Electric conversion vehicle air-conditioning project

This paper examines an air conditioning system for an electric vehicle. A 1985 Ford Lynx is the subject car. The design conditions are Orlando´s 1% mean dry and wet bulb temperatures. The cooling load temperature difference method is used to calculate the heat gain using August data at 28° north latitude. To reduce the required power for the compressor, the thermal resistance of the vehicle walls, floor, roof and windows is increased to reduce the car heat gain. The design condition set points in the car are 78°F and 40% relative humidity. A heat pipe is installed around the cooling coil to increase the latent heat capacity of the system. Additionally, a heat pipe between the exhaust and ventilation air streams pre-cools the make-up-air. The peak internal car temperature, while parked in direct sunlight, is limited to 110°F by a ventilation system forcing outside air through the car