Vehicle-mounted integrated temperature and humidity control system and method thereof

Abstract

The invention discloses a vehicle-mounted integrated temperature and humidity control system and a method thereof, and belongs to the technical field of vehicle-mounted refrigerators. In order to solve the technical problems that an existing vehicle-mounted refrigerator is low in air convection heat exchange efficiency and slow in initial cooling of objects, the heat exchange efficiency is improved in the mode that a liquid medium directly immerses or makes contact with the objects to be cooled. The system comprises a liquid heat management subsystem and a humidity control subsystem of a dehumidification unit and a humidification unit, wherein the liquid heat management subsystem and the humidity control subsystem form a two-way fluid loop through a fluid pipeline and a circulating pump; condensate water generated by the dehumidification unit is guided into the liquid loop through the recovery pipeline, the humidification unit takes water from the loop, and closed-loop utilization of water resources is achieved. And the central controller cooperatively controls the circulating pump, the heat exchange module and the humidity control unit, and automatically executes rapid cooling, humidification, dehumidification and mode switching according to the object placement, the environment humidity and the liquid level state. The temperature and humidity adjusting efficiency and the energy utilization rate in the vehicle-mounted environment are remarkably improved.

Description

An integrated vehicle-mounted temperature and humidity control system and its method Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of vehicle refrigerator technology, and in particular to a vehicle-mounted integrated temperature and humidity control system and method thereof. Background Technology

[0002] In existing technologies, vehicle environmental control systems typically treat temperature and humidity management as independent modules. Vehicle refrigerators generally use air as the heat exchange medium, cooling the air inside the refrigerator via a semiconductor cooling chip or compressor, and then indirectly cooling the stored items through air convection. However, air's low thermal conductivity results in limited heat exchange efficiency, especially for high-heat-capacity items like beverage bottles, leading to slow cooling and failing to meet users' actual needs for rapid cooling. Simultaneously, in-vehicle humidity control often relies on the dehumidification function of the air conditioning system or the addition of a separate humidification device. These modules are isolated, not only occupying valuable vehicle space but also directly discharging resources generated during operation (such as dehumidification condensate), failing to achieve synergistic efficiency.

[0003] Chinese patent CN113885609B discloses a method, device, and vehicle-mounted refrigerator for controlling the refrigerator's body temperature. While it improves temperature stability through an enhanced control algorithm, this patent is still based on a traditional air-cooled heat exchange architecture, failing to address the fundamental physical limitation of its medium's weak thermal conductivity, thus unable to significantly improve the initial cooling rate. Furthermore, this solution is functionally limited and completely neglects humidity control and its integration with the temperature system. Existing technologies have not yet provided an effective solution for safely and reliably introducing and using liquid media for efficient heat exchange under dynamic vehicle operating conditions such as vibration and tilt, and for flexibly switching between multiple operating modes. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to solve the technical problems of low heat exchange efficiency and slow initial cooling of traditional air-cooled vehicle refrigerators by directly immersing or contacting the object to be cooled with a liquid medium.

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to solve the technical problems of functional separation and resource non-recyclability in existing vehicle temperature and humidity control systems by constructing a coupled liquid circuit and humidity control loop, recovering the condensate generated by dehumidification as a supplement to the heat exchange medium, and using the liquid in the system as a humidification water source.

[0006] The purpose of this invention is to solve the technical challenge of safely and stably managing liquid media and flexibly switching between "liquid cooling" and "dry storage" modes in a dynamic vehicle environment by using a dual-cavity liquid circuit structure with an overflow channel and intelligent control logic based on liquid level.

[0007] This invention proposes an integrated vehicle-mounted temperature and humidity control system. The system includes: a liquid thermal management subsystem whose inner cavity and overflow cavity form a bidirectional fluid loop via fluid pipelines and a circulating pump; the inner cavity has an overflow channel leading to the overflow cavity; a dehumidification unit of the humidity control subsystem has a recovery pipeline that guides the generated condensate to the overflow cavity; the water inlet of the humidification unit of the humidity control subsystem is fluidly connected to the liquid medium in the liquid thermal management subsystem; and a central controller is signal-connected to the circulating pump, the heat exchange module of the liquid thermal management subsystem, the dehumidification unit, and the humidification unit. By constructing an integrated system that couples direct contact heat exchange with temperature and humidity control resources, the cooling / heating rate of items in the vehicle environment is significantly improved, and closed-loop circulation and efficient utilization of water resources within the system are achieved.

