Cabin Climate Control via Multi-Parameter PMV Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Construction machine driver's cabs with large windows and close proximity to cabin walls face challenges in maintaining comfortable cabin temperatures due to varying external conditions and individual crew factors, leading to inconsistent thermal comfort despite heating and air conditioning efforts.
Innovation Solution
A climate control system that uses sensors to detect actual cabin conditions and adjusts air temperature, volume flow, direction, and humidity based on multiple variables influencing thermal comfort, including external temperature, radiation, air flow speed, humidity, metabolic heat, and clothing insulation, to automatically regulate the cabin environment and ensure a pleasant temperature perception for the crew.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If heating and air conditioning are used to regulate cabin temperature, then the cabin temperature can be controlled to a preset value, but thermal comfort cannot be ensured because it depends on multiple variables including outside temperature, thermal radiation, air flow speed, humidity, and individual crew factors
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes multiple parameters simultaneously (air temperature, humidity, air flow speed, nozzle orientation) rather than controlling only temperature. The control device adjusts each parameter based on sensor inputs and PMV calculations to achieve comprehensive thermal comfort, resolving the contradiction by expanding control from single-parameter temperature regulation to multi-parameter environmental control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously measures actual cabin conditions using sensors (temperature, humidity, radiation) and compares them with target values calculated from PMV model. The control device automatically adjusts ventilation parameters based on this feedback loop, ensuring thermal comfort is maintained despite changing external conditions and individual crew factors.
2Ease of operation
If the temperature setting is corrected manually multiple times during long-term operation, then some comfort improvement can be achieved, but this requires continuous manual intervention and cannot guarantee consistent thermal comfort
Solution Approach 1:
The climate control system performs self-adjustment by automatically sensing cabin conditions, calculating appropriate target values using the PMV model, and adjusting ventilation parameters without manual intervention. The system serves itself by continuously monitoring and correcting thermal comfort conditions, eliminating the need for repeated manual temperature adjustments during long-term operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system proactively adjusts climate parameters before thermal discomfort develops by continuously monitoring conditions and making preventive corrections. Rather than waiting for occupants to complain or manually adjust settings, the system anticipates and corrects thermal imbalances automatically, maintaining consistent comfort throughout operation.
3Illumination intensity
If large cabin windows are provided for visibility, then the driver's cab offers good view of outside, but thermal radiation from sun increases and makes it difficult to maintain comfortable cabin temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses radiation sensors to continuously monitor thermal radiation levels entering through the windows. This feedback information is fed into the PMV calculation model, which then determines appropriate adjustments to air temperature, humidity, and air flow parameters to compensate for the thermal radiation effect, maintaining comfort despite large window areas.
Solution Approach 2:
In response to increased thermal radiation from large windows, the system adjusts multiple parameters including lowering the target air temperature, increasing air flow speed, and modifying humidity levels to counteract the radiant heat gain. This multi-parameter adjustment compensates for the harmful thermal radiation while preserving the beneficial large window area for visibility.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively maintains thermal comfort for over 80% of occupants by dynamically adjusting air properties, reducing thermal discomfort and ensuring a consistent, comfortable cabin climate, even under changing conditions, using a predictive model like PMV to assess and adjust for individual differences.
Implementation Method 1
the actual temperature of the air in the cabin is detected by means of at least one sensor
Implementation Method 2
the air supplied to the cabin can be heated by a heater
Implementation Method 3
the air supplied to the cabin can be heated by a heater and, if necessary, cooled by an air conditioning system
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The method involves detecting actual temperature of air in an operator's cabin by a sensor. Characteristics e.g. volume flow, direction and temperature, of the air supplied to the cabin are automatically controlled based on the actual temperature and a target temperature. The target temperature is automatically determined for a number of mutually spaced cabin locations based on a variable that affects a thermal comfort of a cabin staff. Instruction for achieving a target state is indicated to the cabin staff. The variable is selected from a group consisting of an air temperature outside of the cabin, a thermal radiation to that the cabin staff is exposed, a flow velocity of the cabin air, a humidity of the cabin air, a metabolic heat production of the cabin staff and a heat insulation of a clothing worn by the cabin staff. An independent claim is also included for a climate control device.