Abstract
This study explores the feasibility of a cold storage system to provide thermal comfort for idle stop and go (ISG) vehicles. ISG function is the most valuable and environmental friendly technology in the current automobile industry. However, when an ISG vehicle stops, meaning when the engine standstill, the air-conditioning system does not work, because the compressor also stops. Therefore, passenger thermal comfort is not maintained, as cold air is not provided in the cabin. Consequently, many automakers have studied electric air-conditioning systems based on electrically-driven compressors or cold storage systems using phase-change materials. The experiments herein were conducted for the feasibility testing of different types of cold storage heat-exchangers, cold storage mediums, and thermo-expansion valves with current air-conditioners. The auxiliary cold storage system, filled with phase-change materials, was located behind the evaporator and almost stacked on top of it. In the experimental results, the air discharge temperature rate of increase was better than the conventional air-conditioning system when the compressor stopped and thermal comfort was maintained with <TEX>$1.9{\sim}4.3^{\circ}C$</TEX> decreases within 60 seconds. The #1 cold storage heat-exchanger (CSH), #2 thermo-expansion valve (TXV) and #2 phase change material (PCM) were chosen because of the best temperature rise delay. It was concluded that a cold storage system is an effective solution for ISG vehicles to maintain thermal comfort during short engine stops.
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