[0008] Preferably, when the central controller activates the dehumidification unit, the purification unit treats the condensate flowing into the recovery pipeline and controls the treated condensate to be injected into the overflow chamber; the heat exchange module cools the condensate injected into the overflow chamber. By constructing an integrated system that couples direct contact heat exchange with temperature and humidity control resources, the cooling / heating rate of items in the vehicle environment is significantly improved, and a closed-loop circulation and efficient utilization of water resources within the system is achieved.

[0009] Preferably, the central controller detects the insertion of an object using an object detection unit located in the inner cavity, and controls the circulation pump to pump the liquid medium from the overflow cavity into the inner cavity until a preset liquid level is reached. Based on a drying storage command, the central controller controls the circulation pump to discharge the liquid medium from the inner cavity back into the overflow cavity. By constructing an integrated system that couples direct contact heat exchange with temperature and humidity control resources, the cooling / heating rate of items in the vehicle environment is significantly improved, and a closed-loop circulation and efficient utilization of water resources within the system is achieved.

[0010] Preferably, the central controller collects liquid level signals through a liquid level sensor installed in the overflow cavity. When the liquid level is higher than a first threshold, it controls the humidification unit to start or increase its power; when the liquid level is lower than a second threshold, it controls the humidification unit to shut down or reduce its power and generates a water replenishment reminder. By constructing an integrated system that couples direct contact heat exchange with liquid media and temperature and humidity control resources, the cooling / heating rate of items in the vehicle environment is significantly improved, and a closed-loop circulation and efficient utilization of water resources within the system is achieved.

[0011] Preferably, the heat exchange module is a semiconductor refrigeration chip. The cold end of the heat exchange module is in thermal contact with the liquid medium flowing in the fluid pipeline, and the hot end of the heat exchange module is thermally connected to an external heat sink. The central controller controls the cooling or heating of the liquid medium by adjusting the current direction of the semiconductor refrigeration chip. By utilizing the semiconductor refrigeration chip to directly exchange heat with the liquid medium, an efficient and compact heat conduction path is established, and the rapid and precise switching between cooling and heating functions is achieved through the control of the current direction.

[0012] Preferably, when the central controller controls the humidification unit to operate and the heat exchange module is in cooling mode, the liquid medium cooled by the heat exchange module in the overflow chamber is preferentially drawn and atomized. By preferentially atomizing the cooled liquid, the cabin air temperature can be reduced while humidifying, achieving synergistic effects of humidity and temperature regulation and improving the overall comfort of the occupants.

[0013] This invention proposes an integrated vehicle-mounted temperature and humidity control method. This method is applied to a vehicle-mounted integrated temperature and humidity control system, and includes: controlling a circulation pump to pump liquid medium from an overflow cavity into the inner cavity based on a signal indicating that an object has been placed inside; activating a heat exchange module to regulate the temperature of the liquid medium; monitoring the humidity inside the vehicle and controlling the operation of a dehumidification unit or a humidification unit based on the humidity level; when the dehumidification unit is operating, guiding the generated condensate into the overflow cavity through a recovery pipeline; when the humidification unit is operating, extracting water from the liquid medium; monitoring the liquid level in the overflow cavity and controlling the operating status of the humidification unit or the opening and closing of a discharge valve connected to the overflow cavity based on the liquid level. Through a coordinated control process, rapid liquid cooling / heating of objects, intelligent regulation of vehicle humidity, and dynamic management of system water and energy are integrated, achieving efficient coordinated control of multiple objectives in a vehicle environment.

[0014] Preferably, the method controls a circulating pump to pump liquid medium into the inner cavity at a first flow rate based on an object placement signal until the liquid level in the inner cavity reaches a first preset level. After reaching the first preset level, the circulating pump is controlled to maintain the circulation of the liquid medium between the inner cavity and the overflow cavity at a second flow rate, which is less than the first flow rate. In response to a drying storage command, the circulating pump is controlled to drain the liquid medium in the inner cavity back to the overflow cavity, and the ventilation device is controlled to dry the inner cavity. This strategy of first injecting liquid at a high flow rate and then maintaining it at a low flow rate reduces circulation energy consumption while rapidly establishing immersion heat exchange conditions. The combination of active drainage and ventilation drying ensures reliable and thorough switching between different storage modes.

