• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.59-72
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• 2014

This study provides the structural design for commercialization of outdoor breathable waterproof jackets for men merged with solar cells to enable emergency communications, utilizing wearable devices to develop smart clothing and extend convenience in everyday life. The most popular waterproof jacket with two-layer and three-layer moisture-permeable waterproof fabric was selected, based on previous studies of functional outdoor jackets and style with affinity to fashion. Flexible solar films suitable for clothing were embedded in the lining of the sleeve area and hood visor, and printed film was developed to balance weight and design. High performance smart solar jackets have application to expanding the use of smart phones for everyday and emergency communication, and leisure and outdoor sports activities, as well as day-to-day functions as a waterproof breathable outdoor jacket for men. It is also eco-friendly. Satisfying both the aesthetic and practical, a solar cell jacket with smart features, is an innovative tool for use in a variety of outdoor activities, and a fashion-forward commercialized product.

• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.92-108
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• 2015

This study aimed at developing a down jacket prototype that utilized sunlight as an alternative energy source with no air pollution. The jacket is filled with flexible solar panels and has a heat-generating function and LED function. In this study, three smart down jacket prototypes were developed, and the jacket's capabilities were demonstrated through the thermal effect on the performance test. The typical output voltage of the flexible solar panels was 6.4V. By connecting the 2 solar cell modules in series, the final output voltage was 12.8V. A battery charge regulator module was used the KA 7809 (TO-220) of 9V. Three heating pads were to be inserted into the belly of the jacket as direct thermal heating elements, and the LED module was configured, separated by a flash and an indicator. The smart down jacket was designed to prevent damage to the down pack without the individual devices' interfering with the human body's motion. Because this study provides insulation from extreme cold with a purpose, the jacket was tested for heat insulation properties of non-heating, heating on the back, heating on the abdomen, and heating on both the back and abdomen in a sitting posture in a static state. Thermal property analysis results from examining the average skin temperature, core temperature, and the temperature and humidity within clothing showed, that placing a heating element in one place was more effective than distributing the heating elements in different locations. Heating on the back was the most effective for maintaining optimal skin temperature, core temperature, and humidity, whereas heating on the abdomen was not effective for maintaining optimal skin temperature, core temperature, or humidity within clothing because of the gap between the jacket and the body.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.33 no.11
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• pp.1806-1816
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• 2009

This study analyzes the efficiency of a solar cell attached to an air circulation jacket. A commercially available silicon solar panel was selected and attached at four spots where the body angle was $40-60^{\circ}$ and voltage ($V_{oc}$, V), current ($I_{sc}$, A), and output power (P, W) were measured to determine the efficiency. The solar panel was applied to the outer jacket that operates with two fans to increase the convection that lowers the body temperature. The heavy work of standing, walking, and sweeping of a street sweeper was simulated in the field test. The microclimate within the jacket (with or without a fan) was measured and the subjective thermal, humidity, and comfort sensations were surveyed. SPSS 12.0 statistical package was used for a t-test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test. The results show that the highest efficiency of the solar cell was at the incident angle of $60^{\circ}$ in terms of voltage, current and output power distribution. The microclimate temperature of the air circulation jacket decreased significantly with the high power of the fan and subjects felt cooler than the jacket with a fan at the incident angle of $60^{\circ}$. Air circulation jackets operated by a silicon solar panel showed a significant cooling effect on the wearers.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.806-814
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• 2011

A solar jacket, which utilizes solar energy for generating electricity, is an example of clothing developed by the fusion of multiple technologies; such fusion of technologies can lead to further developments in the clothing industry and other industries in general. Many research institutes and garment manufacturing companies in Europe and America are developing solar garments; various solar-based products manufactured using solar cells, photovoltaic batteries, etc. are being sold at high prices. The purpose of this study was to investigate the development status of solar garments and their application for generating photovoltaic energy; the study also identified the type of design and upper body clothing preferred by Korean in their early 20s. The survey participants were 188 university students aged between 20 and 25. The design of the proposed six types of solar clothing was evaluated and rated; they were then ranked on the basis of the ratings. A survey on the management of solar garments was conducted, and ratings were assigned according to a 5-point Likert scale, with 5 indicating the strong affirmation. The survey results showed that among the six types of clothing, protective clothing (50%) and sportswear (22%) were more preferable than the others (working clothes (16%), casual clothes (3%), everyday wear(6%), and suits(1%)). Among the six proposed designs, the jumper design (22%) and jean jacket design (21%) were preferred over the others (casual jacket (19%), casual jacket I (15%), classic suit (14%), and climbing jacket (9%)). Factorial analysis of the management of solar garments revealed that the most important factors were the properties of the solar cell and time required for battery charging, and the second important factors were clothing weight and comfort.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.446-455
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• 2014

