Attaining Thermal Comfort by Utilizing Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal Embedded Wind Shield and Roof of a Passenger Car

Thermal Comfort is necessary for the passenger cars for the rider and co-passengers while using the vehicle for a long-distance and in hot sunlight. This study is attaining thermal comfort in a passenger car by utilizing Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal embedded windshield and roof. The property of this glass is that the increase in the temperature changes the transparency into opaque such that the hot sunlight rays are not allowed to pass into the cabin of the passenger car. This enables the thermal discomfort caused by the hot sunlight during the daytime and at the parking place. This study has been conducted in a full experimental manner for a super sedan vehicle. Normal windshield and roofing used are not providing thermal comfort (25-27ᵒC) of cabin temperature although the air conditioner has been utilized. This increases the cabin temperature and consuming more power for the air conditioner to run. The top roof and the side windshield are utilized with polymer dispersed liquid crystal which turns opaque whenever the cabin temperature is higher than 27ᵒC. The study includes the temperature sensors deployment at appropriate points of the cabin which sends the signal to the electrical circuit, in turn, switches the battery to provide the required voltage and this makes the shield opaque and transparent according to the temperature gradient of the passenger cabin. The study has been conducted in three sessions one in the morning (6 A.M. TO 10 A.M.), the second during the day (11 A.M. TO 3.00 P.M.), and the third one during the evening and night (4.00 P.M. TO 7.00 P.M.). The temperature of the passenger cabin was measured during the transient conditions of the vehicle and results analyzed.