Novel Ventilation Concepts for Efficient Heating Dynamics of Vehicle Passenger Compartments

Abstract

A state-of-the-art dashboard ventilation system was compared to novel ventilation concepts regarding the heating dynamics in a scale-up generic car cabin (GCC). The concepts are based on the principle of displacement ventilation with air inlets at floor and ceiling level, well known from studies in aircraft cabins. In the present study, three vertical ventilation concepts were investigated experimentally in the GCC. With the aim to study different climate conditions, a jacket heating was used to simulate winter and summer conditions. To simulate the heat release and the obstruction of passengers as well as to measure the thermal comfort four thermal manikins were placed in the GCC. To determine the relevant heat fluxes a plethora of temperature sensors was located at significant positions in the GCC. Furthermore, the surface temperatures were measured by means of an infrared camera. The studies clearly reveal the advantages of the vertical ventilation concept in comparison with the dashboard ventilation regarding heat efficiency and thermal comfort at comparable boundary conditions.