Forecasting the heat comfort of passengers in the electric train shops. Theory and practice

Introduction. The purpose of the presented work was to determine the cause of complaints of passengers dissatisfied with the thermal comfort in electric trains equipped with modern air conditioning systems. In order, this work to be done both practical and theoretical research was carried out in two stages. This work includes the estimation of microclimate parameters in cars and passengers thermal comfort parameters.

Material and methods. At the first stage, direct measurements of microclimate on passenger seats were conducted while the train was in operation. Subsequent analysis of the obtained figures indicates the average values of the studied parameters to correspond to their normative values. At the second stage, Fanger calculation method of determining passenger comfort or discomfort was used to analyze passengers’ assessment of various microclimatic situations in electric trains, both in local areas and in the salons of cars as a whole. Using the Fanger method, based on the results of theoretical calculations, a diagram was constructed. It contains curves showing the warmth index of passengers under different combinations of air temperature and velocity.

Results. PMV indices were calculated by using the first stage measurements. Afterward, passengers heating comfort area was drawn on the diagram. It was made for each car and the passengers’ complaints were taken into consideration.

Conclusion. The diagram analysis of passengers heating comfort area location relatively to zero point shows the percentage of dissatisfied passengers and it helps to explain the reason it occurs.