Air conditioning system for controlling the temperature of components and of an interior of a motor vehicle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air conditioning systems for motor vehicles require multiple heat exchangers to cover various temperature and operating states, which increases complexity and energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
A system with a first and second coolant circuit, a refrigerant circuit, and a valve arrangement that allows for efficient heat transfer between the refrigerant and coolant circuits, using a water-side air-water heat exchanger and a refrigerant-coolant heat exchanger to manage heating and cooling of the vehicle interior with minimal heat sources, and independent control of heating and cooling modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple heat exchangers are used to cover various temperature and operating states, then the system can handle more operating conditions, but the device complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The refrigerant circuit is designed to perform multiple functions (heating, cooling, heat pump operation) using the same basic components. The circuit can operate in different modes by controlling the expansion valves and flow paths, allowing one system to replace what would traditionally require multiple dedicated heat exchangers for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses controllable expansion valves and flow management devices that can dynamically adjust the refrigerant flow paths and timing. This dynamic control allows the same physical infrastructure to adapt to different operating conditions (heating vs cooling vs heat pump modes) without requiring separate dedicated components for each mode.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple heat exchangers are used to cover various temperature and operating states, then the system can handle more operating conditions, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system recovers waste heat from the refrigerant compression process and uses it for heating purposes. In heat pump operation, the heat that would otherwise be wasted during compression is captured and transferred to the interior heating condenser, converting what would be energy loss into useful heating energy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system recovers thermal energy from the refrigerant at different stages of the cycle. Heat from the high-pressure refrigerant is recovered in the interior heating condenser, and heat from the low-pressure refrigerant is recovered in the exterior heat exchanger, maximizing energy utilization across all operating modes.
3Volume of moving object
If the refrigerant circuit is integrated with the air conditioning unit, then the system is more compact, but the air conditioning unit becomes a heat source which reduces cooling efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The refrigerant circuit is divided into separate functional zones with dedicated heat exchangers. The interior heating condenser is positioned and controlled independently from the cooling evaporator, allowing the system to activate only the necessary components for each operating mode and avoid parasitic heat transfer between zones.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses controllable expansion valves and flow management as intermediaries to isolate the heating and cooling paths. These devices act as switches that can prevent heat transfer between the interior heating condenser and cooling evaporator, allowing the same physical system to efficiently perform both heating and cooling without mutual interference.
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 enables efficient heating and cooling of the vehicle interior while minimizing the number of heat exchangers, reducing complexity and energy consumption, and allowing for precise temperature control of various vehicle components.
Implementation Method 1
a first refrigerant-coolant heat exchanger (A.2) connected in the refrigerant circuit on the refrigerant side and upstream of the air-water heat exchanger on the water side, by means of which heat can be transferred from the refrigerant circuit to the first coolant circuit
Implementation Method 2
a compressor (A.1) for driving a refrigerant circuit having a high-pressure side and a low-pressure side
Implementation Method 3
a first water pump (C.3) for driving a first coolant circuit, a second water pump (C.4) for driving a second coolant circuit
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The invention relates to an air conditioning system for controlling the temperature of components and of an interior of a motor vehicle, having a first water pump (C.3) for driving a first coolant circuit (100), a second water pump (C.4) for driving a second coolant circuit (200), a compressor (A.1) for driving a refrigerant circuit (300) having a high-pressure side and a low-pressure side, an air-water heat exchanger (C.5) connected into the first coolant circuit (100) on the water side and upstream of the interior on the air side, a first refrigerant-coolant heat exchanger (A.2) connected into the refrigerant circuit (300) and upstream of the air-water heat exchanger (C.5) on the water side, and a second refrigerant-coolant heat exchanger (A. 10) connected into the refrigerant circuit (300) on the refrigerant side and downstream of the potential heat sources on the water side.