INFLUENCE OF THE VENTILATION SYSTEM SETTING IN THE PASSENGER CAR ON THE LOCAL THERMAL SENSATION OF A DRIVER

This paper presents the analysis of the influence of operational parameters of the air-conditioning system have on thermal sensation in a vehicle cabin. Thermal sensation has been evaluated using equivalent temperatures for the whole body and parts of the body. The analysis has been conducted on a virtual thermal manikin with CFD software STAR-CCM+. In accordance with the standard ISO 14505-2:2008, only dry heat transfer has been observed and a driver has been modelled as a thermal manikin with the constant temperature of the surface. Variable parameters were the direction of the vents, air temperature and air velocity at the vent outlet. For those variables under different conditions, thermal sensation has been determined for the whole body and occurrence of local discomfort has been measured._The results have showed that among the selected parameters the direction of the vents has the most significant influence on the local distribution of heat fluxes over the body of the exposed person. Under the conditions presented, local discomfort has been noted even though the whole body experienced neutral thermal sensation.