[0015] Preferably, this method generates a water replenishment prompt and restricts the activation of the humidification unit when the water level is below a first threshold; when the water level is below the first threshold and the humidity inside the vehicle is higher than a preset humidity, the dehumidification unit is activated first to generate condensate to replenish the overflow chamber. When the system water source is insufficient, the dehumidification unit is activated first to "produce" replenishment water by linking humidity conditions, which enhances the system's self-sustaining capability and operational flexibility under unattended replenishment conditions.

[0016] Preferably, this method detects the temperature of the liquid medium while controlling the humidification unit to operate; based on the temperature of the liquid medium, it controls the humidification unit to draw water from the lower-temperature liquid medium area in the overflow chamber. By selecting the lower-temperature liquid area for humidification, a cooling humidification effect can be provided without consuming additional energy, further optimizing the comfort of the in-vehicle environment.

[0017] The present invention has the following beneficial effects: 1. By directly contacting the stored items with the liquid medium for heat exchange, it replaces the traditional air convection heat exchange method, fundamentally improving the initial rate and heat exchange efficiency of cooling or heating items in the vehicle environment.

[0018] 2. By recovering the condensate generated during dehumidification as a supplement to the heat exchange medium and using the circulating liquid within the system as a humidification water source, internal circulation of matter and energy between the temperature control and humidity control subsystems is achieved, improving system integration and overall resource utilization efficiency.

[0019] 3. Through the dual-chamber liquid circuit design with overflow structure and intelligent management logic based on liquid level, the stability and safety of liquid medium storage and circulation are ensured under dynamic working conditions such as vehicle driving, and reliable and flexible switching between immersion cooling and dry storage modes is realized.

[0020] 4. Through the coordinated scheduling of liquid circulation, temperature regulation and humidity control by the central controller, the system can adaptively select and execute the optimal working mode according to multiple states such as the placement of items, ambient humidity and internal liquid level, thereby improving the automation and intelligence level of the system. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Figure 1 is a system module configuration diagram of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the method flow of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0023] According to Figure 1, the present invention relates to an in-vehicle integrated temperature and humidity control system. This system is mainly used for intelligent adjustment of temperature and humidity in the interior environment of a vehicle, and is particularly suitable for precise control of temperature and humidity in storage compartments or passenger compartments, so as to achieve the goal of energy saving, high efficiency and integrated management.

[0024] The vehicle-mounted integrated temperature and humidity control system of this invention comprises a liquid thermal management subsystem, a humidity control subsystem, and a central controller. These subsystems are tightly connected via fluid pipelines and electrical signals, forming a collaborative integrated platform. This system can not only independently adjust temperature or humidity but also achieve coordinated temperature and humidity control, thereby improving vehicle energy efficiency and enhancing the user experience.

[0025] The liquid thermal management subsystem, as the core thermal control component of the system, includes key components such as an inner cavity, an overflow cavity, a liquid storage buffer cavity, fluid pipelines, and a circulation pump. The inner cavity is typically in thermal contact with the storage cavity or the space to be temperature-controlled, and is filled with a liquid medium for directly absorbing or releasing heat. The overflow cavity serves as a buffer and storage container for the liquid medium, connected to the inner cavity via an overflow channel to ensure safe backflow of the liquid medium during pressure changes or volume expansion. The circulation pump, installed on the fluid pipeline, drives the liquid medium to form a bidirectional fluid loop between the inner cavity and the overflow cavity, achieving continuous circulation of the liquid medium and providing the foundation for temperature regulation.

[0026] The humidity control subsystem includes a dehumidification unit and a humidification unit, both of which interact with the liquid thermal management subsystem via fluid or material. The dehumidification unit employs the principle of condensation dehumidification; when air flows over its cooling surface, moisture condenses into condensate. This condensate is guided to the overflow chamber through a specially designed condensate recovery pipeline, thus achieving water resource recycling. The humidification unit increases air humidity through atomization and evaporation. Its water inlet is directly fluidly connected to the liquid medium in the liquid thermal management subsystem, allowing the humidification process to directly utilize the existing liquid medium within the system without requiring an additional water source, thereby improving system integration and resource utilization.

[0027] The central controller, serving as the system's intelligent control hub, is connected via signal lines to the circulating pump, the heat exchange module of the liquid thermal management subsystem, the dehumidification unit, and the humidification unit. It collects the real-time status of each unit and sends control commands. Based on environmental parameters collected by the vehicle's temperature and humidity sensors, the central controller dynamically adjusts the operating modes of each subsystem. For example, it activates dehumidification and cooling in high-temperature, high-humidity environments, and humidification and heating in low-temperature, low-humidity environments, achieving fully automatic adjustment. Furthermore, the central controller manages the human-machine interface, allowing users to set temperature and humidity targets or select preset scenes through the interface.

