International Scientific Journals
of Scientific Technical Union of Mechanical Engineering "Industry 4.0"

Albania’s construction sector has seen rapid growth with the introduction of diverse materials and advanced building techniques. However, the key challenge remains in effectively applying these innovations to maximize indoor comfort and energy efficiency at the lowest cost. Comfort plays a crucial role in occupant well-being and productivity, yet it is often overshadowed by concerns over upfront construction costs, overlooking long-term benefits such as improved health and reduced operational expenses.
Measurements across different seasons have shown that thermal insulation significantly enhances indoor thermal comfort. Data from the Electricity Distribution Operator also confirm that insulation can reduce electricity consumption by 15–28%, especially during peak usage periods. Supporting insulation in new buildings and encouraging retrofits in existing structures through coordinated local policies and utility programs could lead to substantial energy savings and improved living conditions nationwide.

This study presents a comprehensive numerical investigation of the interior thermal comfort conditions of a typical passenger vehicle using computational fluid dynamics tools embedded in the full-cloud CAE simulation software SimScale. The analysis evaluates airflow patterns, temperature distributions, and thermal comfort indices under constant summer conditions. A 3D model of the vehicle is utilized and appropriate boundary conditions are defined to simulate realistic operation of the Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning systems. To assess passenger satisfaction with the thermal conditions inside the vehicle, the Predicted Mean Vote parameter, which is embedded in the software, is employed. This work demonstrates the effectiveness of accessible, cloud-based CFD platforms for optimizing thermal comfort in the early stages of vehicle interior design, allowing for simulations under specific and realistic conditions.

The objective of the present study is to experimentally investigate the thermal comfort inside a car cabin. During the experimental campaign the occupants filled out questionnaires on the thermal sensation vote. The questionnaire contained questions about the local and global state of comfort and were performed according to ISO 14505-3 / 2006 and ISO 10551 / 2001. Each experimental session lasted 30 minutes and each occupant completed four questionnaires as follows: a questionnaire at the entrance in the car cabin, and afterwards one questionnaire every 10 minutes.