Determining Heat Loss with Wearable Heat Sensors

An athlete training on an elliptical wearing FluxTeq’s PHFS Sensor placed between 2 compression shirts (to simulate embedding into athletic fabric) was shown to output about 200 W/m² of heat flux over the course of a 40 minute workout on an elliptical- corresponding to about 260 calories over the course of the workout.

When the human body metabolized food, it produces the energy it needs for all its activities and is releases from the body in the form of heat. By measuring the number of calories burned, it can be determined how much heat is released from the body.

Existing calorie trackers estimate the number of calories burnt by correlating it with the heart rate, but the algorithms used by such wearable devices use are highly inaccurate, leading to wrong estimations of calories burnt. This can be improved significantly by directly measuring the heat energy spent by a person, which can then accurately show how many calories are burnt. Such a device is unique and can be used by both general consumers and professional athletes to track energy used and then utilize that to optimize their training routines and avoid overtraining.

Heat Flux Sensor Advantage

FluxTeq’s heat flux sensors can directly measure heat loss through surfaces. By embedding them in clothing or integrating them in wearable devices, thermal energy loss from a person can be directly measured, which can then be converted to calories burnt.

The picture shows a sensor of surface area 1-inch square, but it can be personalized according to needs, with smaller sensors also possible. Rigid or flexible sensors can be designed, with potential applications to embed them in clothes or armbands.

FluxTeq can deliver these sensors in large quantities, working with you to customize a design to fit your application.

This information has been sourced, reviewed and adapted from materials provided by FluxTeq.

For more information on this source, please visit FluxTeq.