[0028] Regarding module connectivity, the liquid thermal management subsystem and humidity control subsystem are physically integrated through fluid pipelines and a shared liquid medium. Specifically, condensate from the dehumidification unit is injected into the overflow chamber via a recovery pipeline, where it mixes with the liquid medium. The humidification unit draws liquid medium from the overflow chamber or the inner chamber as its humidification water source. Under the command of the central controller, the circulating pump can adjust the flow direction and flow rate of the liquid medium. For example, when the inner chamber needs rapid cooling, the cooled liquid medium is pumped into the inner chamber; when the storage chamber needs drying, the liquid medium is discharged back to the overflow chamber to reduce the humidity inside the chamber. The heat exchange module is installed near the fluid pipeline or overflow chamber, making thermal contact with the liquid medium. By changing the medium temperature through cooling or heating operations, it affects the temperature of the inner chamber and adjacent spaces.

[0029] The core of this invention lies in its high integration and resource recycling, effectively solving the technical pain points of existing vehicle temperature and humidity control systems, which often operate independently, consume high energy, and waste water resources. Specifically, condensate generated by traditional vehicle dehumidification systems is usually discharged directly, while this invention guides it into the overflow chamber through a recycling pipeline, not only avoiding water stains but also using it as a water source for the humidification unit or for auxiliary cooling, achieving closed-loop utilization of water resources. At the same time, the humidification unit directly extracts the liquid medium from the system, eliminating the need for a separate water tank and reducing the system's size and weight. Furthermore, the central controller coordinates the working sequence of the heat exchange module, dehumidification unit, and humidification unit. For example, it uses the heat exchange module to pre-cool the recovered condensate during dehumidification, or prioritizes the use of the cooled liquid medium during humidification to improve atomization efficiency, thus significantly outperforming traditional split systems in terms of energy efficiency and response speed.

[0030] At the workflow level, after the system starts up, the central controller first acquires environmental parameters through the vehicle's in-vehicle temperature and humidity sensors. If the humidity is detected to be too high, the dehumidification unit and the cooling function of the heat exchange module are activated. The condensate produced by dehumidification flows into the overflow chamber through the recovery pipeline, and the cooled liquid medium is pumped into the inner cavity by the circulation pump to lower the temperature of the storage compartment. If the environment is too dry, the humidification unit is activated, drawing liquid medium from the overflow chamber for atomized humidification. At the same time, the heat exchange module can heat the liquid medium as needed to improve humidification comfort. The entire process requires no manual intervention. The central controller dynamically fine-tunes the power of each unit based on real-time data to ensure that the temperature and humidity remain stable within the set range.

[0031] This invention achieves a highly efficient, energy-saving, and compact design for an in-vehicle temperature and humidity control system by deeply integrating liquid thermal management and humidity control and introducing an intelligent central controller. This solution not only fully utilizes byproducts such as condensate, reducing external dependence, but also improves overall performance through modular, interconnected control. It can be widely applied to various vehicle environmental control scenarios, demonstrating significant practicality and innovation.

[0032] Example 2: As shown in Figure 2, this invention relates to an in-vehicle integrated temperature and humidity control method. This method is applied to the aforementioned in-vehicle integrated temperature and humidity control system. Its core lies in the organic integration of efficient liquid contact thermal management, in-vehicle environmental humidity regulation, and internal system resource recycling through an intelligent and collaborative control process, thereby solving the technical problems of low heat exchange efficiency, fragmented functional modules, and resource waste in traditional in-vehicle solutions.

[0033] The central controller of the system is the main executor of this method. Based on signals from various sensors and preset commands from the user, it coordinates and schedules all units of the system. The method can be manually triggered by the user through the human-machine interface, or it can automatically enter standby monitoring mode according to preset strategies after the vehicle is powered on. The entire control process is a dynamic, multi-condition judgment and execution loop, aiming to achieve multiple objectives such as rapid cooling or heating of items, comfortable and stable humidity inside the vehicle, and self-sustaining operation of the system.

