Indirect Prediction of Textile Materials’ Thermal Insulation Based on Heat Loss

A methodology for predicting the thermal insulation of textiles based on their heat loss is described. The principle is based on measuring the electrical power input of a heating element and calculating the degree of insulation based on the real-time required to cool or heat the heating element by 1 °C and the cooling time, as determined by the semi-infinite layer cooling model. Heat loss is calculated based on the heat transfer inside the heating plate when the textile is placed directly on its surface, as well as in the case of an air gap between the heating plate and the textile. A model for predicting heat loss is proposed. The model considers the thermal difference and air flow velocity for various numbers of textile layers, as well as for different types of textile placement relative to the heating plate.