A comprehensive vehicle thermal analysis needs to examine in detail the interaction between every single thermal system involved in the heating process. In order to accurately predict the thermophysical behaviour of the total system during vehicle warm-up the use of simulation methods is recommended. This paper deals with the contradictory requirement of improving the energy-efficient heat-up behaviour of the passenger compartment without disregarding comfort and safety aspects. Hence, the thermal interaction between heat exchanger, electrical auxiliary heater, air ducts and passenger compartment will be discussed. In order to evaluate the effect of different heating strategies on passenger comfort, a passenger compartment model is used which predicts not only temperature developments but also humidity as a function of time. The predictions generated by the model were validated by extensive tests in a climatic wind tunnel.
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