Monitoring the Fresh-Air Flow Rate for Energy-Efficient Bus Ventilation

Abstract

City busses and coaches are typically ventilated with high fresh air rates without monitoring of air quality according to recommendations and requirements of associations of public transport companies. The air quality of cabin air regarding humidity and CO₂-concentration depends however on the number of passengers. Hence the air quality of the ambient air could be monitored and air conditioning units could be switched on re-circulation air, which is called here “monitored fresh air rate”. Average occupancy of city busses is 30 %. This means the cabin will be ventilated with a surplus of about 70 % of the required fresh air. This causes a high energy consumption which could be saved. The aim of this work is the monitoring of the cabin air quality with the help of sensors and development of appropriate control algorithms that could reduce energy consumption without any impairment of safety, comfort, stress and health.