PASSENGER THERMAL COMFORT IN A CAR: A REVIEW

The passenger thermal comfort in a car is a topic of integrated approach between vehicular safety and efficiency of the automobile. A review is presented on the current status of this area which is primarily into two parts: thermal environment inside the compartment and human thermal models to assess comfort. It includes the surface in contact with the passengers, space in the compartment and the effect of the solar radiation which affects the thermal environment of the cabin. Various approach adopted for numerical investigations is highlighted. A detailed observation is also presented in order to identify and highlight the basic and current problems of the HVAC areas in automobiles.