[0034] The first step of the method is to control the injection of liquid medium into the inner cavity and initiate temperature regulation based on the signal indicating that an object has been placed inside. Specifically, when the object detection unit located in the inner cavity, such as an infrared sensor or pressure sensor, detects that an object has been placed in the storage cavity, it immediately sends a signal to the central controller. In response to this signal, the central controller first instructs the circulation pump to pump the liquid medium stored in the overflow cavity into the inner cavity through the fluid pipeline at a high initial flow rate. The liquid medium continues to be injected until the liquid level in the inner cavity reaches a preset height sufficient to submerge or fully contact the placed object. This height can be set according to the general size of the object or the user-selected operating mode (such as "rapid cooling" mode). Simultaneously with or immediately after the injection process, the central controller activates the heat exchange module to regulate the temperature of the circulating liquid medium based on the user-set temperature target or the reading from the inner cavity temperature sensor. If cooling is required, the heat exchange module is controlled to enter the cooling state; if heating is required, it is controlled to enter the heating state, so that the liquid medium is continuously cooled or heated during the circulation process, thereby efficiently cooling or heating the items in the cavity through direct contact.

[0035] After establishing a thermal management cycle centered on a liquid medium, the second step of the method is to continuously monitor the humidity inside the vehicle and intelligently control the operation of the dehumidification or humidification unit based on the humidity level. The central controller acquires real-time humidity data through temperature and humidity sensors deployed inside the vehicle and compares this data with the user-set comfortable humidity range. When the humidity inside the vehicle exceeds the upper limit of the set range, the central controller determines that the environment is too humid and immediately activates the dehumidification unit in the humidity control subsystem. The dehumidification unit operates by cooling the air flowing through it below the dew point using its internal cooling surfaces, causing condensation. This condensate is collected and guided through a dedicated condensate recovery pipeline to the overflow chamber of the liquid thermal management subsystem, achieving water resource recovery. Conversely, when the humidity inside the vehicle falls below the lower limit of the set range, the central controller determines that the environment is too dry and activates the humidification unit. The humidification unit directly draws liquid medium from the liquid thermal management subsystem connected to its water inlet as a water source and diffuses the moisture into the air inside the vehicle through ultrasonic atomization and evaporation, thereby increasing humidity. The core of this step lies in breaking down the barriers between independent temperature and humidity control in traditional vehicle systems, integrating humidity regulation and liquid thermal management loops at the material level: the byproduct of dehumidification (condensate) becomes a supplementary water source for the thermal management system, while the liquid in the thermal management system directly serves as a humidification water source, forming an internal resource cycle that greatly improves the system's integration and resource utilization efficiency.

[0036] The third step of the method involves executing precise operations in conjunction with the liquid thermal management subsystem during the specific process of controlling the dehumidification or humidification unit. When controlling the dehumidification unit, the central controller not only activates its dehumidification function but also simultaneously controls any purification units (such as microfilters or UV sterilization modules) installed in the recovery pipeline to treat the condensate, ensuring the cleanliness of the recovered water before it is injected into the overflow chamber. Simultaneously, the central controller can coordinate the operating status of the heat exchange module. For example, in summer, it can control the heat exchange module to pre-cool the condensate flowing into the overflow chamber, which lowers the condensate temperature and improves the overall cooling effect of the system. When controlling the humidification unit, the central controller's control strategy becomes more intelligent and collaborative. It detects the current operating status of the heat exchange module and the temperature of the liquid medium. If the heat exchange module is in cooling mode, it means the system is performing or has just performed a cooling task, and there may be areas of lower-temperature liquid medium in the overflow chamber. In this case, the central controller will prioritize instructing the humidification unit to draw water from these lower-temperature liquid areas for atomization. In this way, the water mist sprayed during the humidification process itself has a low temperature. While increasing the air humidity, it can also have a certain cooling effect. Thus, without increasing the additional energy consumption, the functions of humidity regulation and temperature regulation are coordinated, which improves the overall comfort of the passengers. This is another key manifestation of the present invention in solving the problem of functional separation in traditional systems.

