A Machine Design article explores the use of CFD by designers at Delphi-Harrison Thermal Systems, Lockport, N.Y. to develop a thermal-comfort model that accurately and quickly evaluates automotive HVAC systems.

The model uses computational-fluid dynamics (CFD) to calculate local thermal comfort as a function of air temperature, surrounding surface temperatures, air velocity, humidity, direct solar heating, as well as the activity level and clothing of each individual. The model takes climactic conditions in which the vehicle is operating to develop a thermal model of the passenger compartment. Results serve as inputs to the model of the human thermal regulatory system, which predicts human comfort.

The model's physiology and comfort predictions were then validated using a thermal mannequin developed at the University of California, Berkeley. Air temperature and velocity around 16 body segments, interior surface temperatures, breath temperatures, air-conditioning outlet temperatures and humidity, solar load, and mannequin-body heat loss were all measured. Simulated temperatures matched measured temperatures to within a few degrees for each body segment. Measured and simulated thermal comfort index also showed a near-perfect match, according to Lin-Jie Huang, senior research scientist at Delphi.

In the future, thermal-comfort modeling is expected to play a major role in developing and evaluating sophisticated adaptive controls and algorithms that will make it possible to tune HVAC systems to more closely meet passenger-comfort requirements.