Vehicle Air Conditioning Duct Switching for Adsorption Mode Transitions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle air conditioning systems waste air with reduced or removed adsorption target substances by discharging it to the exterior during the transition from adsorption to desorption modes due to synchronized heating and valve switching.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle air conditioning system with a control unit that switches the valve to direct air flow based on temperature thresholds, ensuring adsorption or desorption modes are maintained efficiently without wasting air with reduced or removed adsorption target substances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the valve is switched simultaneously with heating the adsorbent to enable desorption mode, then the system can transition from adsorption to desorption, but air with reduced or removed adsorption target substances is wasted by being discharged to the vehicle exterior during the heating period
Solution Approach 1:
The valve is switched to the exterior flow path in advance before the adsorbent temperature reaches the predetermined threshold during the transition to desorption mode. This preliminary action ensures that when the adsorbent is heated and begins desorbing, the purified air is already being directed to the interior flow path, preventing waste of the purified air during the heating period.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit monitors the temperature of the adsorbent and uses this feedback information to determine the optimal timing for valve switching. When the adsorbent temperature approaches the predetermined threshold, the control unit automatically switches the valve to direct air flow appropriately, ensuring that purified air is not wasted during the desorption process.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If ventilation is used to improve vehicle interior environment quality, then air quality is improved, but heater energy loss increases significantly in winter
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of discarding the purified air to the exterior during desorption mode, the system recovers and directs it to the vehicle interior through the first flow path. This recovery of purified air eliminates the need for additional heating that would otherwise be required to condition fresh exterior air, thereby reducing heater energy loss while maintaining air quality.
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 manages air flow to prevent waste by switching modes based on temperature, maintaining air quality within the vehicle and optimizing energy use.
Implementation Method 1
an adsorption block uses an adsorption material (zeolite) that can adsorb carbon dioxide and water vapor contained in air as adsorption target substances (purification target substances) and desorb the adsorption target substances when heated air passes through it
Implementation Method 2
a heating means configured to heat the adsorption portion
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle air conditioning system includes: at least one air conditioning device comprising an adsorption portion, and a heating means configured to heat the adsorption portion; an air conditioning duct having the air conditioning device provided therein and allowing air from a vehicle interior or a vehicle exterior to flow therethrough, the air conditioning duct having a first flow path for allowing the air to flow into the vehicle interior on a downstream side of the air conditioning device and a second flow path for discharging the air to the vehicle exterior; a valve configured to switch the flow of the air between the first flow path and the second flow path; and a control unit for controlling the air conditioning device and the valve.