load. Figure 3 shows the simulation results of the total accumulation of human body exergy accumulation under temperature load. Figure 4 shows the simulation results of the total accumulation of human body exergy accumulation in a recovery environment after a temperature load. FIG. 5 shows the simulation results of the total accumulation of human body exergy accumulation at multiple temperatures in a recovery environment after a temperature load. FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an air conditioning system including a temperature load management device according to an embodiment.

Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the following embodiments are essentially preferred examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, its applications, or its uses.

<Human body mechanism model for temperature load>
It is known that if a person exposed to a hot environment is relieved of the heat stress by being placed in a low-temperature environment below room temperature even for a short time, the adverse effects on the mind and body can be relieved and concentration can be restored. In other words, by quickly reducing the heat stress in the body, the mental and physical stress becomes less likely to persist and it becomes easier to feel refreshed.

Therefore, when exposed to an extreme temperature environment or when moving indoors, the effects of temperature stress can be mitigated by temporarily providing a temperature environment on the opposite side of normal temperature, specifically, a temperature environment below normal temperature if the stress is due to a hot environment, or a temperature environment above normal temperature if the stress is due to a cold environment.

The inventors of the present application have studied a human body mechanism model that takes the heat stress accumulated in a person as input and outputs the environmental temperature required to return indicators related to the autonomic nervous system to a normal range. Here, the environmental temperature that is output is calculated as a temperature that can provide a person with cold stress to the extent that the heat radiation inhibition nervous system becomes dominant, such as by excessively cooling the person and constricting blood vessels, so that the accumulated heat stress becomes less than zero.

There are various types of sympathetic nervous activity, but as an example, we have devised the following human body mechanism model, focusing on the activity of the heat dissipation promotion system when a person is subjected to a heat load (heat stimulus) and the activity of the heat dissipation inhibition system when a person is subjected to a cold load (cold stimulus), as shown in Figure 1. If a person continues to stay in a hot environment and only the heat dissipation promotion system (sweating, vasodilation, increased heart rate, increased blood flow, etc.) is functioning, the nervous system that controls the heat dissipation promotion system and the tissues involved in peripheral thermoregulation controlled by it will be exhausted due to a lack of energy, etc., and it will be difficult to sweat, for example, even in a hot environment. Therefore, the person is temporarily cooled excessively to suppress the activity of the heat dissipation promotion system and to activate the heat dissipation inhibition system (vasoconstriction, muscle tremors, activation of brown fat cells, etc.). This is thought to replenish energy, etc., to the nervous system that controls the heat dissipation promotion system and the tissues involved in peripheral thermoregulation controlled by it, and the thermoregulation function will return to normal. On the other hand, if a person continues to live in a cold environment and there is a shortage of energy in the nervous system that controls the heat dissipation inhibitory system and in the tissues involved in peripheral thermoregulation that are controlled by it, it is thought that if the person is temporarily overheated to suppress the activity of the heat dissipation inhibitory system and activate the heat dissipation promotion system, it will be possible to recover fatigue in the sympathetic nervous system of the heat dissipation inhibitory system and in the tissues involved in peripheral thermoregulation that are controlled by it.

Based on the above hypothesis, the inventors of the present application have come up with an invention in which, when a person is exposed to an environment for removing the temperature load accumulated in a hot or cold environment (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as a recovery environment), the recovery environment is controlled based on physiological information such as the amount of sweating and blood vessel diameter, and the timing to end the person's exposure to the recovery environment (the usage time of the recovery environment) is notified. In this invention, for example, the recovery environment may be controlled, etc., using the physiological information of the person in accordance with the enhancement of the activity of the second nervous system and the part controlled by the second nervous system, which acts in the opposite manner to the first nervous system and the part controlled by the first nervous system, which counteract the temperature load accumulated in a hot or cold environment. In addition, the physiological state of the person may be estimated from the environmental information, and the recovery environment may be controlled, etc., in accordance with the enhancement of the activity of the part controlled by the second nervous system. In this case, as described in detail below, human body exergy accumulation may be calculated using environmental information (room temperature [℃], relative humidity [%], wall temperature [℃], wind speed [m/s], outdoor temperature [℃], outdoor humidity [%], etc.) in addition to physiological information, amount of clothing [clo] , and amount of exercise [met], and the temperature and usage time of the recovery environment may be set using the calculation result. Note that human body exergy accumulation is included in the following equation regarding human body exergy balance.

