Air conditioner with heater priority mode and compressor priority mode
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle air conditioners face fluctuations in ventilation air temperature due to limited compressor capacity, leading to increased power consumption and reduced comfort, as the electric heater becomes the primary heating source when compressor capacity fluctuates.
Innovation Solution
An air conditioner system that includes a refrigerant cycle device and a heat medium circuit, with a discharge capacity controlling section, a heat generation amount controlling section, a target temperature determining section, and an upper limit determining section, allowing it to switch between a heater priority mode and a compressor priority mode to stabilize temperature and improve heating efficiency by utilizing both refrigerant cycle and electric heater as heat sources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the electric heater is used as the primary heating source when compressor capacity fluctuates, then heating can be maintained, but power consumption increases and comfort decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between heater priority mode and compressor priority mode based on temperature differences and compressor capacity. The discharge capacity controlling section adjusts compressor rotational speed dynamically, and the heat generation amount controlling section adjusts electric heater output dynamically, allowing the system to adapt to changing conditions and optimize the balance between heating stability and power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters by switching between two distinct modes. In heater priority mode, the electric heater is controlled to compensate for compressor capacity fluctuations. In compressor priority mode, the compressor is prioritized and the heater provides supplementary heating. This parameter switching resolves the contradiction by allowing the system to select the most efficient heating source based on real-time conditions.
2Device complexity
If the compressor capacity is limited, then the system structure remains simple, but ventilation air temperature fluctuates and comfort is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The electric heater acts as an intermediary component that compensates for the limited compressor capacity. By introducing this auxiliary heating source, the system can maintain temperature stability without requiring a more complex or larger compressor system. The control sections coordinate both the compressor and heater to work together, resolving the temperature stability issue while keeping the overall system structure relatively simple.
3Reliability
If the electric heater becomes the primary heating source, then heating can be maintained during compressor capacity fluctuations, but heating efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the ratio of heating contribution between the compressor and electric heater based on operational conditions. In compressor priority mode, the more efficient compressor provides the majority of heating. In heater priority mode, the heater compensates for capacity fluctuations. This dynamic allocation optimizes heating efficiency while maintaining heating continuity.
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
The system effectively stabilizes ventilation air temperature and enhances heating efficiency by adjusting compressor speed and electric heater output, reducing power consumption and improving comfort in the vehicle cabin.
Implementation Method 1
The refrigerant cycle device is configured to heat the heat medium in the heat medium circuit by exchanging heat between the heat medium and a high-temperature high-pressure refrigerant discharged from an electric compressor
Implementation Method 2
The electric heater is configured to heat the heat medium
Implementation Method 3
The heating heat exchanger is configured to exchange heat between a heat medium and a ventilation air to be blown to an air-conditioning target space
Data Source
AI summary
An air conditioner includes a heat medium circuit, a refrigerant cycle device, a discharge capacity controlling section, a heat generation amount controlling section, a target temperature determining section, and an upper limit determining section. The heat medium circuit includes a heating heat exchanger and an electric heater. The refrigerant cycle device exchanges heat between a heat medium in the heat medium circuit and a refrigerant discharged from an electric compressor. During a heater priority mode, the rotational speed of the compressor is increased to reach an upper limit and a heating amount of the heater is increased as a temperature difference increases. During a compressor priority mode, the heating amount of the heater is decreased and the rotational speed is increased to compensate for a decreasing amount.