Studies dealing with defogging and de-icing phenomena on vehicles’ windshield: a review

Abstract

Abstract The condensation process represents the phase change phenomenon through which the water vapours from air are transformed into liquid together with heat release. The phenomenon can take place either in the bulk of the fluid and it’s named homogeneous condensation, or it can appear on a solid surface and it is heterogeneous condensation. This paper proposes to provide an insight into the condensation phenomenon through the lens of experimental and numerical approach in different configurations. The focus is set on the condensation/evaporation process inside vehicles’ cabin as the evolution towards electric vehicles is starting to make a mark on the industry. The paper presents the impact of the HVAC system on both, energy consumptions and driving security. As the electric vehicles are prone to a general driving range of around 200 km depending on the battery systems, this driving range can be significantly reduced up to 40% by the usage of the HVAC system [1]. Therefore, the methods for reducing and maintaining the condensation phenomenon away from the glazing surfaces of the vehicles’ cabin, especially on the windshield are going to be tackled in order to provide a general view of the actual state of this subject.