[Human body exergy input] - [Human body exergy consumption] = [Human body exergy accumulation] + [Human body exergy output]
In the above formula, human body exergy input, human body exergy consumption, human body exergy storage, and human body exergy output are parameters that respectively represent the rates of exergy generation, consumption, storage, and release calculated per 1 ^m2 of the human body surface. The unit of each parameter is W/ ^m2 .

Human body exergy input is primarily the exergy generated within the body and the exergy taken into the body from the outside, and is derived from heat generated by metabolism, inhaled air, and radiant heat absorbed by clothing.

Human body exergy consumption is the exergy consumed within the body, and is due to thermal diffusion caused by temperature differences inside the body, thermal diffusion caused by temperature differences between the body and clothing, and mutual diffusion between sweat and air caused by water vapor pressure differences between the body and clothing.

Human body exergy accumulation is the exergy that accumulates in the body depending on the surrounding environment, and in hot environments human body exergy accumulation tends to increase, while in cold environments human body exergy accumulation tends to decrease.

Human body exergy output is the exergy released from inside the body to the outside, and is mainly due to exhalation, the diffusion of moist air generated after sweat evaporation, and radiant heat emitted by clothing.

As a reference for the exergy balance of the human body, for example, "Theory of Exergy and the Environment - What is the Design of Flow and Circulation? [Revised Edition] (edited by Shukutani Masanori)" can be given.

<Modeling using human body exergy accumulation>
Temperature load means heat stress that activates the thermoregulation function due to hot and cold stimuli that prevent the maintenance of a person's body temperature, and is distinguished from the heat itself that accumulates in the person. For example, when the temperature is 30°C and the body temperature is maintained by dissipating heat through sweating, no more heat is accumulated, but heat stress is not zero and sweating etc. cause stress on the body. Therefore, the nervous system that controls the heat dissipation promotion system and the tissues involved in peripheral thermoregulation controlled by it continue to consume energy and gradually become exhausted. In order to restore this state, it is necessary to suppress the function of these heat dissipation promotion systems, but at neutral temperatures (temperatures where thermoregulation is not necessary), they are in an antagonistic state with the heat dissipation inhibition system, and it is thought that both the heat dissipation promotion system and the heat dissipation inhibition system are active, so in order to suppress the function of the heat dissipation promotion system, the antagonistic heat dissipation inhibition system needs to be dominant. Based on the above assumptions, for example, the temperature and usage time of the recovery environment that counters the hot environment are calculated as follows.

First, the heat stress (first temperature load) received by the subject from the environment is calculated as follows. It is known, for example from the aforementioned reference, that the deep human body exergy accumulation per unit time can be calculated as a function of the exposure time t to the environment using environmental information as input. Based on the simulation results obtained based on this knowledge, in this disclosure, the change in the deep human body exergy accumulation total ST(t) relative to the residence time t for each temperature TE to which the user is exposed is calculated as an approximate formula as follows:

For example, using the model formula shown in the above-mentioned reference, when a subject who is in thermal equilibrium in an environment with a temperature of 26°C moves to a hot environment with a temperature of 36°C, the deep human body exergy accumulation per unit time ΔST(Th) is shown to change as shown in Figure 2 (in Figure 2, the vertical axis is in W/ ^m2 and the horizontal axis is in minutes) using the exposure time Th to the hot environment. Also, the total deep human body exergy accumulation ST is shown as shown in Figure 3 (in Figure 3, the vertical axis is in J/ ^m2 and the horizontal axis is in minutes).

The simulation results in Figure 3 are approximated by a sigmoid function of the exposure time Th to a hot environment, and are expressed by the following equation (1).