This study revealed the results related to the functionality of outdoor wear required when man and women in their 30s to 50s engage in outdoor activities. Based on the results of the survey, we proposed composition draft for a smart outdoor jacket with main functions of GPS device and light-emitting device using solar cell and EL. Absorption and release of sweat, functionality regarding rain and wind, and lightweightness, etc. from material functionalities of outdoor wear were found to be important. From function required in clothing for outdoor activity, location tracking, night glow, and lighting functions were found to be most important. For results investigating the necessity of the jacket's location tracking function and lighting function using solar cell, high scores of 3.9~4.0 were given. Purchase intentions for smart outdoor jacket with location tracking and lighting functions devised by this study were fairly positive and most responses indicated that the appropriate purchase price was between 200,000 to 300,000 won while possible problems of this smart outdoor jacket were listed in the order of washing inconvenience, high price, device weight, and discomfort in movement. The draft proposal to integrate with wearable devices for smart outdoor jacket prototype is as follows: Solar cell has been attached to the upper arm but placed inside a transparent pocket which has been detachable for washing convenience while the solar cell and controller have been integrated into a single unit. Using frequent movement exhibited by the arms, EL has been attached along the center line of the raglan sleeve for easy spotting when used as an emergency signal or for night lighting function during outdoor activity. GPS has been attached on the left sleeve so that the person can bend the left arm inward and operate the GPS screen with the right hand while walking or running outdoors.

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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• v.20 no.10
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• pp.645-653
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• 2008

Spiral-jacketed thermal storage tanks can greatly simplify solar heating systems while maintaining the thermal performance at a similar level as conventional systems with an external heat exchanger. Proper design of the spiral-jacket flow path is essential to make the most of solar energy, and thus to maximize the thermal performance. In the present work, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis was carried out for a spiral-jacketed storage tank installed in a solar heating demonstration system. The results of the CFD analysis showed a good agreement with experimentally determined thermal performance indices such as the acquired heat, collector efficiency, and mixed temperature in the storage tank. This verified CFD modelling approach can be a useful design tool in optimizing the shape of spiral-jacket flow path and the flow rate of circulating fluid for better performance.

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.8-14
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• 2014

We have performed experiments to enhance the stratification in a storage tank in order to raise the collector efficiency and solar fraction in solar thermal systems. The storage tank with a spiral jacket in the side wall has a scroll-shaped heat exchanger coil added to the upper part. The performance was compared between only the side and upper-side heating part through simulation using TRNSYS under the same weather conditions and initial conditions. As a result, the upper-side heating has a 4.2% advantage in solar fraction, but almost no increase in collector efficiency.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.104-114
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• 2011

There is rising interest in green energy, energy efficient equipment, and products as countries show increased interest in 'Low Carbon and Green Growth'. The cellphone has become one of the essential influences on modem people beyond the meaning itself by the release and the commercialization of the Smartphone. Thus, it considers that the introduction of fashion for cellphones and digital devices to be always on should be a quite natural design attempt for humans to wear clothes at all times. In addition, outdoor activities increase as the population enjoys more sports and leisure time that requires the development of specialized outwear such as the development of a functional jacket. This specialized field is associated with higher value-added businesses. This study made a prototype of a functional jacket equipped with solar cells that established a system of a fashion design that is harmonious with green growth as a plan to measure of fashion design for green growth. The objects of this study are as follow: First, the study seeks a design method for green growth. Second, it makes a prototype to present the improved design method. Third, it presents the establishment of a design system that considers green growth and the concrete measures practical for the system. It established the design system and made the prototype of functional jacket equipped with solar cells, LED, and digital devices as a measure of design for green growth based on the improvement plan of the design that the problems had been supplemented for. Previous studies were mainly about prototypes that attempted to equip mobile digital devices as a study of smart wear; however, this study leaves the issue of power supply for a follow-up study that is different from preceding studies.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.331-341
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• 2013

In a solar domestic hot water (SDHW) system, solar energy is collected using collector panels, transferred to a circulating heat transfer fluid (brine), and eventually stored in a thermal storage tank (TST) as hot water. In this study, a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model was developed to predict the solar thermal energy storage in a hybrid-type TST equipped with a helical jacket heater (mantle heat exchanger) and an immersed spiral coil heater. The helical jacket heater, which is the brine flow path attached to the side wall of a TST, has advantages including simple system design, low brine flow rate, and enhanced thermal stratification. In addition, the spiral coil heater further enhances the thermal performance and thermal stratification of the TST. The developed model was validated by the good agreement between the CFD results and the experimental results performed with the hybrid-type TST in SDHW settings.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.845-856
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• 2014

This study focused on the production and usability evaluation of smart outdoor jackets that are designed to provide convenience to middle-aged people by embedding devices for lighting and location tracing. The results were as follows. 1. Jacket power supplier was a assembled system composed of battery, charger, controller and switch. A solar cell was attached on the upper arm, and a wire type EL on the center line of a raglan sleeve along with a GPS on the left sleeve with a transparent vinyl pocket. The total weight of the jacket embedded with devices was 385-520g. 2. Operation of function, activity, acceptability, safety, convenience for device use, appearance, practical maintenance were selected based on an analysis of evaluation criteria of previous smart wear research. Criteria were narrowed to three major categories of satisfaction, appearance and maintenance. 3. Use satisfaction criterion consisted of wearable device functionality and physical, psychological use convenience. The evaluation indicated actual functionality. EL functions were especially effective and necessary. Convenience of use showed that a smart jacket was thought to be safe and the size was moderate regardless of age and gender. Outer appearance was satisfactory and respondents praised the color. The practical maintenance evaluation indicated that there was no challenge in doing the laundry since the solar battery and GPS were detachable. The practical use of smart outdoor jackets confirmed by fabric that was washable and dried quickly.