Air conditioner for vehicle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air conditioners for vehicles performing dehumidifying heating operations face increased flowing sound and complex apparatus configurations, which complicate operation switching between heating and cooling modes.
Innovation Solution
An air conditioner configuration that includes a compressor, interior and exterior heat-exchangers, an electronic expansion valve, and a solenoid valve for dehumidification, controlled by a device to manage valve opening degrees and solenoid valve states, allowing the heat-exchange medium to be branched and circulated through both heat-exchangers during dehumidifying heating, thereby reducing sound and facilitating operation switching.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a refrigerant flow passage and auxiliary expansion valve are added to cool the heat-exchange medium in advance, then the flowing sound is suppressed, but the apparatus configuration becomes complicated and expense increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the dehumidification function and heating function into a single operational mode by integrating the solenoid valve for dehumidification with the existing flow passages. The solenoid valve is installed in the flow passage connecting the interior condenser and exterior heat-exchanger, allowing the system to perform both dehumidification and heating simultaneously without adding separate flow passages or expansion valves, thus suppressing flowing sound while avoiding increased apparatus complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The solenoid valve for dehumidification serves multiple functions: it controls refrigerant flow during dehumidifying heating operation, regulates the amount of refrigerant introduced to the interior heat-exchanger, and enables the system to switch between different operational modes. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate auxiliary components, resolving the contradiction between suppressing flowing sound and maintaining simple apparatus configuration
2Productivity
If the flow passage of the heat-exchange medium is switched rapidly when shifting between heating/cooling operations, then operation switching is fast, but the flowing sound increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control device performs preliminary action by reducing the valve opening degree of the electronic expansion valve to a predetermined degree or less before switching from heating/cooling operations to dehumidifying heating operation. This preliminary reduction in valve opening degree prevents rapid refrigerant flow into the interior heat-exchanger, thereby suppressing flowing sound while enabling smooth operation switching
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the valve opening degree of the electronic expansion valve during operation switching. The control device continuously modifies the valve opening degree based on the operational mode: reducing it before switching to suppress flowing sound, and then increasing it after switching to maintain heating efficiency. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between fast operation switching and flowing sound suppression
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 configuration effectively suppresses the increase in flowing sound and allows smooth operation switching between heating and dehumidifying heating modes by controlling the electronic expansion valve and solenoid valve, preventing rapid flow into the interior heat-exchanger and maintaining efficient operation.
Implementation Method 1
a compressor (21) that compresses and outputs a heat-exchange medium
Implementation Method 2
an interior condenser (16) that is able to radiate heats using the heat-exchange medium which is output from the compressor after being compressed
Implementation Method 3
an exterior heat-exchanger (24) that exchanges heat between the heat-exchange medium flowing out from the interior condenser and an atmosphere outside of a vehicle cabin
Implementation Method 4
an electronic expansion valve (27) that decompresses, expands and outputs the heat-exchange medium
Implementation Method 5
an interior heat-exchanger (14) that exchanges heat between the heat-exchange medium, which is output from the electronic expansion valve after being decompressed and expanded, and an atmosphere inside of the vehicle cabin
Data Source
AI summary
When a dehumidifying heating operation is performed by a heat-radiating operation of the interior condenser and a heat-absorbing operation of the exterior heat-exchanger and the evaporator, a control device of an air conditioner for vehicle decreases the valve opening degree of the electronic expansion valve to be equal to or less than a predetermined opening degree before opening the solenoid valve for dehumidification in a closed state, opens the solenoid valve for dehumidification after decreasing the valve opening degree of the electronic expansion valve to be equal to or less than the predetermined opening degree, and then increasing the valve opening degree of the electronic expansion valve to be greater than the predetermined opening degree after opening the solenoid valve for dehumidification.