Search Results

The paper deals with an innovative system using a new type of technology for the automotive domain in order to improve rear passengers’ thermal comfort. This device is an add-on thermal module plugged into the headliner of a car. This kind of product has been developed and integrated in a car for validation. Tests have been performed in terms of thermal comfort improvement using a human panel. They show a real effect at the head level of the rear passengers in summer and in winter. Moreover, it offers independent control to the left and right rear passengers in terms of mass flow and temperature with easier in-vehicle integration for the car makers than a rear HVAC.

Providing adequate level of comfort is the main objective of an HVAC. This kind of information is not very useful at the end of a study and also is very expensive to obtain if only an experimental approach is used. In fact, the analysis of comfort problem is the right place for a model. The paper will concern the development of a in cab thermal comfort numerical model. The first part of the development is only achieved for the winter outside conditions. The model is developed in order to predict the local thermal sensations of the car driver according to the thermal conditions provided by the heating system. A lot of experiments have been lead in the VALEO wind tunnel to complete and validate the model. The development perspectives concern the summer outside conditions. This study supported by VALEO Climate Control and PSA PEUGEOT CITROEN, has been performed by the Laboratory LESETH (University of Toulouse).

The thermochemical energy storage could be a suitable solution for heating and air conditioning electric vehicles. This paper gives the results of a preliminary study engaged to test the STELF process using the metallic chloride/ammonia couple. Among the large number of solid/gas couples available, the MnCl2/NH3 couple features an energy storage capacity of about 180 Wh and 90 Wh per kg of reactive and answers to an automotive application temperature respectively for the heating and the cooling. In winter, the reactor can provide heating to warm the passenger compartment but also to the outer evaporator heat exchanger to avoid the icing up phenomenon. Simulations show the thermodynamic feasibility of the process in the heating, cooling and regeneration modes in order to warm up, air condition and preheat respectively the electric car passenger compartment.