Effects of heated seat and foot heater on thermal comfort and heater energy consumption in vehicle

Abstract

Subjective experiments involving 12 different conditions were conducted to investigate the effects of heated seats and foot heaters in vehicles on thermal sensation and thermal comfort. The experimental conditions involved various combinations of the operative temperature in the test room (10 or 20°C), a heated seat (on/off) and a foot heater (room operative temperature +10 or +20°C). The heated seat and foot heater improved the occupant's thermal sensation and comfort in cool environments. The room operative temperature at which the occupants felt a 'neutral' overall thermal sensation was decreased by about 3°C by using the heated seat or foot heater and by about 6°C when both devices were used. Moreover, the effects of these devices on vehicle heater energy consumption were investigated using simulations. As a result, it was revealed that heated seats and foot heaters can reduce the total heater energy consumption of vehicles. Statement of Relevance: Subjective experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of heated seats and foot heaters in vehicles on thermal comfort. The heated seat and foot heater improved the occupant's thermal sensation and comfort in cool environments. These devices can reduce the total heater energy consumption in vehicles.

Personal Heating in Dwellings as an Innovative, Energy-Sufficient Heating Practice: A Case Study Research

“…To obtain the CP value of a system, a reference temperature is required at which thermal sensation is evaluated the same as when the system is used. Figure 12 shows the CP of studies reviewed by Zhang et al [59], Watanabe et al [33] and Oi et al [30]. In general, it is found that the highest corrective power can be achieved with a heated chair, followed by a combination of techniques (in most cases, chair heating, foot heating and wrist heating).…”

“…Moreover, Oi et al [30] (circles in Figure 12) tested a heated chair and a foot warmer, which both achieved a CP of 3 separately, while they achieved a CP of 6 when combined. Moreover, Oi et al [30] (circles in Figure 12) tested a heated chair and a foot war which both achieved a CP of 3 separately, while they achieved a CP of 6 when comb In this study, the different personal heating systems are not evaluated separately the thermal sensation during the experiment is related to the thermal sensation durin reference period. It was found that the corrective power in the living room was arou K on average.…”

Thermal model of an unconditioned, heated and ventilated seat to predict human thermo-physiological response and local thermal sensation

“…Figure 4 depicts the development of the contact skin temperatures (5°C case) and seat surface temperatures (18°C case), and heat fluxes (18°C and 41°C cases) for 20 minutes of exposure to the heated seat, together with a summary of the RMSD and bias of the simulations from the thermo-physiological model from all heated seat cases. In addition to the measured data (circles), the FPCm5.3 simulation results (continuous line), corresponding calculations using the seat heat transfer model (dashed lines), and dotted lines illustrate the development of skin temperature when the heat flux density of 268 W/m 2 (reported by Oi et al [9]) is prescribed in the FPCm5.3 simulations directly at the skin, neglecting the presence of the seat. Table 3 presents the RMSD, bias and mean standard deviation of the predicted data in comparison with the experimental data for skin temperatures in regions without seat-body contact, which were available only for the 18°C and 41°C cases.…”

<b>Effect of Air Exchange due to Door Opening on the Transient Thermal Environment </b><b>in a Vehicle </b>

“…Thus, the driver exiting or entering the cabin was not simulated. Oi et al (2011) showed that heat conduction through the seat strongly affects the drivers' thermal comfort. In this study, however, heat conduction through the seat was not taken into account.…”