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Abstract

Summer ambient temperatures in Sultanate of Oman are well known to be higher as commonly seen in other GCC countries. During summer, cars parked directly under the sun with window glass raised up, experience a very high temperature rise inside its cabin. Current research paper reports the experimental studies carried out on a parked car installed with an indigenously designed and developed cabin ventilation system powered with Solar PV energy. The experiment was carried on chosen vehicle parked at a unique direction and location exposed to day long sunlight at Muscat for considerable period of time. The experimental investigation showed that the vehicle cabin temperature was lower when ventilation system was turned on. Investigation showed that, with the ventilation system, the time taken to cool down vehicle cabin air temperature to the acceptable limit was significantly lower. With developed ventilation system the car cabin temperature reached to the comfort level much quicker, typically lesser than the half of the time compared to those values tested without ventilation system. Thus indicating, the power saving potential of the developed system as the desired level of thermal comfort can be achieved within the shorter period of time. The reduction in time taken to cool down the cabin temperature to the acceptable limits has direct two fold effects; firstly, the fuel consumption for cooling purpose is reduced and secondly increased thermal comfort level inside the cars cabin. However, the temperature drop pattern was not similar all around the cabin, due to the varied level of cabin sunlight exposure. Temperature drop at the front end of the car was lower than in middle and rear of the car. It was noted that when the ventilation system was turned on, the temperature inside the car was nearly 100C lesser compared to cabin temperature without ventilation system.