Method for managing an air supply circuit in the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle and motor vehicle to implement said method
The method addresses the range reduction and pollutant accumulation issues in electric vehicles by monitoring pollutant levels and switching to outside air intake, reducing energy consumption and maintaining comfort.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- FR2023004241
- Authority / Receiving Office
- FR · FR
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2023-04-26
- Publication Date
- 2025-10-31
- Estimated Expiration
- 2043-04-26
AI Technical Summary
The operation of the heating and ventilation system in electric vehicles significantly reduces the vehicle's range due to high energy consumption, and prolonged use of the recirculation mode leads to pollutant accumulation in the passenger compartment, causing discomfort to occupants.
A method for managing the air supply circuit that includes monitoring gaseous pollutant concentrations and switching to outside air intake when a threshold is reached, optionally shutting down the HVAC and activating close-proximity heating to maintain comfort while reducing energy consumption.
Rapidly reduces pollutant concentrations and minimizes energy consumption by switching to outside air intake and using efficient heating methods, maintaining thermal comfort in the vehicle.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
Title of the invention: Method for managing an air supply circuit in the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle and motor vehicle for implementing said method technical field
[0001] The invention relates to the field of managing an air supply circuit for the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle.
[0002] More particularly, the invention relates to a method for managing an air supply circuit of a motor vehicle passenger compartment and a motor vehicle adapted to implement said method. Previous technique
[0003] The range of electric motor vehicles is one of the most important factors in the commercial success of this type of vehicle and for their acceptance on the market.
[0004] Battery electric vehicles (BEVs, an Anglo-Saxon acronym for "Battery Electric Vehicle") typically include a traction battery powering the electric motor of the motor vehicle.
[0005] The only electrical energy available to the motor vehicle is that stored in the traction battery.
[0006] In order to improve the capacity of traction batteries of electric motor vehicles, a solution aimed at increasing the size of the traction batteries is very penalizing, because it would make the motor vehicle more cumbersome, increase its mass and considerably increase its cost price.
[0007] The only known alternative is to limit the energy consumption of the traction batteries.
[0008] A known solution for limiting the energy consumption of traction batteries is to control the energy consumption caused by the operation of the heating and ventilation system, a system frequently referred to by the acronym "HVAC" (English acronym for "Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning").
[0009] Indeed, when heating the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, particularly in a cold climate, the energy consumption of the traction battery is such that the range of the motor vehicle is reduced by about half compared to using the motor vehicle without activating the heating and ventilation system.
[0010] In order to control the energy consumption caused by the operation of the HVAC, it is known to use an HVAC operating mode called "recirculation mode". This operating mode consists of closing the outside air intake duct supplying the HVAC, in order to prevent outside air from entering the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle and to circulate the air through a duct internal to the motor vehicle.
[0011] In this way, when the recirculation mode is activated, outside air does not enter the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle, thus limiting significant heat exchange with the outside.
[0012] However, after a certain period of use of the HVAC in "recirculation" mode, it was found that the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle is polluted due to a high concentration of gaseous pollutants in the passenger compartment or by the presence of undesirable odors in the passenger compartment.
[0013] The presence of high quantities of gaseous pollutants in the passenger compartment is uncomfortable for the occupants of the motor vehicle and can cause nuisances to passengers, including fatigue, headaches, visual disturbances, etc. Description of the invention
[0014] The present invention aims to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks, and to this end relates to a method for managing an air supply circuit for a motor vehicle passenger compartment, said supply circuit comprising: - a main heating and ventilation device comprising an air inlet damper mounted in an outside air supply duct, said air inlet damper being movable alternately between an open position in which said air supply duct is open and a closed position in which said air supply duct is closed, - a plurality of air quality monitoring sensors, notable in that it includes the following steps aimed at: - monitoring the evolution of the concentration of at least one gaseous pollutant present in said passenger compartment, - when the concentration of said at least one gaseous pollutant present in said passenger compartment reaches a predetermined maximum threshold, operate said air intake flap in said open position.
[0015] Thus, by planning to control the air inlet flap in its open position as soon as a maximum pollutant threshold is reached, the HVAC “recirculation” mode is immediately and automatically interrupted in favor of outside air to the motor vehicle.
[0016] In this way, the air in the passenger compartment is renewed and the concentration of pollutants present in the passenger compartment is rapidly reduced, in particular the concentration of the pollutant which has reached the maximum threshold.
