Experimental and Computational Investigation of the Flow Field Due to Automotive Air Registers

The air flow distribution in a car from the panel registers to the driver or passenger is largely influenced by the register design. We have undertaken a study using both experimental and numerical techniques to understand the parameters that influence register performance. In particular, we set out to identify the register characteristics that have the greatest effect on the size of the plume. The idea is that once an occupant has reached thermal comfort, particularly after cool down, the less direct impingement of air the occupant feels, the greater his/her comfort.