An Approach of Exergy Analysis of Human Physiological Response in the Outdoor Conditions during Blocklaying in Ogun State, Nigeria

Abstract

Exergy is a property of a system and its environment and it is defined as the maximum available energy that could be converted into a useful work. This study determined an approach to analyse exergy of human physiological response of the outdoor conditions during blocklaying. Total of 204 masons were investigated on the average of seventeen (17) masons every month. The study was conducted between May, 2013 and April, 2014 between the hour of 8.00am and 5.00pm with environmental and physiological were recorded. The data collected were analysed with SPSS 17version. The mean air temperature was at maximum in November 2013 (36,1ºC) and March 2014 (36.1ºC) while maximum relative humidity occurred in July 2013 (69%). Similarly, the radiant temperature was at maximum in June 2013 (36.9ºC) and the peak value for the solar radiation occurs in December 2013 (806w/m2). Furthermore, the maximum average mean skin temperature occurs in March 2014 (34.8ºC) and the core temperature in September 2013 (35.2ºC). The addition of stored exergy and the output exergy gives the differences between the input and exergy consumed by the mason. This approach was used to develop a model for the stored exergy of the mason during blocklaying. The stored exergy was model named AIModel for the exergy of the mason working in an outdoor environment. This model was a modification of Fanger model of thermal comfort.