[0017] According to optional features of the process according to the invention: - the process includes an additional step aimed at cutting off the power supply to said main heating and ventilation device simultaneously or consecutively to said step of opening said air inlet damper; - said motor vehicle includes a close-proximity heating device, and the method includes an additional step for activating said close-proximity heating device prior to, simultaneously with or following said step for cutting off the power supply to said main heating and ventilation device; - in one embodiment, the process includes an additional step aimed at controlling said air inlet flap in said closed position following said opening step of said air inlet flap; - in one embodiment, the process includes an additional step aimed at activating the power supply of said main heating and ventilation device following said step aimed at cutting off the power supply of said main heating and ventilation device; - said step aimed at driving said air inlet flap into said closed position following said opening step of said air inlet flap or at activating the supply of said main heating and ventilation device following said step aimed at cutting off the supply of said main heating and ventilation device is carried out when the concentration of said at least one gaseous pollutant present in said passenger compartment reaches a predetermined minimum threshold; - in one embodiment, said at least one gaseous pollutant present in the passenger compartment is CO2 and said predetermined maximum threshold is between approximately 2400 ppm and approximately 2600 ppm; - in one implementation, said at least one gaseous pollutant present in the passenger compartment is CO2 and said predetermined minimum threshold is between approximately 1900 ppm and approximately 2100 ppm; - in one embodiment, said passenger compartment of said motor vehicle includes a fog sensor and at least one glazing heating component, and the method includes an additional step for monitoring the evolution of a fog index in said passenger compartment and, when said fog index reaches a predetermined maximum threshold, activating said at least one glazing heating component.
[0018] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising: - a passenger compartment, - an air supply circuit for said passenger compartment, comprising a plurality of air pollution sensors for said passenger compartment and a main heating and ventilation device comprising an air inlet flap mounted in an outside air supply duct, said air inlet flap being movable alternately between an open position in which said outside air supply duct is open and a closed position in which said outside air supply duct is closed, - a nearby heating device, - a condensation sensor and at least one glazing heating component, - a software means, remarkable in that said software means is programmed to implement said management process according to the invention. Brief description of the drawings
[0019] Other features, objectives and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, for the understanding of which reference should be made to the accompanying drawings in which:
[0020] [Fig-1] illustrates an air supply circuit for the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle according to the invention.
[0021] [Fig.2] shows the steps of the power supply circuit management process according to the invention.
[0022] [Fig.3] shows the steps of the management process carried out according to a first variant of implementation according to the invention.
[0023] [Fig.4] shows the steps of the management process carried out according to a second variant of implementation according to the invention.
[0024] [Fig.5] shows the steps of the management process carried out according to a third variant of implementation according to the invention.
[0025] [Fig.6] shows the steps of the management process carried out according to a fourth variant of implementation according to the invention. Description of the implementation methods
[0026] In the following description, elements having an identical structure or analogous functions are designated by the same reference.
[0027] Reference is made to [Fig.1] in which an air supply circuit 1 for a passenger compartment 3 of a motor vehicle is illustrated, designed to implement a management method according to the invention.
[0028] The air supply circuit 1 includes a main heating and ventilation device 5, designated in the rest of the description by the acronym "HVAC" (English acronym for "Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning"). heating, ventilation and air conditioning"), allowing an airflow 7 to be injected into the passenger compartment 3 of the motor vehicle.
[0029] The heating system of the HVAC 5 can be achieved by any means aimed at producing and transmitting calories to heat the passenger compartment 3. For example, the HVAC 5 includes a heat pump or a set of electric resistances which heat water from a dedicated water circuit or air from an air circuit, an air conditioner, etc.
[0030] In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the HVAC 5 is mounted upstream of a partition 9 (frequently called "firewall" or "bulkhead" in English terminology) designating the part of the body of the motor vehicle which separates the engine compartment under the hood from the passenger compartment 3.
[0031] The airflow 7 injected into the passenger compartment 3 by the HVAC 5 can be admitted at the level of an air inlet 11 communicating with the outside of the motor vehicle.
[0032] The outside airflow 13, entering at the air inlet 11, can for example pass through a filtration system (not shown) typically comprising one or more filters adapted to filter and purify the air entering the motor vehicle before introduction into the passenger compartment 3.
[0033] The air supply circuit 1 includes an outside air supply duct 15, capable of being supplied by the outside air flow 13 from outside the motor vehicle and connecting the air inlet 11 to the HVAC 5.
