A cabin cooling system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle air conditioning systems require additional cooling systems to lower the temperature of dried air to ambient temperature, leading to high energy consumption, increased weight, and the use of expensive and harmful coolants, particularly in electric vehicles where waste heat is not utilized efficiently.
Innovation Solution
A cabin cooling system that integrates a vortex tube and desiccant, where air is dried before cooling, eliminating the need for additional cooling fans and utilizing waste heat for regeneration, with environmentally friendly coolants like LiCl or CaCl2, to achieve efficient and low-energy cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a second passive cooling system (fan and serpentine) is added to lower the temperature of dried air to ambient temperature, then the temperature control is improved, but the device complexity, weight, and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the second passive cooling system (fan and serpentine) from the conventional air conditioning system. By extracting this unnecessary component, the system achieves temperature control of dried air without the complexity and weight of additional cooling equipment, while maintaining the ability to deliver air at ambient temperature.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the first passive cooling system to cool both the air and the desiccant simultaneously. The cooled air from the first passive cooling system serves dual purposes: it cools the desiccant during the drying process and is delivered to the cabin at ambient temperature, eliminating the need for a second cooling system.
2Temperature
If a second passive cooling system is added to achieve ambient temperature, then temperature control is improved, but the vehicle weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the second passive cooling system (fan and serpentine) from the conventional air conditioning system. By extracting this unnecessary component, the system achieves temperature control of dried air without the complexity and weight of additional cooling equipment, while maintaining the ability to deliver air at ambient temperature.
Solution Approach 2:
The first passive cooling system is designed to perform multiple functions: it cools the air for cabin delivery and simultaneously cools the desiccant during the drying process. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate cooling equipment, reducing overall system weight.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If LiCl or CaCl2 coolants are used, then environmental harm is reduced, but the coolant cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameter of the coolant from conventional refrigerants to salt-based solutions (LiCl or CaCl2). This parameter change eliminates environmental harm associated with traditional refrigerants while utilizing the hygroscopic properties of these salts for both cooling and dehumidification functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The salt-based coolant serves dual purposes: it provides cooling through evaporation and simultaneously acts as a desiccant for dehumidification. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate systems and components, offsetting the higher coolant cost through system simplification.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This system reduces energy consumption, weight, and size by using waste heat for regeneration, eliminating the need for additional cooling systems and fans, while using environmentally friendly coolants, thereby enhancing the cooling coefficient and preventing range shortening in electric vehicles.
Implementation Method 1
at least one vortex tube, to which the air leaving the air pump (2) is transmitted
Implementation Method 2
at least one desiccant (4), by which the water vapor in the air is condensed due to the partial vapor pressure difference
Implementation Method 3
at least one air pump (2), which enables the input air that is comprised of the ambient air, outer air or a mixture thereof at certain ratios to be brought to a predetermined pressure value
Implementation Method 4
at least one air amplifier, in which the dry air, whose water vapor is condensed, leaving the desiccant (4) is combined with the cabin air and cooled to a predetermined temperature value and delivered into the cabin
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The present invention relates to a cabin cooling system (1); wherein the vortex tube and desiccant are used together within the air conditioning system, the air in the system is dried before it is cooled and does not require extra power consumption; and which basically comprises at least one vortex tube (3) wherein the air leaving through its cold outlet is used for cabin air circulation and the air leaving through its hot outlet is used for regeneration, at least one liquid desiccant (4) which enables the cold air leaving the vortex tube (3) to be dried at a fixed temperature; and which performs circulation and regeneration processes by utilizing waste pressure and heat upon delivery of the air leaving the liquid desiccant (4) to the air amplifiers (5, 9).