Effect of Exterior Airflow on Automotive Lamp Venting

Moisture inside automotive lamps is universally accepted as a performance and cosmetic problem, particularly in the newer clear lens lamps. While simple open venting systems (tube type) can prevent liquid water intrusion, water vapor cannot be easily excluded from the lamp interior. Thus, under certain unavoidable conditions involving changes in environmental temperature, humidity, and lamp operation, a lamp may produce undesirable condensation on some interior surfaces. Efforts to optimize venting systems to clear this condensation involve controlling the air exchange through the vents. This air exchange is highly affected by outside airflow, a parameter complicated by wind, vehicle motion, and structures around the lamp. In this paper we report on investigations regarding how airflow around a lamp, both free and hindered by surrounding structures, affects the ability of common venting strategies to clear internal moisture.