In formula (1), e is Napier's constant, which is the base of the natural logarithm. Th is 0 or greater.

Similarly, if a subject who is in thermal equilibrium in an environment with a temperature of 26°C is moved to a hot environment with a temperature of 36°C, and then is exposed to the hot environment for 20 minutes before being moved to a recovery environment with a temperature of 21°C, the total amount of deep human body exergy accumulation ST will change as shown in Figure 4. Among the simulation results in Figure 4, ST corresponding to the time from 0:20 (20 minutes) onwards can be approximated by a sigmoid function of the exposure time Tc to the recovery environment, and is expressed by the following equation (2).

In formula (2), e is Napier's constant, which is the base of the natural logarithm. Also, Tc is 0 or greater.

Here, by setting Tc so that ST (= ST(Th) + ST(Tc)) < 0 is satisfied, not only can the accumulated amount of the first temperature load in the hot environment be eliminated by the accumulated amount of the second temperature load in the recovery environment, but by cooling it below the equilibrium state at the neutral temperature, the heat dissipation promotion system is suppressed and the heat dissipation suppression system becomes dominant, resulting in a state in which the heat dissipation promotion system is more likely to recover.

For example, in the case shown in Figure 4, using formula (2), the minimum Tc (usage time of the recovery environment) that satisfies ST < 0 is calculated to be 11.6 minutes.

In this way, the aforementioned approximate formulas for various temperatures and exposure times may be set and stored in advance, and the usage time of the recovery environment may be calculated using these approximate formulas. Note that in the above explanation, the required usage time was determined by selecting the temperature of the recovery environment for the first temperature load, but more detailed and continuous set temperatures and usage times may be calculated using other approximate models.

In addition, the total accumulated amount ST of the deep human body exergy accumulation in the recovery environment is simulated in advance by changing the temperature TEc of the recovery environment for the temperature and time of applying the first temperature load, so that an appropriate exposure time (use time) can be obtained. For example, when a subject in a thermal equilibrium state in an environment at a temperature of 26°C is exposed to a hot environment at a temperature of 36°C for 20 minutes, the total accumulated amount ST of the deep human body exergy accumulation in the recovery environment is simulated in advance by changing the TEc (in FIG. 5, the unit of the vertical axis is J/ ^m2 and the unit of the horizontal axis is minutes). From the results shown in FIG. 5, it can be derived that if the TEc is 22°C or less, ST<0 can be satisfied within the target time of 15 minutes.

The method of calculating human body exergy in formulas (1) and (2) is not particularly limited. For example, exergy may be calculated directly by substituting parameters (air temperature, relative humidity, etc.) included in the input environmental conditions into a specified formula. Alternatively, exergy may be calculated from the input environmental conditions using a specified algorithm. Alternatively, a table or database that associates environmental conditions with exergy may be created in advance, and exergy may be calculated based on the input environmental conditions.

In addition, in the above calculation example, we have explained how to calculate the temperature and usage time of a recovery environment (low temperature environment) that counters a hot environment, but the temperature and usage time of a recovery environment (high temperature environment) that counters a cold environment can also be calculated by simulating the temperature and exposure time of the temperature load in advance and constructing a model formula.

<Configuration of Temperature Load Management Device>
6 is a block diagram of an air conditioning system (100) including a temperature load management device (20) according to an embodiment. The temperature load management device (20) of this embodiment is used when exposing a user to a second environment (recovery environment) for reducing a temperature load (first temperature load) accumulated on the user in a first environment (such as a hot environment or a cold environment).

As shown in FIG. 6, the temperature load management device (20) mainly includes a control unit (10). The control unit (10) controls the recovery environment through an air conditioner (30) (described later) based on the physiological information of the user, or notifies the user of the timing to end the exposure of the user to the recovery environment (usage time).

The physiological information is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, at least one of metabolic rate, skin temperature, deep temperature, sweat rate, blood vessel diameter, blood flow rate, heart rate, heart rate fluctuation, respiratory rate, muscle tremor, and brown fat cell activity.