[0034] The HVAC 5 also includes an air inlet flap 17, movable alternately between an open position represented by dotted lines and referenced "O" in [Fig.1], in which the outside air supply duct 15 is open, and a closed position, represented by dotted lines and referenced "F" in [Fig.1], in which the air supply duct 15 is closed.
[0035] The air intake flap 17 is controlled by an actuation means (not shown) which can, for example, be controlled by a software means, according to parameters which can, for example, be representative of the temperature, the percentage of relative humidity reflecting the risk of fogging the motor vehicle, the risk of pollution of the passenger compartment 3.
[0036] When the air inlet flap 17 is in its open position and the outside air supply duct 15 is open, the HVAC 5 is supplied by the outside air flow 13, and is capable of supplying the passenger compartment 3 with air from outside.
[0037] On the other hand, when the air inlet flap 17 is in its closed position and the outside air supply duct 15 is closed, the HVAC 5 is not supplied by the outside air flow 13 and the HVAC 5 does not supply the passenger compartment 3 with air from outside.
[0038] When the air inlet flap 17 is in its closed position, the HVAC 5 can be used in "recirculation" mode so that only the air present in the passenger compartment 3 circulates in the HVAC 5.
[0039] The power supply circuit 1 also includes a set of measuring sensors, not shown, including sensors for monitoring the quality of the air present in the passenger compartment 3.
[0040] The air quality control sensors are capable of measuring the levels of pollutants present in the passenger compartment 3.
[0041] For example, the air quality control sensors used in the context of the present invention are sensors capable of measuring the levels of the following gaseous pollutants: nitrogen oxides, for example NO2, carbon oxides, for example CO or CO2, sulfur oxides, for example SO2, ozone.
[0042] The power supply circuit 1 may further include one or more sensor(s) responsible for carrying out other measurements, for example a fog sensor (not shown) comprising a temperature sensor of a window of the passenger compartment 3 and a relative humidity sensor of the air present in the passenger compartment 3.
[0043] The motor vehicle may also be equipped with a close-proximity heating device (not shown), which can be used in addition to or as a replacement for the heating and ventilation device 5.
[0044] A close-proximity heating device means any heating system, separate from the main heating and ventilation device 5, capable of generating heat when activated.
[0045] By way of non-limiting example, the close-range heating device may include one or more heated seats and / or a heated steering wheel and / or a radiant heating device and / or a neck warmer, etc. The close-range heating device is relatively energy-efficient compared to the energy consumed by the main heating and ventilation system 5.
[0046] Reference is made to [Fig.2] showing the steps of the process of managing the air supply circuit 1 of the passenger compartment 3 of a motor vehicle.
[0047] The management process according to the invention is implemented by a software means integrated into the motor vehicle.
[0048] For this purpose, the software means is programmed to implement the process of the invention.
[0049] The software means is for example integrated into a computer of the motor vehicle, for example in the electronic management box known as "BSI", an acronym for "Intelligent Servicing Box".
[0050] The management method according to the invention is implemented when the air inlet flap 17 initially occupies a position distinct from its open position, by
[0051]
[0052]
[0053]
[0054]
[0055]
[0056]
[0057]
[0058]
[0059]
[0060] example when the air inlet flap 17 is initially in a closed position and the HVAC 5 is used in "recirculation" mode, in which only the air present in the passenger compartment 3 circulates in the HVAC 5. According to the invention, the management process includes a first step E10 aimed at monitoring the evolution of the concentration Cj of at least one gaseous pollutant 1 present in the passenger compartment 3. To do this, air quality control sensors measure the levels of gaseous pollutants present in the air inside the passenger compartment. For example, control sensors measure concentrations of nitrogen oxides, e.g. NO2, and / or carbon oxides, e.g. CO or CO2, and / or sulfur oxides, e.g. SO2, and / or ozone. Measurements of gaseous pollutant values present in passenger compartment 3 are, for example, carried out at a certain predetermined time frequency. The process then compares the pollutant concentration values 1 acquired during step E10, to a set of predetermined maximum threshold values S; IMAX The maximum threshold values S,- retained for the concentrations C,- of the 1max 1 pollutants 1 can be parameterized and calibrated in the algorithm executed by the software means used to execute the process of the invention. For example, when the gaseous pollutant present in the passenger compartment is CO2, the maximum threshold S can be between approximately 2400 ppm and approximately 2600 ppm. For example, when the gaseous pollutant present in the passenger compartment is CO2, the maximum threshold S,- is equal to approximately 2500 ppm. 1max When the concentration Cj of at least one of the pollutants 1 present in the passenger compartment 3 reaches the corresponding predetermined maximum threshold 5^^, the method according to the invention performs a step E20 aimed at piloting the air intake flap 17 into its open position, a position in which the outside air intake duct 15 is open. By planning to control the air inlet flap 17 of the HVAC 5 in the open position as soon as a maximum pollutant level S is reached, the "recirculation" mode of the HVAC 5 is immediately and automatically switched off in favor of outside air to the motor vehicle, which allows the air in the passenger compartment 3 to be renewed and the concentration C of pollutants 1 present in the passenger compartment 3 to fall rapidly, in particular the concentration of the pollutant which has reached the maximum threshold Sj • Reference is made to [Fig.3] showing a variant embodiment of the process according to the invention.
