Experimental studies of microclimate parameters in the bus passenger compartment in the cold season

Abstract

The paper analyzes the current state of research on microclimate parameters in bus cabins and identifies the main issues of the given topic. The authors analyzed and explained the importance of ensuring a favorable microclimate in vehicle cabins and assessed the risks of non-compliance. The relevance of the topic is confirmed by the existing scientific publications of foreign scientists who worked in this field and investigated similar issues. In addition to scientific works, an analysis of regulatory documentation in the world and Ukraine was conducted, existing problems and conflicts in requirements and parameters were considered. Theoretical knowledge is supplemented by experimental studies - the technical characteristics of the investigated bus are shown and the essence of the experiment is presented. Experimental studies were carried out in the passenger compartment of the Ukrainian-made Electron A18501 bus. Microclimate parameters such as temperature, humidity, and the amount of air throughout the passenger compartment in the cold season were measured using special equipment. Measurements were taken in the front, middle and rear of the bus cabin. A total of 4 conditional measurement zones were defined: zone 1 (between the wall of the driver's cabin and the passengers’ platform), zone 2 (in the area of the passengers’ platform), zone 3 (between the passengers’ platform and the rear door) and zone 4 (in the area of the rear door and the engine compartment), where the temperature and air humidity were determined at specific points. Measurements of the amount of air coming from the heating equipment (diffusers) were also made in certain locations. Analyzing the regulatory documents, in particular those used in our country, it was established that air temperature and humidity should be measured at the level of the feet and heads of passengers. There is no need to take measurements at waist level in vehicle cabins, unlike the driver's cabin, unless the bus is operated in very cold or very hot conditions. Since the climate in Ukraine is moderate, there is no need to carry out such additional measurements. The bus traveled along the route Ryasne 1-Levandivka-Sknyliv in Lviv during the experiment. This route fully corresponds to the city bus driving cycle, and its length is comparable to the value of the average city bus route. As a result of the experiment, it was determined that there are specific points in the cabin where the parameters of the microclimate do not correspond to the normative ones. These identified shortcomings require further research in order to improve the comfort of the microclimatic conditions in the bus cabin.