[0037] The fourth step of the method involves continuously monitoring the liquid level in the overflow chamber and managing and protecting the entire system, especially the humidification unit, based on the liquid level status, providing system maintenance prompts when necessary. The central controller acquires liquid level information in real time through a liquid level sensor installed in the overflow chamber. When the liquid level is within the normal range, the system maintains its current operating mode. When the liquid level rises to a higher threshold, it indicates sufficient water resources in the system (from condensate recovery or external replenishment), and the central controller can allow the humidification unit to operate at full power or actively start humidification to consume excess liquid when needed. Conversely, when the liquid level drops to a lower threshold, it indicates that the system water supply may be insufficient, and continued humidification may cause the pump to run dry and be damaged. At this time, the central controller will take protective measures, such as limiting the start-up of the humidification unit, reducing its operating power, or directly shutting down the humidification function. Simultaneously, the central controller will generate clear water replenishment prompts through the human-machine interface, informing the user that liquid media needs to be added to the system. Furthermore, as a strategy to enhance the system's self-sustaining capability, when the fluid level is low but the humidity inside the vehicle is relatively high, the central controller can intelligently prioritize activating the dehumidification unit. The purpose of this is to actively "generate" condensate and recycle it to the overflow chamber, thereby replenishing the system fluid level to some extent and extending the system's operating time without manual water replenishment. In addition, depending on the fluid level, the central controller can also control the opening and closing of the drain valve connected to the overflow chamber; for example, it can open the drain valve to discharge fluid when the fluid medium needs to be replaced or system maintenance is required.

[0038] The vehicle-mounted integrated temperature and humidity control method described in detail in this embodiment integrates rapid immersion temperature control of items, on-demand adjustment of vehicle humidity, internal water recycling and reuse, and system self-protection and optimized operation based on liquid level through the aforementioned interconnected and multi-condition linked control steps. This method fully embodies the core ideas of high integration, resource recycling, and intelligent collaboration of this invention. It not only significantly improves the rate and energy efficiency of cooling or heating items in the vehicle environment but also achieves intelligent maintenance of a comfortable humidity environment and ensures the safety and reliability of the system under complex vehicle operating conditions, fundamentally solving many of the technical pain points pointed out in the background art.

[0039] Example 3 This embodiment of the invention relates to an in-vehicle integrated temperature and humidity control method. This method is applied to the aforementioned in-vehicle integrated temperature and humidity control system. Its core lies in the organic integration of efficient liquid contact thermal management, in-vehicle environmental humidity regulation and internal system resource recycling through a set of intelligent and collaborative control processes, thereby solving the technical problems of low heat exchange efficiency, fragmented functional modules and resource waste in traditional in-vehicle solutions.

[0040] The central controller of the system is the main executor of this method. Based on signals from various sensors and preset commands from the user, it coordinates and schedules all units of the system. The method can be manually triggered by the user through the human-machine interface, or it can automatically enter standby monitoring mode according to preset strategies after the vehicle is powered on. The entire control process is a dynamic, multi-condition judgment and execution loop, aiming to achieve multiple objectives such as rapid cooling or heating of items, comfortable and stable humidity inside the vehicle, and self-sustaining operation of the system.

[0041] The first step of the method is to control the injection of liquid medium into the inner cavity and initiate temperature regulation based on the signal indicating that an object has been placed inside. Specifically, when the object detection unit located in the inner cavity, such as an infrared sensor or pressure sensor, detects that an object has been placed in the storage cavity, it immediately sends a signal to the central controller. In response to this signal, the central controller first instructs the circulation pump to pump the liquid medium stored in the overflow cavity into the inner cavity through the fluid pipeline at a high initial flow rate. The liquid medium continues to be injected until the liquid level in the inner cavity reaches a preset height sufficient to submerge or fully contact the placed object. This height can be set according to the general size of the object or the user-selected operating mode (such as "rapid cooling" mode). Simultaneously with or immediately after the injection process, the central controller activates the heat exchange module to regulate the temperature of the circulating liquid medium based on the user-set temperature target or the reading from the inner cavity temperature sensor. If cooling is required, the heat exchange module is controlled to enter the cooling state; if heating is required, it is controlled to enter the heating state, so that the liquid medium is continuously cooled or heated during the circulation process, thereby efficiently cooling or heating the items in the cavity through direct contact.