[0061] In addition to steps E10 and E20, the process according to the invention may include an additional step E21 aimed at cutting off the power supply to the HVAC 5.
[0062] Step E21 of shutting down the HVAC 5 can be performed simultaneously or consecutively with step E20 of opening the air inlet damper 17. Alternatively, step E21 of shutting down the HVAC 5 can be performed prior to step E20 of opening the air inlet damper 17, in anticipation of this step when the pollutant concentration values 1 acquired during step E10 approach a predetermined maximum threshold value S, imax
[0063] Reference is made to [Fig.4] showing another variant of the embodiment of the process according to the invention.
[0064] In addition to the E21 step of switching off the HVAC 5, the process may include an additional step E22 aimed at activating one or more components of the close-proximity heating device, in particular one or more of the heated seats and / or the heated steering wheel and / or the radiant heating device and / or the neck warmer.
[0065] In this way, the absence of heating from the HVAC 5 is compensated for, which makes it possible to advantageously maintain thermal comfort in the passenger compartment 3, while saving energy given that the nearby heating device consumes little energy compared to the energy consumed by the HVAC 5.
[0066] This feature of the invention is particularly valuable when the motor vehicle is used in a relatively cold climate.
[0067] Reference is made to [Fig.5] showing a variant embodiment of the process according to the invention.
[0068] According to one arrangement of the method according to the invention, the method may include an additional step E30 aimed at piloting the air inlet flap 17 back into its closed position, following the step E20 of opening the air inlet flap 17.
[0069] Similarly, as shown in [Fig.6] showing another variant of the embodiment of the method according to the invention, the method may include an additional step E31 aimed at reactivating the power supply of the HVAC 5 following the step E21 of switching off the HVAC 5.
[0070] The implementation of step E30 or step E31 allows the air supply circuit 1 of the passenger compartment 3 to automatically resume the recirculation mode in which it was before being interrupted by the process when the maximum threshold S of pollutant was detected. 1max
[0071] According to one provision of the method of the invention, step E30 of closing the air inlet flaps 17, and step E31 of reactivating the HVAC 5, are carried out when the concentration of the pollutant that triggered step E20 of opening the air inlet damper 17, or step E21 of shutting down the HVAC 5, has reached a predetermined minimum threshold value S ■ ^min
[0072] For example, when the gaseous pollutant present in the passenger compartment is CO2, the minimum threshold S- can be between approximately 1900 ppm and approximately 2100 ppm.min For example, when the gaseous pollutant present in the passenger compartment is CO2, the minimum threshold S; is equal to approximately 2000 ppm. ^min
[0073] The maximum threshold values Si and minimum threshold values Si retained for the 1max 2 min concentrations Cj of pollutants 1 can be calibrated differently in particular according to the geographical location of use of the motor vehicle implementing the management process according to the invention.
[0074] Thus, when the operation of the HVAC 5 is switched off (step E21), the energy consumption required to maintain the average air temperature in the passenger compartment 3 is reduced by almost 90% between the moment the outside air inlet flap 17 is opened and the moment the outside air inlet flap 17 is closed. Newly closed.
[0075]
[0076] According to a provision common to the variants just described, when the concentration values Cj of pollutants 1 in the passenger compartment 3 exceed a critical threshold value S, ..., the airflow supplied by the HVAC 5 can be significantly increased compared to that blown when the concentration values Cj of pollutants 1 in the passenger compartment 3 are below the critical threshold values Si x. rn 2critical corresponding. For example, when the gaseous pollutant present in the passenger compartment is CO2, the critical threshold can be between approximately 2900 ppm and approximately 3100 ppm. For example, when the gaseous pollutant present in the passenger compartment is CO2, the critical threshold is approximately 3000 ppm.
