| |
To
ensure thermal comfort, a range of parameters come into play: external climatic
conditions, vehicle conditions (stationary or moving), vehicle materials
and design, and also human factors, such as the clothing worn and the physical
characteristics and activity of the person involved. Faurecia
has developed a global approach to thermal comfort inside the vehicle.
Three stages are involved:
Measuring the thermal exchanges between the occupants and the
vehicle's climatic environment
Specifying the appropriate diffusion devices (in terms of size,
location, and performance) using CFD (computer fluid dynamics) tools and
other virtual techniques to simulate the airflow
Developing product solutions that improve thermal comfort and
enhance the performance of other functions
A wide range of competencies
are involved, e.g. air distribution within the vehicle interior, velocity
and temperature distribution, flow rate, pressure loss, thermal analysis
and solar radiation analysis. Current testing facilities include wind
tunnels, thermal infrared cameras, tomoscopic lasers and a sunshine chamber.
The combination of its module
architecture know-how and expertise in thermal comfort has enabled Faurecia
to offer a range of innovative product solutions, such as the seat
ventilation system, which maintains the seat at an ideal temperature
for the occupant, and the prism
air diffusion system for draught-free ventilation of the vehicle interior.
Faurecia is working to develop
its methodology and expertise in virtual thermal comfort evaluation by
enlarging its CFD know-how to encompass simulation of the vehicle as a
whole, including the engine, front end and HVAC system.
|
|
See
all Faurecia's Innovations
|
