Thermal Comfort in the Columbus Attached Pressurized Module

The Columbus Attached Pressurised Module (APM) is intended to support a shirt-sleeve environment for crew activities. Top level requirements therefore define a cabin air temperature and humidity range (the so-called “Comfort Box”), extreme air velocities for ventilation in the centra aisle, maximum mean radiant temperature of the cabin walls. Air temperature selectability has to be ensured with adequate accuracy across the whole range. The APM environmental control system, in particular the Temperature and Humidity Control (THC) system, is designed and verified against these parameters.

Cabin thermal conditions can be evaluated by the APM Integrated Overall Thermal Mathematical Model (IOTMM), representing the general thermal behaviour of the APM, including the THC system. Heat loads due to APM subsystem equipment and payloads, solar flux and the crew itself have been considered in the analyses. The various possible combinations of heat loads on the APM water and air loops determines potential limitations to the cabin air temperature selectability. The relevant effects are described in this paper and combined with considerations on the crew comfort conditions likely to be encountered in the cabin, based both on applicable requirements and on analysis and test data from the literature.