Vehicular thermal comfort models; A comprehensive review

Abstract

This manuscript provides a comprehensive review of the different models developed to predict vehicular cabins thermal comfort, in addition to the different experimental techniques used. The review classifies the in-cabin modeling into; human physiological and psychological perspectives in addition to the compartment zone and the human thermal manikin modeling. While the experimental approaches are mainly; the subjective observers, the thermal manikins, and the Infrared Thermography. Additionally the manuscript discusses and analyses each of the thermal indices that are typically used in assessing the in-cabin conditions such as the Predicted Mean Value PMV index and the Predicted Percentage Dissatisfied PPD. The text also highlights the main attributes of vehicular thermal comfort, in terms of its fast transient behavior, the in-homogeneity in the thermal fields associated with the high localized air velocity, solar loads and flux, in addition to the inherent variations related to the trip durations. © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.