[0042] After establishing a thermal management cycle centered on a liquid medium, the second step of the method is to continuously monitor the humidity inside the vehicle and intelligently control the operation of the dehumidification or humidification unit based on the humidity level. The central controller acquires real-time humidity data through temperature and humidity sensors deployed inside the vehicle and compares this data with the user-set comfortable humidity range. When the humidity inside the vehicle exceeds the upper limit of the set range, the central controller determines that the environment is too humid and immediately activates the dehumidification unit in the humidity control subsystem. The dehumidification unit operates by cooling the air flowing through it below the dew point using its internal cooling surfaces, causing condensation. This condensate is collected and guided through a dedicated condensate recovery pipeline to the overflow chamber of the liquid thermal management subsystem, achieving water resource recovery. Conversely, when the humidity inside the vehicle falls below the lower limit of the set range, the central controller determines that the environment is too dry and activates the humidification unit. The humidification unit directly draws liquid medium from the liquid thermal management subsystem connected to its water inlet as a water source and diffuses the moisture into the air inside the vehicle through ultrasonic atomization and evaporation, thereby increasing humidity. The core of this step lies in breaking down the barriers between independent temperature and humidity control in traditional vehicle systems, integrating humidity regulation and liquid thermal management loops at the material level: the byproduct of dehumidification (condensate) becomes a supplementary water source for the thermal management system, while the liquid in the thermal management system directly serves as a humidification water source, forming an internal resource cycle that greatly improves the system's integration and resource utilization efficiency.

[0043] The third step of the method involves executing precise operations in conjunction with the liquid thermal management subsystem during the specific process of controlling the dehumidification or humidification unit. When controlling the dehumidification unit, the central controller not only activates its dehumidification function but also simultaneously controls any purification units (such as microfilters or UV sterilization modules) installed in the recovery pipeline to treat the condensate, ensuring the cleanliness of the recovered water before it is injected into the overflow chamber. Simultaneously, the central controller can coordinate the operating status of the heat exchange module. For example, in summer, it can control the heat exchange module to pre-cool the condensate flowing into the overflow chamber, which lowers the condensate temperature and improves the overall cooling effect of the system. When controlling the humidification unit, the central controller's control strategy becomes more intelligent and collaborative. It detects the current operating status of the heat exchange module and the temperature of the liquid medium. If the heat exchange module is in cooling mode, it means the system is performing or has just performed a cooling task, and there may be areas of lower-temperature liquid medium in the overflow chamber. In this case, the central controller will prioritize instructing the humidification unit to draw water from these lower-temperature liquid areas for atomization. In this way, the water mist sprayed during the humidification process itself has a low temperature. While increasing the air humidity, it can also have a certain cooling effect. Thus, without increasing the additional energy consumption, the functions of humidity regulation and temperature regulation are coordinated, which improves the overall comfort of the passengers. This is another key manifestation of the present invention in solving the problem of functional separation in traditional systems.

[0044] The fourth step of the method involves continuously monitoring the liquid level in the overflow chamber and managing and protecting the entire system, especially the humidification unit, based on the liquid level status, providing system maintenance prompts when necessary. The central controller acquires liquid level information in real time through a liquid level sensor installed in the overflow chamber. When the liquid level is within the normal range, the system maintains its current operating mode. When the liquid level rises to a higher threshold, it indicates sufficient water resources in the system (from condensate recovery or external replenishment), and the central controller can allow the humidification unit to operate at full power or actively start humidification to consume excess liquid when needed. Conversely, when the liquid level drops to a lower threshold, it indicates that the system water supply may be insufficient, and continued humidification may cause the pump to run dry and be damaged. At this time, the central controller will take protective measures, such as limiting the start-up of the humidification unit, reducing its operating power, or directly shutting down the humidification function. Simultaneously, the central controller will generate clear water replenishment prompts through the human-machine interface, informing the user that liquid media needs to be added to the system. Furthermore, as a strategy to enhance the system's self-sustaining capability, when the fluid level is low but the humidity inside the vehicle is relatively high, the central controller can intelligently prioritize activating the dehumidification unit. The purpose of this is to actively "generate" condensate and recycle it to the overflow chamber, thereby replenishing the system fluid level to some extent and extending the system's operating time without manual water replenishment. In addition, depending on the fluid level, the central controller can also control the opening and closing of the drain valve connected to the overflow chamber; for example, it can open the drain valve to discharge fluid when the fluid medium needs to be replaced or system maintenance is required.

[0045] The vehicle-mounted integrated temperature and humidity control method described in detail in this embodiment integrates rapid immersion temperature control of items, on-demand adjustment of vehicle humidity, internal water recycling and reuse, and system self-protection and optimized operation based on liquid level through the aforementioned interconnected and multi-condition linked control steps. This method fully embodies the core ideas of high integration, resource recycling, and intelligent collaboration of this invention. It not only significantly improves the rate and energy efficiency of cooling or heating items in the vehicle environment but also achieves intelligent maintenance of a comfortable humidity environment and ensures the safety and reliability of the system under complex vehicle operating conditions, fundamentally solving many of the technical pain points pointed out in the background art.

