Designing the comfort of the future car

Designing the comfort of the future car

Canton, J.

Van Dijk, M.B. (mentor)
Vink, P. (mentor)

Industrial Design Engineering

Industrial Design

Master of Science Integrated Product Design

2010-09-20

This graduation project focuses on a combination of the following; cars, comfort and the future. Two of these elements seem hard to grasp, and one moves the world. Together they form the ingredients for an interesting challenge; how can we provide comfort to the occupants of future cars? The power consumption of comfort features in a fuel efficient vehicle can reduce the vehicle range over 35%. From these comfort features, the HVAC has by far the largest impact. Reducing this energy consumption of HVAC systems in fuel efficient cars should therefore be a priority. Although the weight of comfort features also reduces vehicle range, the effect is much smaller. Real world test sustain the idea that the impact of the HVAC on the vehicle range of energy efficient vehicles is very large. The Human body is has a very narrow thermal comfort zone. The heat balance equation can predict if the body is experiencing thermal neutrality. This model does not predict local discomfort. Individual body parts experience comfort at different temperatures. The feet and legs generally need the most heating and the face and upper body the least. The following strategies can be used to lower energy consumption of the HVAC system: • Shift from global comfort to local comfort • Insulating and air recirculation • Shift from convective cooling to radiant heating • Lowering summer soak temperatures on warm days • Preheating the car on cold days • Use of Phase change materials Alternative comfort features have been developed and combined into a coherent interior design. PMV thermal simulation software has been used to make an estimation of the HVAC energy reduction in two scenario’s: Summer: Under these conditions the new comfort features result in a 50% lower HVAC load. Winter: the new comfort features result in a 33% lower HVAC load.

comfort
car
interior
thermal
energy

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:4f3f701c-b12c-48b7-8303-925dcd2cd1a7

2011-09-20

Campus only

Student theses

master thesis

(c) 2010 Canton, J.