A study on temperature, relative humidity, and energy consumption in long-distance trains air conditioning systems in Indonesia

Trains are efficient and cost-effective means of public transportation capable of carrying large groups of passengers. The Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system, a significant component with substantial energy usage in train operations, often encounters issues due to problems with...

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Main Authors: Fathurrahman Yudhi, Muhammad Idrus Alhamid, Nandy Putra, Arnas Lubis
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-07-01
Series:Case Studies in Thermal Engineering
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214157X2500382X
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author Fathurrahman Yudhi
Muhammad Idrus Alhamid
Nandy Putra
Arnas Lubis
author_facet Fathurrahman Yudhi
Muhammad Idrus Alhamid
Nandy Putra
Arnas Lubis
author_sort Fathurrahman Yudhi
collection DOAJ
description Trains are efficient and cost-effective means of public transportation capable of carrying large groups of passengers. The Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system, a significant component with substantial energy usage in train operations, often encounters issues due to problems with the HVAC system failing to provide comfortable air quality, ultimately impacting passenger satisfaction and posing concerns for operators. A significant disparity in understanding of HVAC systems on Indonesian trains is frequently observed in tropical regions, where ensuring good air quality, stable temperatures, and controlled relative humidity levels over extended periods poses unique challenges due to the typically hot and humid climate characterized by high external temperatures and fluctuating humidity levels. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the ability of HVAC systems to maintain temperature and humidity in trains. Temperature and humidity were measured during the journey at various areas in passenger compartments in three executive class intercity trains, covering both day and night conditions. The results showed that maintaining a consistent level of thermal comfort parameters throughout the journey was challenging for HVAC systems. Data suggests that temperature fluctuations took place during the daytime, whereas relative humidity (R.H) levels in the night and early morning rose to 28.2 °C and 81.2 % respectively, surpassing the established standards ISO 19659–2 of 27 °C for temperature and 65 % percent for relative humidity. These results were expected to guide the improvement of future HVAC systems designs, enhancing their ability to maintain consistent temperature under varying conditions. Additionally, the designs would focus on better humidity control through the incorporation of a reheating process in air supply, ensuring consistency of long-distance journey.
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spelling doaj-art-e52d7f1f0c784af3850f73b549de74e22025-08-20T02:04:37ZengElsevierCase Studies in Thermal Engineering2214-157X2025-07-017110612210.1016/j.csite.2025.106122A study on temperature, relative humidity, and energy consumption in long-distance trains air conditioning systems in IndonesiaFathurrahman Yudhi0Muhammad Idrus Alhamid1Nandy Putra2Arnas Lubis3Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Indonesia, Kampus Baru UI Depok, Jawa Barat, 16424, Indonesia; Applied Heat Transfer Research Group, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Universitas Indonesia, Kampus Baru UI Depok, Jawa Barat, 16424, IndonesiaDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Indonesia, Kampus Baru UI Depok, Jawa Barat, 16424, IndonesiaApplied Heat Transfer Research Group, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Universitas Indonesia, Kampus Baru UI Depok, Jawa Barat, 16424, IndonesiaDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Indonesia, Kampus Baru UI Depok, Jawa Barat, 16424, Indonesia; Corresponding author.Trains are efficient and cost-effective means of public transportation capable of carrying large groups of passengers. The Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system, a significant component with substantial energy usage in train operations, often encounters issues due to problems with the HVAC system failing to provide comfortable air quality, ultimately impacting passenger satisfaction and posing concerns for operators. A significant disparity in understanding of HVAC systems on Indonesian trains is frequently observed in tropical regions, where ensuring good air quality, stable temperatures, and controlled relative humidity levels over extended periods poses unique challenges due to the typically hot and humid climate characterized by high external temperatures and fluctuating humidity levels. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the ability of HVAC systems to maintain temperature and humidity in trains. Temperature and humidity were measured during the journey at various areas in passenger compartments in three executive class intercity trains, covering both day and night conditions. The results showed that maintaining a consistent level of thermal comfort parameters throughout the journey was challenging for HVAC systems. Data suggests that temperature fluctuations took place during the daytime, whereas relative humidity (R.H) levels in the night and early morning rose to 28.2 °C and 81.2 % respectively, surpassing the established standards ISO 19659–2 of 27 °C for temperature and 65 % percent for relative humidity. These results were expected to guide the improvement of future HVAC systems designs, enhancing their ability to maintain consistent temperature under varying conditions. Additionally, the designs would focus on better humidity control through the incorporation of a reheating process in air supply, ensuring consistency of long-distance journey.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214157X2500382XHVACTrains air conditioning systemsTropical countries
spellingShingle Fathurrahman Yudhi
Muhammad Idrus Alhamid
Nandy Putra
Arnas Lubis
A study on temperature, relative humidity, and energy consumption in long-distance trains air conditioning systems in Indonesia
Case Studies in Thermal Engineering
HVAC
Trains air conditioning systems
Tropical countries
title A study on temperature, relative humidity, and energy consumption in long-distance trains air conditioning systems in Indonesia
title_full A study on temperature, relative humidity, and energy consumption in long-distance trains air conditioning systems in Indonesia
title_fullStr A study on temperature, relative humidity, and energy consumption in long-distance trains air conditioning systems in Indonesia
title_full_unstemmed A study on temperature, relative humidity, and energy consumption in long-distance trains air conditioning systems in Indonesia
title_short A study on temperature, relative humidity, and energy consumption in long-distance trains air conditioning systems in Indonesia
title_sort study on temperature relative humidity and energy consumption in long distance trains air conditioning systems in indonesia
topic HVAC
Trains air conditioning systems
Tropical countries
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214157X2500382X
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