Air Drying Membrane Cabin Cooling System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle cabin cooling systems consume excessive energy for condensing humidity, leading to increased dimensions, weight, and cost of HVAC assemblies, and require complex and heavy desiccant systems that are not suitable for vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A cabin cooling system utilizing an air drying membrane that reduces relative humidity without temperature increase, eliminating the need for passive cooling components and using membrane technology under high pressure differences to dry air to -60°C, thereby enabling energy savings and simplifying the system by eliminating the need for large rotor systems and additional drive mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional condensation cooling is used, then cooling effect is achieved, but energy consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the humidity removal function from the condensation cooling system and implements it separately through a membrane-based drying system. The membrane selectively permeates water vapor from the air stream, separating the dehumidification task from the cooling task, thereby reducing the energy burden on the cooling system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a membrane as an intermediary component between the air stream and the cooling system. This membrane acts as a selective barrier that allows water vapor to pass through while blocking other gas molecules, enabling passive dehumidification without requiring the air to be cooled to dew point temperatures.
2Quantity of substance
If desiccant rotor system is used, then air drying is achieved, but system complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical rotating desiccant rotor system with a stationary membrane-based drying system. The membrane utilizes pressure differential and selective permeability properties to achieve drying without requiring rotation mechanisms, belts, pulleys, or complex drive systems, thereby dramatically simplifying the device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a thin film membrane as the core drying component. This membrane provides a large surface area for vapor permeation in a compact form factor, replacing the bulky rotor structure while achieving superior drying performance through its selective permeability characteristics.
3Quantity of substance
If desiccant rotor system is used, then air drying is achieved, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a lightweight thin film membrane that provides efficient vapor permeation with minimal mass. The membrane's thin structure and selective permeability allow it to achieve effective drying while weighing significantly less than traditional desiccant rotors and their supporting mechanical structures.
4Use of energy by moving object
If membrane drying is used, then energy consumption is reduced, but pressure difference requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the membrane properties and system operating parameters to achieve effective drying at reduced pressure differences. By adjusting membrane thickness, material composition, and surface area, the system maintains high vapor permeability while operating at pressure differentials suitable for vehicle HVAC systems.
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 reduces energy consumption and system complexity by drying air without temperature increase, allowing for efficient evaporative cooling and eliminating the need for extra water storage, resulting in a lightweight, cost-effective, and efficient cooling solution.
Implementation Method 1
the relative humidity is decreased without temperature increase with air drying membrane
Implementation Method 2
evaporative cooling can be applied, and the air temperature can be cooled up to the comfort of an air conditioner
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The present invention relates to a cabin cooling system with an air drying membrane (1), wherein the passive cooling requirement and the members required for passive cooling are eliminated by drying the air up to -60 °C via the membrane in vehicle air conditioning system, the evaporative cooling can be applied, and the waste temperature, pressure and water can be used in the system, essentially comprising at least one membrane (3) which enables the air to be dried, and at least one air blower which blows the dried air into the cabin.