Indoor thermal management of a public transport with phase change material (PCM)

Abstract

In many developing countries in the tropical region, 3-wheeler vehicles are one of the most common means of transportation for low- and middle-income people. As the 3-wheeler vehicle is small in size, open on both sides, and the engine is placed just behind the passenger seats, it becomes unbearably hot inside of the vehicle, especially during hot sunny days. The actual 3-wheeler vehicle is scaled down to 1/6th for the two prototype models, and sodium sulfate decahydrate (Na₂SO₄.10H₂O) is used as a PCM (phase change material) on the roof in one model to reduce the indoor temperature. In open and sunlit environments with high and low ambient temperatures, single- and double-layer PCM is employed on the roof under the conditions of an open window and door as well as being enclosed with cardboard and plastic. When double-layer PCM was employed in the model enclosed by cardboard, the maximum difference between the interior and ambient temperature was 7.5 °C, whereas for single-layer PCM used in the same configuration, the maximum temperature reduction was 3.8 °C. The experimental study was further carried out on two actual (full-scale) 3-wheeler vehicles by considering 4 different scenarios. The interior temperature of the vehicle with PCM on the roof was reduced by an average of 4 °C as compared to the vehicle where no PCM was used. However, while the engine was operating and there were occupants inside the car, the PCM layer was unable to efficiently reduce the interior temperature. Additional PCM layers may be installed close to the engine to control the interior temperature.

Keywords

Phase change materials / Sodium sulfate decahydrate / Public transportation / 3-wheeler vehicle / Thermal management / Thermal comfort

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