[0077] According to another feature common to the variants just described, the method according to the invention may include an additional step for monitoring the evolution of the fog index in the passenger compartment 3 and, when the fog index reaches a predetermined maximum threshold, for activating at least one of the heating components of the glazing present in the passenger compartment, such as the windshield, the rear window, or the side windows. This makes it possible to further reduce the entry of fresh air into the passenger compartment 3, and thus to further limit energy consumption.
[0078] The fog index can be calculated from measurements of the surface temperature of the vehicle's glazing and the relative humidity of the air in the passenger compartment. obtained using the glazing temperature sensor and the relative humidity sensor, located in the passenger compartment 3.
[0079] As will be understood, the present invention is not limited to the only embodiments of this method of managing an air supply circuit of a motor vehicle cabin and of this motor vehicle adapted to implement said method, described above solely by way of illustrative examples, but on the contrary it encompasses all variants involving the technical equivalents of the means described as well as their combinations if these fall within the scope of the invention.
Claims
Demands
1. A method for managing an air supply circuit (1) for a passenger compartment (3) of a motor vehicle, said air supply circuit (1) comprising: - a main heating and ventilation device (5) including an air inlet flap (17) mounted in an outside air intake duct (15), said air inlet flap (17) being movable alternately between an open position in which said outside air intake duct (15) is open and a closed position in which said outside air intake duct (15) is closed, - a plurality of air quality monitoring sensors, said method comprising the following steps for: - monitoring (step E10) the evolution of the concentration (Cj) of at least one gaseous pollutant present in said passenger compartment (3), - when the concentration (Cp) of said at least one gaseous pollutant present in said passenger compartment (3) reaches a predetermined maximum threshold (Si) hnax,to operate said air inlet damper (17) in said open position (step E20), characterized in that it comprises an additional step aimed at cutting off (step E21) the power supply to said main heating and ventilation device (5) simultaneously or consecutively to said opening step (step E20) of said air inlet damper (17).
2. Method according to claim 1, wherein said motor vehicle includes a close-proximity heating device, characterized in that it includes an additional step for activating (step E22) said close-proximity heating device prior to, simultaneously with or following said step for cutting off (step E21) the supply of said main heating and ventilation device (5).
3. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that it comprises an additional step aimed at piloting said air inlet flap (17) into said closed position (step E30) following said opening step (step E20) of said air inlet flap (17).
4. A method according to claim 1 or according to any one of claims 2 or 3 in combination with claim 1, characterized in that it includes an additional step to activate (step E31) the power supply of said main heating and ventilation device (5) following said step to cut off (step E21) the power supply of said main heating and ventilation device (5).
5. A method according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that said step of operating said air inlet flap (17) in said closed position (step E30) following said opening step (step E20) of said air inlet flap (17) or of activating (step E31) the power supply of said main heating and ventilation device (5) following said step of switching off (step E21) the power supply of said main heating and ventilation device (5) is performed when the concentration (Cj) of said at least one gaseous pollutant present in said passenger compartment (3) reaches a predetermined minimum threshold (S).
6. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said at least one gaseous pollutant present in the passenger compartment (3) is CO2, characterized in that said predetermined maximum threshold (Sj) is between about 2400 ppm and about 2600 ppm.
7. A method according to claim 5 or according to claims 5 and 6, wherein said at least one gaseous pollutant present in the passenger compartment (3) is CO2, characterized in that said predetermined minimum threshold (Sj) is between about 1900 ppm and about 2100 ppm.
8. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein said passenger compartment (3) of said motor vehicle comprises a fog sensor and at least one glazing heating component, characterized in that it comprises an additional step for monitoring the evolution of a fog index in said passenger compartment (3) and, when said fog index reaches a predetermined maximum threshold, activating said at least one glazing heating component.
9. A motor vehicle comprising: - a passenger compartment (3), - an air supply circuit (1) for said passenger compartment (3), including a plurality of air pollution sensors for said passenger compartment (3) and a main heating and ventilation device (5) including an air inlet flap (17) mounted in an air supply duct (15) exterior, said air inlet flap (17) being movable alternately between an open position in which said outside air supply duct (15) is open and a closed position in which said outside air supply duct (15) is closed, - a nearby heating device, - a condensation sensor and at least one glazing heating component, - a software means, characterized in that said software means is programmed to implement said management process according to any one of claims 1 to 8.