Entropy-Minimized Optimization of an Automotive Air Conditioning and HVAC System

This paper describes an integrated engineering approach for a mathematical modeling of an automotive air-conditioner system and method for performing heating and cooling load calculations of a vehicle shell assembly for designing an HVAC system for a passenger vehicle. In addition, there is presented a physical optimization technique based on minimization of the total entropy generation for the vehicle air-conditioner and HVAC system.

Simultaneous solution of the automotive air-conditioning, air handling and the passenger cabin thermal model provide the transient temperature history for consideration of passenger comfort conditions. The validity of the mathematical model was confirmed using experimental data.

Optimization of the developed model is performed based on minimization of the total entropy generation of the air-conditioning air-handling system. Further minimization of the system entropy generation with respect to parameters of the air-conditioner or the HVAC system as well as those of the vehicle passenger compartment provide an optimization path for proper design and selection of the vehicle air-conditioning, HVAC and passenger compartment components.

The result of this work assists the automotive industry with providing them with a mathematical tool for analysis of vehicle air-conditioning and HVAC system design and optimization.