An Innovative Thermal Dashboard System

This paper presents the results of a study into an innovative system using a new type of technology for the automotive domain with the aim of improving passengers' thermal comfort. A study of the thermal interactions between the cabin and its passengers shows that radiative heat transfers clearly contribute to the passengers' thermal discomfort during the first few minutes of a vehicle's use. Therefore, to limit this kind of heat exchange, an innovative A/C system combining a conventional automotive A/C loop and a Heat Pipe Dashboard Panel has been developed. This reduces the dashboard temperature rapidly, immediately after starting the A/C system (70°C to 10°C in 3 min).