Thermal Comfort in the Modern Car-Experimental Analysis and Verification of the Fanger Model

Abstract

Currently, transportation vehicles have become a location where people spend more and more time. Consequently, motor vehicles should be designed with the view to provide indoor quality for all the people travelling there. The paper deals with the experimental analysis of thermal comfort conditions within the cabin of a modern, state-of-the-art car, in order to assess if the required level of comfort is ensured for all the passengers for various sets of the air conditioning system. The test is performed with high precision Testo 400 microclimate meter, while the subjective assessments of the thermal states of the passengers are expressed by them in questionnaires. The questionnaires have included questions about the thermal sensations of the respondents staying in the car and their preferences (with regard to air quality), additionally the assessment and preferences of air humidity. Based on the question of thermal sensation, the questionnaires make it possible to calculate the Average Thermal Sensation Vote (TSV). This has made it possible to compare the TSV results with the Predicted Mean Vote (PMV), calculated from the results obtained from the Testo meter. Moreover, the commonly used Fanger thermal comfort model (originating from the 70’s), based on the heat balance theory, is validated and verified if it is suitable for the assessment of thermal comfort in modern cars. The aim of the work is to verify the thermal comfort in a modern car in terms of whether the air conditioning systems meet the thermal expectations of people.