The control objects of the recovery environment are not particularly limited, but may be, for example, at least one of temperature, humidity, radiant temperature, and airflow.

The temperature load management device (20) includes a computer such as a microcomputer, and the computer executes a program to implement the functions of the control unit (10), that is, the temperature load management method of this embodiment. The computer includes a processor that operates according to the program as the main hardware configuration. The processor may be of any type as long as it can realize the function by executing the program, and may be composed of one or more electronic circuits including, for example, a semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) or an LSI (large scale integration). The multiple electronic circuits may be integrated into one chip or may be provided on multiple chips. The multiple chips may be integrated into one device or may be provided on multiple devices. The program is recorded on a non-transitory recording medium such as a computer-readable ROM, optical disk, or hard disk drive. The program may be stored in the recording medium in advance, or may be supplied to the recording medium via a wide area communication network including the Internet.

The temperature load management device (20) may further include a sensor (11) that detects physiological information of the user. The sensor (11) may be, for example, a bracelet-type sensor worn by the user and a sensor that measures body temperature at multiple positions. Instead of the temperature load management device (20) including the sensor (11), the temperature load management device (20) may detect physiological information of the user using a detection device configured separately from the temperature load management device (20) and transmit the detected physiological information to the temperature load management device (20).

The temperature load management device (20) may further include a storage unit that stores physiological information of the user, etc. When the temperature load management device (20) includes a storage unit, the storage unit may be a recording medium that can be read and written by a computer, such as a RAM.

The temperature load management device (20) may further include an input section and a display section for inputting necessary information and outputting the temperature of the recovery environment, the usage time, etc. If the temperature load management device (20) includes an input section, the input section may be, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, a touchpad, etc. If the temperature load management device (20) includes a display section, the display section may be, for example, a monitor capable of displaying images, such as a CRT or a liquid crystal display.

The temperature load management device (20) may further include a measuring unit that measures the outside air temperature, which is the temperature in a hot environment or a cold environment. When the temperature load management device (20) includes a measuring unit, the measuring unit may be a temperature sensor carried by the user, or may be temperature sensors installed in multiple locations (rooms, public institutions, outdoors, etc.). In the latter case, the ambient temperature of the user is calculated based on temperature history data measured by temperature sensors installed in multiple locations and the movement history data of the user. The movement history data of the user may be stored in advance, or may be set and input by the user as appropriate or based on the schedule of the day. The temperature load management device (20) may use outside air temperature information obtained from the Internet, such as AMeDAS, as the outside air temperature.

The temperature load management device (20) may be implemented in any manner, including, for example, a remote control for an air conditioner (30) described below. In this case, the temperature load management device (20) may be configured using a microcomputer, memory, touch panel, etc., mounted on the remote control.

In the temperature load management device (20), the control unit (10) may control the recovery environment or notify the user of the usage time of the recovery environment in accordance with the increased activity of the second nervous system and the parts controlled by the second nervous system that act in the opposite manner to the first nervous system and the parts controlled by the first nervous system that counteract the first temperature load in the user. For example, the control of the recovery environment may be performed in accordance with the increased activity of the second nervous system (nervous system that controls the heat dissipation inhibition system (vasoconstriction, muscle tremors, activation of brown fat cells, etc.)) that acts in the opposite manner to the first nervous system that controls the heat dissipation promotion system (sweating, vasodilation, increased heart rate, increased blood flow, etc.) that counteracts heat load.

In the temperature load management device (20), the control unit (10) may set the temperature and usage time of the recovery environment based on the accumulated amount of the first temperature load and the accumulated amount of the second temperature load that is opposite to the first temperature load and is required to activate the second nervous system. In this case, the temperature and usage time of the recovery environment may be calculated based on a model equation using the exergy accumulated in the human body as shown in equations (1) and (2).

<Air conditioning system configuration>
As shown in Fig. 6, an air conditioning system (100) may be configured from a temperature load management device (20) and an air conditioner (30). The air conditioner (30) conditions the recovery environment based on the temperature and usage time of the recovery environment set by a control unit (10) of the temperature load management device (20).

