Vehicle Air Flap and Cooling Fan Control for Lower Power Use
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional systems independently control air flaps and cooling fans in vehicles, leading to excessive power consumption without optimizing air flow rates for efficient cooling, thereby reducing fuel and electricity efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle control apparatus and method that calculates and optimizes the combined operation of air flaps and cooling fans to minimize total power consumption by considering air resistance, cooling fan operation, and air conditioner load, ensuring a target air flow rate is maintained.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the air flap and cooling fan are controlled independently, then the control system is simple, but the power consumption is excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the control of the air flap and cooling fan into a single integrated control system that calculates total power consumption considering air resistance, cooling fan operation, and air conditioner load. This unified approach allows optimization of both components together rather than independently, reducing overall power consumption while managing the complexity through systematic integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts control parameters (air flap opening degree, cooling fan rotation speed) based on calculated optimal values that minimize total power consumption. By continuously monitoring and adjusting these parameters according to actual operating conditions, the system achieves energy efficiency without requiring overly complex hardware architecture.
2Force
If the air flap is closed to decrease air flow, then air resistance decreases, but cooling efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic control of the air flap opening degree and cooling fan rotation speed based on real-time calculation of optimal values. The system continuously adjusts these parameters to balance air resistance reduction with adequate cooling performance, rather than using fixed positions. This dynamic adjustment ensures that the air flap is closed sufficiently to reduce air resistance while the cooling fan compensates to maintain cooling efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system calculates total power consumption considering both air resistance and cooling requirements, then adjusts the air flap and cooling fan settings accordingly. This feedback mechanism ensures that cooling efficiency is maintained even when the air flap is closed to reduce air resistance, as the system monitors and responds to the interplay between these competing requirements.
3Quantity of substance
If the cooling fan operation power is increased, then air flow rate increases, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system optimizes the cooling fan rotation speed as a dynamic parameter rather than using fixed high-speed operation. By calculating the optimal rotation speed that achieves the required air flow rate for cooling while minimizing power consumption, the system avoids unnecessary energy waste. The optimal rotation speed is determined based on the balance between cooling demand and power consumption constraints.
4Temperature
If the air conditioner load is high, then cooling requirement increases, but total power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates air conditioner load as a key parameter in the total power consumption calculation. By considering the cooling load requirements when determining optimal air flap opening degree and cooling fan rotation speed, the system efficiently meets high cooling demands while minimizing the additional power consumption. The optimization account for the interplay between air conditioner load and the power consumption of air intake and cooling components.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are a vehicle control apparatus and a vehicle control method. The vehicle control apparatus may calculate a total sum of consumed power according to at least one of power consumed due to an air resistance, power consumed due to an operation of a cooling fan that increases flow of air introduced into an under-hood of a vehicle, or power consumed due to an operation of an air conditioner, or any combination thereof, and control at least one of an air flap that opens and closes an air inlet of the under-hood or a cooling fan, or any combination thereof such that the total sum of the consumed power is minimized in response to securing of a target air flow rate representing a flow rate of air required to pass through a condenser or a radiator of the air conditioner according to an operation of the vehicle.