IMPROVING THERMAL SEAT COMFORT

Optimizing climate seat systems requires increased complexity in seat design, which in turn is driving a need for more detailed thermal simulation methods.

The automotive HVAC system is the primary system responsible for controlling and maintaining thermal comfort of vehicle occupants. Heat transfer with vehicle seats, however, plays a significant role in the thermal experience due to its proximity and large contact area with the seated occupant. This contact not only exposes the occupant to the current thermal conditions of the seat but also tends to isolate affected body regions from the climate-controlled air provided by the HVAC system.

To increase customer satisfaction and improve thermal comfort, climate control components are often added to seats such as heating elements or ventilation ducts to complement the HVAC system, in effect, turning the seat into a secondary thermal control system. This design approach has the potential benefit of improving the fuel efficiency of the vehicle by better directing thermal energy to/from the occupants and reducing the energy requirements of the HVAC.