Thermal comfort optimization of automotive passenger cabin enabled by concealed air vent design

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1674-8484.2026.02.008

Abstract

Abstract:

To investigate the influence of the novel hidden air outlet on the thermal comfort of an automotive passenger cabin, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) was employed to numerically simulate the internal airflow field. The built-in thermal comfort model of STAR-CCM+ combined with user-defined field functions was used to analyze the airflow, temperature field, and thermal comfort characteristics of the cabin under different air-supply parameters. Furthermore, the design of experiments (DOE) method and a Kriging surrogate model were applied to optimize the geometry of the hidden air outlet. The results indicate that the air-supply volume has a significant effect on the cabin temperature distribution and air quality. The optimized hidden air outlet effectively improves the airflow distribution, enhances the uniformity of temperature and velocity fields, and increases overall air-circulation efficiency. Consequently, the overall equivalent temperature deviation η_AEQT rises by 47.2%, demonstrating a notable improvement in driver thermal comfort.

Key words: passenger cabin, thermal comfort, concealed air vents, airflow distribution

CLC Number:

U27
TB47

CHENG Zhenbo, LONG Zihang, PENG Tenghua, SUN Yachao, WANG Quansheng. Thermal comfort optimization of automotive passenger cabin enabled by concealed air vent design[J]. Journal of Automotive Safety and Energy, 2026, 17(2): 225-235.

Figures/Tables 19

References 19

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位置	传热系数/ [W(m²·K^-1)]	导热率/ [W(m²·K^-1)]
中控	4.8	0.25
侧窗玻璃与前挡玻璃	7.3	0.93
后窗与车顶	8.2	0.042
车门	9.6	0.018
车身	9.6	0.039

位置	传热系数/ [W(m²·K^-1)]	导热率/ [W(m²·K^-1)]
中控	4.8	0.25
侧窗玻璃与前挡玻璃	7.3	0.93
后窗与车顶	8.2	0.042
车门	9.6	0.018
车身	9.6	0.039

体网格数量/万	截面平均风速/ (m·s^-1)
762	0.688 7
701	0.707 6
859	0.701 7
957	0.723 8
983	0.724 0
1 082	0.714 5
1140	0.723 0
1200	0.723 4
1260	0.723 8

体网格数量/万	截面平均风速/ (m·s^-1)
762	0.688 7
701	0.707 6
859	0.701 7
957	0.723 8
983	0.724 0
1 082	0.714 5
1140	0.723 0
1200	0.723 4
1260	0.723 8

工况	θ / ℃	Q / (kg·s^-1)
工况	θ / ℃	#1和#2	#3和#4
A1	8	0.021	0.023
A2	10	0.021	0.023
A3	12	0.021	0.023
A4	14	0.021	0.023
B1	8	0.017	0.019
B2	8	0.021	0.023
B3	8	0.024	0.026
B4	8	0.028	0.030