Vehicle Air Guide Duct Splitter for Localized Motor Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle cooling systems do not effectively guide and direct cooling air flow over and around the motor, leading to inadequate localized cooling and aerodynamic inefficiencies, while also not considering the vehicle's exterior styling or space constraints.
Innovation Solution
An air guide duct system with an internal flow splitter and underbody cooling tray, which directs a portion of the air flow into the wheel wells and another portion over and around the motor, using strategically placed openings to enhance airflow and reduce aerodynamic drag.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If cooling air flow is directed through the hood of the vehicle, then the cooling air flow is isolated and aerodynamic drag is reduced, but localized cooling on predetermined portions of the motor is not achieved and air flow directionality is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The air guide duct is divided into multiple outlets (first outlet, second outlet, third outlet) that discharge cooling air to different locations - wheel wells, front end, and underbody - enabling localized cooling of specific motor portions while maintaining aerodynamic efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the motor receive cooling air with different characteristics from different outlets - the wheel well outlets provide localized cooling for specific areas, while the underbody outlet provides directional cooling beneath the motor, creating non-uniform temperature distribution tailored to local thermal requirements
2Productivity
If downstream ducting is incorporated into the cooling package, then air flow guidance and motor cooling are improved, but device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The air guide duct combines multiple functions into a single integrated structure - it guides cooling air from the cooling package, splits it into multiple streams through different outlets, and directs each stream to appropriate locations (wheel wells, front end, underbody), thereby improving cooling efficiency without proportionally increasing complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The air guide duct serves multiple purposes simultaneously - it acts as a flow splitter, a distribution network for localized cooling, and an aerodynamic component that manages air discharge - making the cooling system more efficient without adding separate dedicated components for each function
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 improves localized cooling and aerodynamic performance by efficiently directing air flow over the motor and under the vehicle, balancing airflow directionality and thermodynamic efficiency without compromising exterior styling or requiring excessive space.
Implementation Method 1
a first portion of incoming air through the at least one air inlet flows to the first air outlet and the second air outlet, and a further second portion of incoming air through the at least one air inlet flows through the flow splitter
Data Source
AI summary
An air guiding system for a vehicle including an air guide duct having at least one air inlet, the air guide duct further having a first air outlet, a second air outlet, and an internal flow splitter. The flow splitter is disposed within the air guide duct such that a first portion of incoming air flows to the first and second air outlets, and a second portion of incoming air flows through the flow splitter. The first air outlet is configured to discharge air into one of the pair of opposing front wheel wells and the second air outlet is configured to discharge air into another of the pair of opposing front wheel wells. A further aspect of the disclosure provides an underbody tray including a plurality of openings configured to allow airflow through the underbody tray, the underbody tray being disposed below the air guide duct.