Air supply arrangement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air supply systems for vehicles do not effectively prevent particles and precipitation from entering the passenger compartment, despite the presence of climate control systems and electrostatic filtration, indicating a need for an improved air cleaning solution.
Innovation Solution
An air supply arrangement featuring an ionising member and a passive collecting member within the air supply duct, where the ionising member charges particles, and the collecting member, typically a polymer filter, captures these charged particles, with a optimized path length between them to enhance maintenance and air cleaning efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If an electrostatic filtration system is installed in the air supply duct, then particles can be removed from the air, but the system becomes more complex and requires additional components (ionising member and collecting member)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the ionising member and collecting member into a single integrated air cleaning unit installed within the existing air supply duct. This merging approach removes particles through electrostatic precipitation while avoiding the need for separate, complex filtration systems, thus achieving effective particle removal without proportionally increasing system complexity.
2Productivity
If the collecting member is placed close to the ionising member, then the air cleaning efficiency is improved, but maintenance becomes more difficult due to limited access
Solution Approach 1:
The air cleaning unit is designed as a segmented, modular assembly where the collecting member can be independently accessed and removed for maintenance. The ionising member and collecting member are positioned at optimized distances for efficient particle capture, while the modular structure allows the collecting member to be extracted through accessible openings in the air supply duct, resolving the conflict between cleaning efficiency and maintenance accessibility.
3Reliability
If a long path length is used between the ionising member and collecting member, then particle charging is more complete, but the air flow resistance increases and energy consumption rises
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the path length parameter between the ionising member and collecting member to a specific range that balances particle charging completeness with acceptable air flow resistance. This parameter optimization ensures sufficient residence time for effective electrostatic precipitation while minimizing the pressure drop and energy consumption associated with air movement through the cleaning unit.
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 configuration effectively cleans the air by charging and removing particles, while the optimized path length and placement of components facilitate easy maintenance and efficient air flow, ensuring a cleaner passenger compartment environment.
Implementation Method 1
The ionising member is utilized to charge particles being transported by the air passing the air supply duct
Implementation Method 2
The collecting member is adapted to catch particles having been charged by the ionising member
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The present disclosure relates to an air supply arrangement (3) for a vehicle, the air supply arrangement (3) comprising an air supply duct (17), an ionising member (27,29,31,32) located in the air supply duct (17) and a passive collecting member (43,45) located in the air supply duct (17) downstream of the ionising member, wherein a shortest path length of an air flow between the ionising member (27,29,31,32) and the collecting member (43,45) is in the range of from 20 to 70 cm, preferably in the range of from 25 to 50 cm. The disclosure further relates to an external portion (37) of such an air supply arrangement and a vehicle with such an air supply arrangement (3).