Numerical simulation of airflow and concentration fields in air-conditioning vehicle passenger compartment

Based on the computational fluid dynamics and numerical heat transfer theory, the three-dimension airflow, temperature fields and contaminant distribution in passenger vehicle were calculated numerically by k-Ε turbulence model and Fluent software. Taking exhalant CO2 of passengers as representative contaminant, the concentration fields were investigated. The results show that the body heat and solar radiation have great influence on airflow and temperature fields. The temperature in occupied zone is uniform, it is higher than that of other zones around driver's head zone, which hurts passenger's and driver's thermal comfort. The concentration is low in driver's zone, and the concentration in rear section is lower than that in middle section. But the occupied zone with crowded passengers gathers contaminant easily and contaminant in respiratory region is higher. The air is exchanged by the intake, the concentration in middle section is the highest.