1. SEPES
  2. All Volumes and Issues
  3. Volume 6, Number 1, 2024
  4. Energy-efficient Control of Electric Vehicle Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning System – Performance Optimization and Energy Consumption Reduction

Energy-efficient Control of Electric Vehicle Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning System – Performance Optimization and Energy Consumption Reduction

SEPES.
2024;
Volume 6, Number 1
: pp. 47 - 61
Authors:
  1. Viacheslav Kovtun
1
Lviv Polytechnic National University, Department of Electric Mechatronics and Computerized Electromechanical Systems

The article addresses the challenge of improving the energy efficiency of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system in electric vehicles. Due to the absence of an internal combustion engine in electric vehicles, there is no additional heat source, meaning that HVAC systems consume a significant portion of the battery energy, thereby reducing the vehicle’s range. The aim of this study is to develop an energy-efficient control algorithm for the HVAC system that minimizes energy consumption while maintaining adequate comfort levels for passengers. To achieve this goal, a comprehensive mathematical model of the HVAC system was developed, including models of the environment, ventilation system, evaporator, heater, and air recirculation. The study involves simulating temperature, humidity, and CO2 concentration in the vehicle cabin.

Computer simulations conducted in Matlab/Simulink enabled a detailed analysis of the dynamic and static characteristics of the proposed system. Comparisons with the baseline system, which only used outside air for climate control, were made under constant conditions: external relative humidity of 100 %, CO2 concentration of 400 ppm, cabin temperature of 22 °C, and passenger moisture and CO2 emissions of 100 g/h and 20 g/h, respectively. The simulations demonstrated that the proposed control system significantly reduces energy consumption by 10-40%, depending on external temperatures, compared to the baseline system. At an external temperature of -25 °C, energy consumption was reduced by 46.2 %, and at 25 °C, by 12.1 %.

Energy efficiency improvements are achieved through the optimization of air recirculation, and control of ventilation, evaporator, and heater performance. The proposed system effectively maintains comfortable conditions for passengers, preventing window condensation and stabilizing CO2 levels in the cabin. Thus, it not only improves comfort but also reduces energy consumption.

The results confirm the potential for significant energy consumption reduction without compromising comfort. Future research may focus on the development of intelligent control algorithms and the implementation of predictive methods to further reduce energy consumption under various operating conditions.

electric vehicle
heating system
ventilation and air conditioning system
energy efficiency
mathematical modeling
control algorithm
air recirculation
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