Among the factors that influence the resilience and sustainability of cities in general, and of inhabited spaces in particular, there are extreme temperatures and, in particular, for people, thermal comfort is something that should be considered. This problem includes all aspects of comfort for users of inhabited spaces in both buildings and vehicles. The purpose of this paper is to present the details of a recently designed and created thermal manikin that comprises 79 superficial zones with independent neuro-fuzzy temperature regulation. Both the component parts of the manikin and the acceptance strategy are described. Flexible heating elements were used to control the temperature, on which five digital sensors are positioned. In order to establish the relationship between heat loss and ambient temperature, the thermal manikin was calibrated in a climatic chamber. The thermal manikin was able to predict local sensations through the equivalent temperature concept of the so-called Predicted Mean Vote.

In the last decade, there has been an increase in ease and affordability of air travel in terms of mobility for people all around the world. Airplane passengers may experience different risks of contracting airborne infectious diseases onboard aircraft, such as influenza or severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2), due to nonuniform airflow patterns inside the airplane cabin or proximity to an infected person. In this paper, a novel approach for reducing the risk of contracting airborne infectious diseases is presented that uses a low-momentum personalized ventilation system with a protective role against airborne pathogens. Numerical simulations, supported by nonintrusive experimental measurements for validation purposes, were used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed system. Simulation and experimental results of the low-momentum personalized ventilation system showed the formation of a microclimate around each passenger with cleaner and fresher air than produced by the general mixing ventilation systems.

Thermal comfort is very important for the well-being and safety of vehicle occupants, as discomfort can elevate stress, leading to distracted attention and slower reaction times. This creates a riskier driving environment. Addressing this, high-induction air diffusers emerge as a significant innovation, enhancing indoor environmental quality (IEQ) by efficiently mixing cool air from the heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system with the cabin’s ambient air. This process ensures uniform airflow, diminishes temperature discrepancies, prevents draft sensations, and boosts overall air quality by improving air circulation. In addition to enhancing thermal comfort in vehicles, the novel air diffuser also offers significant potential for personalized ventilation systems, allowing for individualized control over airflow and temperature, thereby catering to the specific comfort needs of each occupant. This study introduces a novel air diffuser that demonstrates a 48% improvement in air entrainment compared to traditional diffusers, verified through Ansys Fluent simulations and laser Doppler velocimetry (LDV) measurements. At a fresh airflow rate of 31.79 m³/h, the total air entrainment rate at 0.6 m for the standard air diffuser is 73.36 m³/h, while for the innovative air diffuser, it is 109.26 m³/h. This solution has the potential to increase the level of thermal comfort and air quality within vehicles, and also signals potential applications across various enclosed spaces, underscoring its importance in advancing automotive safety and environmental standards.

Bubble curtains are non-physical fish-guidance devices that modify the hydrodynamic and acoustic environment near water intakes. This study quantified the liquid-phase velocity field generated by a bubble curtain placed in the vicinity of a water intake in a laboratory open-channel testing rig using planar Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV). Measurements were carried out at a background water velocity of 0.33 m/s for air-injection rates of 0, 5, 8, 10.5, and 15 L/min. Velocity fields were obtained at distances of 0, 20, 30, and 50 mm from the porous hose, with detailed analysis performed at 20 mm. Bubble regions were identified and masked before liquid-phase image correlation. Air injection modified the local velocity direction and produced localized velocity increases, with a maximum local liquid-phase velocity magnitude of approximately 0.42 m/s. Relative to the no-airflow reference velocity of 0.33 m/s, the spatially averaged velocity magnitude increased by approximately 6.7%, 11.8%, 15.2% and 16.7% at airflow rates of 5, 8, 10.5 and 15 L/min, respectively; however, the incremental increase between consecutive airflow conditions decreased from approximately 4.7% between 5 and 8 L/min to 3.1% between 8 and 10.5 L/min and 1.3% between 10.5 and 15 L/min. The spatially averaged velocity magnitude increased with airflow rate, while the incremental response decreased progressively at higher air-injection rates. Thus, 8 L/min represents a candidate energy-efficient operating condition under the tested laboratory conditions. The results provide hydraulic information relevant to subsequent fish-behavior experiments; however, fish-guidance performance cannot be inferred from the present hydrodynamic measurements alone. The results provide a hydraulic basis for designing subsequent fish-behavior experiments. Because no fish were present during the measurements, the study does not assess fish attraction, avoidance, movement restriction, passage, entrainment, or guidance efficiency. Fish-guidance performance cannot be inferred from the present hydrodynamic measurements alone.