In the air conditioning system (100), air conditioning control by the temperature load management device (20) may be performed mainly when the temperature is subject to a strong temperature load from a hot or cold environment (for example, when the outside air temperature is 31°C or higher in summer and 10°C or lower in winter). On the other hand, when the outside air temperature is in the range of about 20°C to 30°C, air conditioning control may be performed with a gentle temperature gradient centered on normal temperature (summer: 25°C to 28°C). Also, when the outside air temperature is in the range of about 10°C to 20°C, air conditioning control may be performed with a gentle temperature gradient centered on normal temperature (winter: 18°C to 22°C).

The air conditioning system (100) may further include an adjustment unit (40) configured to allow a user to change the temperature, usage time, etc. of the recovery environment set by the control unit (10). In other words, the user may be able to manually change the temperature, usage time, etc. of the recovery environment to specific values via a remote control or the like of the air conditioning device (30).

The air conditioning system (100) may further include a measuring device (sensor) for measuring extreme environmental temperatures (outdoor air temperature) that may cause a load on the user. For example, the outdoor air temperature and room temperature (temperature around the user) may be measured by the sensor, and the control unit (10) may use the measurement information to set the temperature and usage time of the recovery environment, and the air conditioning device (30) may provide cool air or warm air to the recovery environment based on the set values.

The air conditioning system (100) may be configured as a closed indoor air conditioning system that controls the temperature of the entire room, for example, in a restroom. Such a restroom (resting room) allows people coming from outdoors to reduce the temperature load on extremely hot (or extremely cold) days.

The air conditioning system (100) may be configured as an open-type air conditioning system that controls the temperature of a local space indoors, for example by providing localized cool or warm air from an entrance wall.

The air conditioning system (100) may be configured so that it can be used outdoors and can be moved or temporarily installed. In this case, the air conditioning system (100) may be configured as a closed air-conditioned room, such as a temporary restroom, or as an open air conditioning system capable of localized cooling or heating, such as a temporary air cooler or a temporary air heater.

When the air conditioning system (100) is configured as an open-type air conditioning system indoors and outdoors, it is necessary to provide users with air that is significantly different from the air condition at the place of use. In this case, it is sufficient to control the air conditioning of only the environment surrounding the user as a recovery environment. Therefore, in order to improve the local air conditioning effect, air can be blown vertically downward from an air outlet provided above the place of use toward the user's head, or air can be blown horizontally from an air outlet provided on the side of the place of use toward the front of the user.

In addition, an open-type air conditioning system (100) needs to provide air at a temperature that is significantly different from the outside air temperature. For this reason, constant operation of the open-type air conditioning system (100) increases costs, so the air conditioning system (100) may be configured to automatically operate when an objective sensor or the like detects that a user has approached the air outlet of the air conditioner (30). In this case, by circulating a certain amount of cold air or hot air within the air conditioner (30) when the air conditioning system (100) is not operating, it is possible to reduce the cost of temperature control while providing cold air or hot air instantly when the system is operating.

In addition, the target temperature (temperature of the recovery environment) of the air conditioning control by the air conditioning system (100) has a large temperature difference from the load temperature (e.g., outside temperature), while the usage time of the recovery environment is limited, for example, to about 5 to 15 minutes. For this reason, it is effective to adjust the temperature in the shortest possible time to reduce costs. To achieve this, for example, the air conditioning system (100) may be provided with a function to remotely control the system via a network. Specifically, the recovery environment, such as an indoor environment, may be rapidly adjusted to the target temperature in a short time in accordance with the user's scheduled entry time, which is set by remote control.