Claims

1. A vehicle-mounted integrated temperature and humidity control system, characterized in that, The system includes: an inner cavity and an overflow cavity of a liquid thermal management subsystem forming a bidirectional fluid loop via fluid pipelines and a circulation pump; the inner cavity is provided with an overflow channel leading to the overflow cavity; the dehumidification unit of the humidity control subsystem is provided with a recovery pipeline that guides the generated condensate to the overflow cavity; the water inlet of the humidification unit of the humidity control subsystem is fluidly connected to the liquid medium in the liquid thermal management subsystem; and the central controller is signal-connected to the circulation pump, the heat exchange module of the liquid thermal management subsystem, the dehumidification unit, and the humidification unit.

2. The vehicle-mounted integrated temperature and humidity control system according to claim 1, characterized in that, When the central controller starts the dehumidification unit, the purification unit processes the condensate flowing into the recovery pipeline and controls the processed condensate to be injected into the overflow chamber; the heat exchange module cools the condensate injected into the overflow chamber.

3. The vehicle-mounted integrated temperature and humidity control system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The central controller detects the insertion of an object through an object detection unit located in the inner cavity, and controls the circulation pump to pump the liquid medium in the overflow cavity into the inner cavity until the preset liquid level is reached. According to the drying storage command, the central controller controls the circulation pump to discharge the liquid medium in the inner cavity back to the overflow cavity.

4. A vehicle-mounted integrated temperature and humidity control system according to claim 1 or 3, characterized in that, The central controller collects liquid level signals through a liquid level sensor installed in the overflow cavity, and controls the humidification unit to start or increase power when the liquid level is higher than a first threshold, and controls the humidification unit to turn off or reduce power when the liquid level is lower than a second threshold, and generates a water replenishment prompt.

5. The vehicle-mounted integrated temperature and humidity control system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The heat exchange module is a semiconductor refrigeration chip. The cold end of the heat exchange module is in thermal contact with the liquid medium flowing in the fluid pipeline. The hot end of the heat exchange module is thermally connected to an external heat sink. The central controller controls the cooling or heating of the liquid medium by adjusting the current direction of the semiconductor refrigeration chip.

6. A vehicle-mounted integrated temperature and humidity control system according to claim 1 or 5, characterized in that, When the central controller controls the humidification unit to work and the heat exchange module is in a cooling state, the liquid medium cooled by the heat exchange module in the overflow chamber is preferentially extracted and atomized.

7. A vehicle-mounted integrated temperature and humidity control method, wherein the method is applied to the vehicle-mounted integrated temperature and humidity control system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The method includes: controlling a circulation pump to pump the liquid medium in the overflow cavity into the inner cavity according to the signal of the object being placed into the inner cavity, and starting the heat exchange module to adjust the temperature of the liquid medium; monitoring the humidity inside the vehicle, and controlling the operation of the dehumidification unit or the humidification unit according to the humidity; when the dehumidification unit is operating, introducing the generated condensate into the overflow cavity through the recovery pipeline; when the humidification unit is operating, extracting water from the liquid medium; monitoring the liquid level in the overflow cavity, and controlling the operating status of the humidification unit or controlling the opening and closing of the discharge valve connected to the overflow cavity according to the liquid level.

8. The vehicle-mounted integrated temperature and humidity control method according to claim 7, characterized in that, The method controls a circulation pump to pump liquid medium into the inner cavity at a first flow rate based on an object placement signal until the liquid level in the inner cavity reaches a first preset liquid level; after reaching the first preset liquid level, the circulation pump is controlled to maintain the circulation of liquid medium between the inner cavity and the overflow cavity at a second flow rate, the second flow rate being less than the first flow rate; in response to a drying storage command, the circulation pump is controlled to drain the liquid medium in the inner cavity back into the overflow cavity, and the ventilation device is controlled to dry the inner cavity.

9. A vehicle-mounted integrated temperature and humidity control method according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that, When the humidity level is below a first threshold, the method generates a water replenishment prompt and restricts the activation of the humidification unit; when the humidity level is below the first threshold and the humidity inside the vehicle is higher than a preset humidity, the dehumidification unit is activated first to generate condensate to replenish the overflow chamber.

10. The vehicle-mounted integrated temperature and humidity control method according to claim 7, characterized in that, The method detects the temperature of the liquid medium when controlling the humidification unit to work; based on the temperature of the liquid medium, it controls the humidification unit to draw water from the lower temperature liquid medium area in the overflow chamber.

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