Air Flow Control System for Cabin and Engine Compartment Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
In vehicle air conditioning systems, the placement of the engine compartment on the front side relative to the vehicle interior limits the air-cooling capacity for the cabin, as the exterior heat exchanger's heat dissipation into an air flow reduces the cooling capacity needed for the interior heat exchanger.
Innovation Solution
An air flow control system that introduces outside air into the vehicle cabin and directs it through a front side communication port into the engine compartment, eliminating the need for a high-capacity blower and preventing the cooling of the radiator with warm air from the exterior heat exchanger, thus maintaining the air-cooling capacity for the cabin.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the exterior heat exchanger dissipates heat into the air flow during air-cooling, then the engine compartment temperature is reduced, but the air-cooling capacity for the vehicle interior is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the air cooling function into two separate air flow paths: one path through the exterior heat exchanger for engine compartment cooling, and another path through the interior heat exchanger for vehicle interior cooling. This segmentation allows both cooling functions to operate independently without interfering with each other's capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a communication port as an intermediary pathway between the engine compartment and the vehicle interior. This allows cool air generated in the vehicle interior to be directed to the engine compartment, providing an alternative cooling route that does not compromise the interior cooling capacity
2Temperature
If a blower with large blowing capacity is used to cause air flow from the interior of the vehicle cabin into the engine compartment, then the temperature environment in the engine compartment is improved, but the device complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the vehicle's forward motion to naturally intake outside air through the outside air introduction port. This self-service approach eliminates the need for an additional high-capacity blower, as the vehicle's travel automatically provides the air flow needed for engine compartment cooling
Solution Approach 2:
The outside air introduction port, originally designed for vehicle interior air conditioning, is repurposed to also serve engine compartment cooling. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated high-capacity blowers, as the existing air intake system performs dual functions
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 solution maintains a satisfactory temperature environment within the engine compartment without reducing the air-cooling capacity of the vehicle interior and avoids the requirement for a large blowing capacity, ensuring effective cooling for both the engine compartment and the cabin.
Implementation Method 1
causes the air flow, introduced from the outside of the vehicle cabin into the interior of the vehicle cabin via the outside air introduction port with travel of the vehicle, to be blown from the interior of the vehicle cabin into the engine compartment
Data Source
AI summary
An air flow control system includes a forming portion, an outside air introduction door, and an air controller. The forming portion forms a front side communication port that communicates between the interior of the vehicle cabin and an engine compartment disposed on the front side in a vehicle traveling direction with respect to the interior of the vehicle cabin and accommodating a traveling engine. The outside air introduction door opens or closes an outside air introduction port to introduce an air flow from an outside of a vehicle cabin into the interior of the vehicle cabin. The air controller controls the outside air introduction door to open the outside air introduction port, and causes the air flow, introduced from the outside of the vehicle cabin into the interior of the vehicle cabin via the outside air introduction port with travel of the vehicle, to be blown from the interior of the vehicle cabin into the engine compartment through the front side communication port.