The air conditioning system (100) may further include a sensing unit (50) such as an objective sensor that senses that the user has entered a recovery environment such as a room. In this case, the air conditioning system (100) may control the air conditioning using the temperature load management device (20) only when the sensing unit (50) senses that the user has entered the recovery environment. The air conditioning device (30) may end the air conditioning using the temperature load management device (20) when the usage time set in the temperature load management device (20) has elapsed after the sensing unit (50) senses that the user has entered the recovery environment. For example, the temperature of the recovery environment may be automatically returned to an appropriate temperature (e.g., around 26°C to 28°C) after the usage time set in the temperature load management device (20) (e.g., 10 to 15 minutes) has elapsed after the objective sensor senses the entry of a person into the room near the scheduled entry time set by the above-mentioned remote control.

--Effects of the embodiment--
The temperature load management device (20) of this embodiment is used when exposing a user to a second environment (i.e., a recovery environment) for removing a first temperature load accumulated in a first environment (such as a hot environment or a cold environment). The temperature load management device (20) mainly includes a control unit (10). The control unit (10) controls the recovery environment or notifies the user of the timing to end the user's exposure to the recovery environment (i.e., the usage time) based on physiological information of the user.

According to the temperature load management device (20) of this embodiment, the recovery environment is controlled to remove the first temperature load accumulated in the first environment, or the user is notified of the usage time of the recovery environment, based on physiological information of the user. Therefore, the temperature and usage time of the recovery environment can be set according to the user. For example, the temperature of the recovery environment can be set so as to remove the current temperature load such as heat stress from the user and return the user's autonomic nervous system to a normal state. Therefore, the user can appropriately use the second environment. This allows the user's autonomic nervous system to be restored to a normal state, and illnesses caused by heat stress, such as heat stroke, can be prevented.

In the temperature load management device (20) of this embodiment, the control unit (10) may control the recovery environment or notify the user of the usage time of the recovery environment in accordance with the increased activity of the second nervous system and the parts controlled by the second nervous system that act in the opposite manner to the first nervous system that counteracts the first temperature load in the user and the parts controlled by the first nervous system. For example, in a user who has accumulated heat load in a hot environment, the recovery environment may be controlled in accordance with the increased activity of a nervous system (nervous system that controls the heat dissipation inhibition system (vasoconstriction, etc.)) that acts in the opposite manner to the nervous system that controls the heat dissipation promotion system (sweating, etc.). In this way, the user can use the environment more appropriately.

In the temperature load management device (20) of this embodiment, the control unit (10) may set the temperature or usage time of the recovery environment based on the accumulated amount of the first temperature load and the accumulated amount of the second temperature load required to activate the second nervous system by a second temperature load opposite to the first temperature load. In this way, for example, the accumulated amount of heat load accumulated in the user in a hot environment and the accumulated amount of cold load required to activate the nervous system that controls the user's heat dissipation inhibition system (vasoconstriction, etc.) can be obtained, and the temperature and usage time of the recovery environment appropriate for the user can be set based on these accumulated load amounts.

The temperature load management device (20) of this embodiment may further include a sensor (11) that detects physiological information of the user. In this way, the physiological information of the user detected by the sensor (11) can be used to control the recovery environment, etc.

In the temperature load management device (20) of this embodiment, the sensor (11) may be a bracelet-type sensor worn by the user, and a sensor that measures body temperature at multiple positions. In this way, physiological information of the user, such as the amount of sweat and heart rate, can be easily detected.

In the temperature load management device (20) of this embodiment, the physiological information may be at least one of the metabolic rate, skin temperature, deep temperature, sweat rate, blood vessel diameter, blood flow, heart rate, heart rate fluctuation, respiratory rate, muscle tremor, activity of brown fat cells, and activity of the nervous system related to thermoregulation output from the preoptic area. In this way, the physiological information related to the temperature load accumulated in the user can be used.

In the thermal load management device (20) of this embodiment, the object of control of the recovery environment may be at least one of temperature, humidity, radiant temperature, and airflow. In this way, the thermal load can be removed from the user by controlling the recovery environment.

