Air-Conditioning Unit Solar Radiation Test Setup
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Solution Overview
Problem
The influence of solar radiation on air-conditioning units is not adequately considered during their design or development, leading to potential failures during system tests or vehicle operation, resulting in delays and the need for costly modifications.
Innovation Solution
A method and test arrangement that simulate solar radiation using an artificial light source, such as an infrared radiator, to test the air-conditioning unit before system tests in a climatic wind tunnel, allowing for pre-identification of thermal properties and setting the light source to replicate expected conditions, enabling early assessment of compliance with requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If solar radiation influence is not tested during design or development phase, then testing process is simpler and faster, but the air-conditioning unit may fail during system tests or vehicle operation causing delays and modifications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing solar radiation testing during the design or development phase using an artificial light source that simulates solar radiation. This preliminary test identifies thermal issues before the air-conditioning unit is installed in the vehicle, preventing failures during system tests or operation and avoiding costly modifications and retesting later.
2Reliability
If solar radiation is simulated using an artificial light source during design phase, then compliance with requirements can be ensured early, but additional testing equipment and setup are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies copying by using an artificial light source that replicates or copies the spectral characteristics and thermal effects of real solar radiation. This allows the air-conditioning unit to be tested under simulated solar conditions during the design phase, ensuring compliance with requirements without needing to perform actual outdoor solar exposure tests or complex climatic wind tunnel tests at this stage.
3Reliability
If solar radiation testing is performed in a climatic wind tunnel during system tests, then comprehensive environmental testing is achieved, but the air-conditioning unit must be installed on the vehicle and modifications cause operational delays
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by conducting solar radiation-specific testing during the design or development phase using an artificial light source, separate from the comprehensive climatic wind tunnel system tests. This preliminary testing identifies and resolves solar radiation-related thermal issues before the air-conditioning unit is installed in the vehicle, ensuring that subsequent system tests can proceed without delays caused by modifications.
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
Enables the air-conditioning unit to be tested for solar radiation effects prior to system tests, reducing the likelihood of failures and delays by ensuring compliance with desired specifications, thereby streamlining the approval and operation processes.
Implementation Method 1
The artificial light source comprises, for example, a light source embodied to emit infrared radiation. For example, the light source comprises an infrared radiator or an infrared lamp.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and a test arrangement for testing an air-conditioning unit which is intended to provide conditioned air for a vehicle and which is exposed to solar radiation during the operation of the vehicle. According to the method, the solar radiation is simulated by an artificial light source during the test. The artificial light source is set on the basis of a preliminary test, during which there is a test exposure of a representative location of the air-conditioning unit to light, with thermal-technical properties of the air-conditioning unit at the representative location being known in advance.