Vehicle Air Intake Volute Geometry for Lower BPF Noise
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heating and ventilation air conditioners in vehicles face challenges in supporting filters while suppressing blade pass frequency (BPF) noise, which is generated by high-speed airflow impacting fan blades due to the presence of a filter support structure, and known methods are ineffective for systems with filter support structures.
Innovation Solution
An air intake system with a volute and filter support structure featuring a smooth transition part between the connecting rib and air inlet, reducing airflow disturbance and BPF noise by using an annular support part and connecting ribs with rounded corners to minimize airflow impact on fan blades.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a filter support structure is arranged in the air inlet structure to prevent the filter from sinking down and contacting the fan, then the filter is supported and protected from damage, but the corner part between the connecting rib and air inlet disturbs the airflow, generating high speed airflow that impacts fan blades and produces BPF noise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature by designing the corner part between the connecting rib and air inlet as a smooth rounded transition instead of a sharp corner. This curved geometry reduces airflow disturbance and prevents the generation of high-speed airflow that would impact fan blades and produce blade pass frequency noise, while still maintaining the filter support function.
2Volume of moving object
If the air inlet structure is made compact to reduce installation volume, then the system becomes more compact and installation space is reduced, but air pressure at the air inlet becomes increasingly high, requiring a filter support structure that may generate BPF noise
Solution Approach 1:
The curved corner transition design allows the compact air inlet structure to maintain smooth airflow patterns even under high air pressure conditions. The curvature prevents sharp edges that would create turbulence and high-speed airflow impacts on fan blades, thereby suppressing BPF noise generation in the compact configuration.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If known methods for suppressing BPF noise are applied, then BPF noise may be reduced in air intake systems without filter support structures, but these methods are not suitable for air intake systems that comprise a filter support structure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by modifying only the specific corner part geometry where the connecting rib meets the air inlet, rather than changing the entire air intake system design. This localized curved transition design specifically addresses BPF noise generation at the airflow disturbance point while maintaining compatibility with and support for the filter support structure configuration.
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 supports the filter and suppresses BPF noise by reducing airflow speed and rate at the fan blades, achieving noise reduction without significantly increasing overall noise levels.
Implementation Method 1
A corner part between the connecting rib and the air inlet is a smooth transition part, so as to diminish disturbance to the airflow by the corner part
Data Source
AI summary
An air intake system (100) for a heating and ventilation air conditioner of a vehicle, comprising an air intake housing (1); a volute (2), a fan assembly (4) being accommodated in the volute (2) and being used for sucking airflow (F) such that the airflow (F) enters the volute (2) through the air intake housing (1); and a filter (3) that is arranged adjacent to an air inlet (21) of the volute (2) and is used for filtering the airflow (F). The volute (2) is provided with a supporting portion (22) protruding from the air inlet (21) by a predetermined height so as to support the filter (3), the supporting portion (22) is connected to the air inlet (21) by means of connecting ribs (23), and corners between the connecting ribs (23) and the air inlet (21) are smooth transition portions.