Vehicular Air Conditioner Inside Air Introduction Rate Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicular air conditioners, particularly in electric vehicles, face inefficiencies in warming efficiency due to ineffective utilization of heat from the motor compartment, leading to increased energy consumption and air conditioning load when trying to warm the cabin.

Innovation Solution

A vehicular air conditioner system that adjusts the inside air introduction rate by increasing it when there is no warming request to mix cabin air with warm outside air, and reduces or prohibits this increase when a warming request is made, allowing the motor compartment heat to effectively contribute to cabin warming while minimizing energy consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If the inside air introduction rate is increased to suppress warm air from being blown into the vehicle cabin, then occupant comfort is improved, but warming efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoccupant comfortVSAvoidwarming efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The inside air introduction rate is dynamically adjusted based on the detected warming request status. When a warming request is detected, the rate is set to 0% to maximize heat utilization; when no warming request is detected, the rate is increased to suppress warm air blowing. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by adapting the air introduction rate to real-time operational conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of inside air introduction rate from a fixed value to a variable that switches between 0% and a higher percentage based on the warming request detection. This parameter change enables the system to optimize both occupant comfort and warming efficiency under different operational conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Temperature

If the inside air introduction rate is set to be larger than zero to lower the temperature of warm air, then the temperature increase of blown air is suppressed, but the air conditioning load increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemperature of blown airVSAvoidair conditioning load

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The inside air introduction rate is dynamically controlled based on the warming request detection. When warming is needed, the rate is set to 0% to minimize air conditioning load and allow heat utilization. When warming is not needed, the rate is increased to suppress temperature increase of blown air. This dynamic control resolves the contradiction between temperature control and energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Loss of energy

If the heat in the motor compartment is effectively utilized for warming, then energy consumption is reduced, but the air conditioning load increases when warming is not requested

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidair conditioning load

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses feedback from the warming request detection to control the inside air introduction rate. When a warming request is detected, the system switches to a mode that utilizes motor compartment heat by setting the inside air introduction rate to 0%, thereby reducing energy consumption. When no warming request is detected, the system increases the rate to prevent excessive temperature rise, balancing energy utilization with air conditioning load management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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 approach enhances warming efficiency by utilizing motor compartment heat effectively, reducing energy consumption and air conditioning load, and maintaining occupant comfort by managing air introduction rates based on operational modes.

Implementation Method 1

warming efficiency by effectively using heat in a motor compartment to contribute to heating the inside of a vehicle cabin

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

the inside air introduction rate is set to be larger than zero when the temperature of the air blown into the vehicle cabin is higher than that of the outside air by a predetermined temperature or more. This makes the vehicle cabin air of a relatively low temperature mix into the outside air

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentUS11498390B2Vehicular air conditioner

Publication Date: 2022.11.15 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK

AI summary

In a situation where a temperature in a motor compartment is higher than a temperature of outside air, an inside air introduction rate increasing control is performed in which an inside air introduction rate is changed to be increased on a condition that there is no request for warming an inside of the vehicle cabin, the air conditioner is off, and air is being blown in an outside air introduction mode, and on the other hand, the inside air introduction rate increasing control is prohibited on a condition that there is a request for warming the inside of the vehicle cabin, the vehicular air conditioner is off, and air is being blown in the outside air introduction mode. In this way, heating efficiency can be improved by effectively utilizing the heat in the motor compartment to contribute to warming the inside of the vehicle cabin.