TRANSPORT TECHNICS. INVESTIGATION OF ELEMENTS. RELIABILITY

Numerical simulation and assessment of interior thermal comfort in a passenger vehicle using full-cloud CAE simulation software SimScale

  • 1 Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy Varna, Bulgaria

Abstract

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.

Keywords

References

  1. A. Patidar, S. Natarajan, M. Pande, CFD Analysis and Validation of an Automotive HVAC System, SAE Technical Paper 2009-01-0535 (2009), ISSN: 0148-7191, https://doi.org/10.4271/2009-01-0535
  2. P. Danca, F. Bode, I. Năstase, A. Meslem, CFD simulation of a cabin thermal environment with and without human body – thermal comfort evaluation, E3S Web of Conferences 32, 01018 (2018), DOI:10.1051/e3sconf/20183201018
  3. ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 55, Thermal environmental conditions for human occupancy (2020), ISSN 1041-2336, Available:https://www.ashrae.org/file%20library/technical%20reso urces/standards%20and%20guidelines/standards%20addenda/55_20 17_c_20200731.pdf
  4. ISO 7730:2005, Ergonomics of the thermal environment – Analytical determination and interpretation of thermal comfort using calculation of the PMV and PPD indices and local thermal comfort criteria, 3rd Edition (2015), Available: https://cdn.standards.iteh.ai/samples/39155/9632a0563ca742209edb 45856ff69296/ISO-7730-2005.pdf
  5. F. R. Menter, Improved two-equation k-omega turbulence models for aerodynamic flows, NASA technical memorandum 103975, NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States (1992), Available:https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/19930013620/download s/19930013620.pdf
  6. SimScale, Last updated: April 11th (2025), https://www.simscale.com/

Article full text

Download PDF