Other Embodiments
In the above embodiment, the temperature load management device (20) sets the temperature and the usage time of the recovery environment based on the exergy accumulated in the user's body. However, the temperature load management device (20) may set the temperature and the usage time of the recovery environment based on other indices based on the physiological information of the user. For example, other parameters that are correlated with the degree of expansion and contraction of the user's blood vessels, or parameters that represent the balance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves, may be used. As an example of such a parameter, LF/HF, which is the ratio between the low frequency (LF) component and the high frequency (HF) component of the user's respiration or heart rate fluctuation, may be used. The ratio LF/HF is correlated with the degree of expansion and contraction of the blood vessels. In this case, the temperature load management device (20) may obtain the value of LF/HF using, for example, an instrument that measures the user's pulse wave.

In addition, for example, when a user who has been subjected to a temperature load due to a hot environment is exposed to a cool recovery environment to remove the temperature load, the temperature load management device (20) may terminate the exposure of the user to the recovery environment when it detects that the blood flow rate in the peripheral blood vessels of the user's hands, etc., has fallen below a predetermined value.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the temperature load management device (20) and the air conditioner (30) constitute an air conditioning system (100), and the temperature load management device (20) controls the recovery environment through the air conditioner (30). However, instead of this, the temperature load management device (20) itself may be provided with an air conditioning function, and the recovery environment may be controlled using this function.

Although the embodiments have been described above, it will be understood that various modifications of form and details are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims. Furthermore, the above-mentioned embodiments, variations, and other embodiments may be combined or substituted as appropriate as long as the functionality of the subject matter of this disclosure is not impaired. Furthermore, the descriptions "first," "second," etc. described above are used to distinguish the words to which these descriptions are attached, and do not limit the number or order of the words.

This disclosure is useful for a temperature load management device and a temperature load management method.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 Control unit 20 Temperature load management device 30 Air conditioner 40 Adjustment unit 50 Sensing unit 100 Air conditioning system

Claims (7)

A temperature load management device (20) used when exposing a user to a second environment for removing a first temperature load accumulated in a first environment, comprising:
a control unit (10) that controls the second environment or notifies a timing to end the exposure based on physiological information of the user;
The control unit (10) is a temperature load management device that sets the temperature of the second environment or the timing so that the sum of a total accumulated amount ST(Th) of deep human body exergy in the first environment (where Th is the exposure time to the first environment) and a total accumulated amount ST(Tc) of deep human body exergy in the second environment (where Tc is the exposure time to the second environment) is less than 0, in accordance with increased activity of a second nervous system and parts of the user controlled by the second nervous system that have the opposite effect to a first nervous system and parts of the user controlled by the first nervous system that counteract the first temperature load. In the temperature load management device of claim 1,
The temperature load management device further comprises a sensor (11) for detecting the physiological information. In the temperature load management device of claim 2,
The sensor (11) is a temperature load management device that is a bracelet-type sensor worn by the user and a sensor that measures body temperature at multiple positions. In any one of claims 1 to 3, the temperature load management device comprises:
A temperature load management device, wherein the physiological information is at least one of metabolic rate, skin temperature, deep temperature, sweat rate, blood vessel diameter, blood flow rate, heart rate, heart rate fluctuation, respiratory rate, muscle tremor, and activity of brown fat cells. In any one of claims 1 to 4, the temperature load management device comprises:
A temperature load management device in which the second environment is controlled in accordance with at least one of temperature, humidity, radiant temperature, and airflow. A temperature load management method used when exposing a user to a second environment for removing a first temperature load accumulated in a first environment, comprising:
notifying the user of a timing to control the second environment or to terminate the exposure based on physiological information of the user;
A temperature load management method in which the temperature of the second environment or the timing is set so that the sum of a total accumulated amount ST(Th) of deep human body exergy in the first environment (where Th is the exposure time to the first environment) and a total accumulated amount ST(Tc) of deep human body exergy in the second environment (where Tc is the exposure time to the second environment) is less than 0, in accordance with increased activity of a second nervous system and parts of the user controlled by the second nervous system that have an opposite effect to a first nervous system and parts of the user controlled by the first nervous system that counteract the first temperature load. A computer program for causing a computer to execute the temperature load management method according to claim 6.

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