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In an effort to shorten and improve the efficiency of the product design process (PDP), Delphi has developed an application specific CFD design tool that helps design engineers optimize designs prior to prototyping. This new tool enables design engineers to set up an HVAC module, powertrain cooling system, or heat exchanger model for CFD analysis in relatively short time. The ability to evaluate and improve the design of the product at the very early stages of the development cycle greatly reduces the need for design changes late in the process, which are expensive and time-consuming. Besides reducing the design cycle, the new CFD tool has also reduced the model shop and testing expenses for each development project with fewer prototypes. In this paper, a case study for using this tool during the HVAC module development process in early stage is demonstrated.

Heating and cooling automotive seats are a relatively new technology that delivers conditioned air to the occupant's seat providing an overall improvement in occupant comfort. This paper combines experimental and computational data to describe the effect of seat cooling on occupant comfort. Included are (1) a review of current seat cooling technologies, (2) the introduction of an innovative seat cooling technology using the vehicle's HVAC system, (3) the inclusion of thermal comfort seat strategy for improving overall comfort, and (4) validation of the thermal comfort seat strategy with experimental data. The paper focuses on the occupant's overall comfort in cooling mode under different ambient conditions.

Heating and cooling of automotive seats is a relatively new technology that delivers conditioned air to the occupant's seat providing an overall improvement in passenger comfort. This paper combines experimental and computational data to describe the effect of seat heating on passenger comfort. Included are: (1) a review of current seat heating technologies, (2) the introduction of an innovative seat heating technology using the vehicle's HVAC system, (3) the inclusion of thermal comfort seat strategy for improving overall comfort, and (4) validation of the thermal comfort seat strategy with experimental data. The paper focuses on the occupant's overall comfort in heating mode under different ambient conditions.