Development of an automatic external ventilation system for automobile

Abstract

This project proposes an external ventilation system for parked vehicles to mitigate the adverse effects of high heat, particularly when the vehicle is exposed to sunlight during the daytime. Prolonged exposure to solar heat can result in the deterioration of interior materials such as plastic and leather. In addition, there is an adverse effect on health of passengers due to the possible evaporations of Volatile Organic Compounds used in interior materials. A new approach to vehicle ventilation system is designed to create a comfortable environment within an automobile when it is exposed to sun light for long hours. The system is designed to be used when the vehicle's engine is completely turned off. The novel design facilitates ventilation of vehicle by drawing of external air into vehicle compartment after cooling it down through two heat sinks followed by a supply of harmonious flow of fresh air. Both heat sinks are integrated with four TEC1-12706 Peltier devices to generate the cooling effect, and an installed fan facilitates the smooth transfer of cooled air within the compartment. A DHT11 temperature sensor is installed inside the vehicle to measure real time temperature and humidity. Once the temperature reaches a predetermined threshold value, for example 35 °C, the microcontroller (Arduino Uno/ NodeMcu) switches on the 12 V DC power supply to deliver the cooled air into the vehicle. The power supply is switched off when temperature drops below the threshold temperature. It was proven by the laboratory experiments that the efficiency of the proposed system is 4.3 %.