Automotive Absorption Air Conditioning With Desorber-Condenser Pressure Boost

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing absorption air conditioning systems for motor vehicles are inefficient and require large volumes, making them costly and complex to produce, with limited improvements in reducing dimensions and enhancing performance.

Innovation Solution

The system incorporates a water vapor plasma to enhance absorption efficiency, osmotic membranes to reduce volume and improve pressure dynamics, and a fan to create pressure differentials between the desorber and condenser, along with osmotic exchange zones to manage solution concentration and flow.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional absorption air conditioning systems are used in motor vehicles, then cooling function is provided, but the system requires large volumes and has low absorption efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveabsorption efficiencyVSAvoidsystem volume
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces water vapor plasma to change the physical-chemical parameters of the absorption process. The plasma treatment modifies the surface properties of the absorbent material, enhancing its absorption capacity and efficiency without requiring proportional increases in system volume.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs composite structures combining absorbent materials with plasma-treated surfaces. This composite approach creates a synergistic effect where the plasma-modified absorbent material achieves higher absorption efficiency per unit volume compared to conventional materials.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Productivity

If absorption efficiency is increased through conventional means, then performance improves, but device complexity and production cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveabsorption performanceVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical compression and expansion mechanisms with a plasma-based absorption system. The water vapor plasma enables direct absorption enhancement without requiring additional mechanical components, valves, or complex control systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

By changing the physical state and chemical properties of the absorbent material through plasma treatment, the system achieves improved performance through material property modification rather than adding complex mechanical or structural elements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Volume of stationary object

If system volume is reduced to lower cost, then manufacturing becomes cheaper, but absorption surface area is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice volumeVSAvoidabsorption surface area
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of stationary objectVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The plasma treatment fundamentally changes the surface parameters of the absorbent material, increasing its effective absorption area at the molecular level. This allows a smaller physical volume to provide sufficient absorption surface area through enhanced surface properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes porous absorbent materials that have been plasma-treated. The porous structure provides high surface area to volume ratio, and the plasma treatment further enhances the surface properties, enabling compact design with adequate absorption capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

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 increases absorption performance, reduces the surface area needed for absorption, minimizes device volume, and improves heat transfer efficiency while maintaining low operational costs and simplicity.

Implementation Method 1

according to a more advantageous embodiment of the invention, the absorption reaction can be made more efficient by creating a water vapor plasma

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPlasma: Plasma

Implementation Method 2

the air conditioning device comprises at least one exchange system with osmotic membrane, of the tube and osmotic membrane type

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOsmosis: Osmosis

Implementation Method 3

a fan to create pressure differentials between the desorber and condenser

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectForced Convection: Forced Convection

Implementation Method 4

when the desorber is heated, the more volatile of the two, the refrigerant fluid, evaporates

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Implementation Method 5

when the desorber is heated

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Implementation Method 6

turns into a liquid in the condenser

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCondensation: Condensation

Data Source

PatentEP2326892B1Improved absorption air-conditioning device for an automobile
Publication Date: 2018.03.28 PSA AUTOMOBILES SA
  • EP2326892B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2326892B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2326892B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a device that comprises a desorber (100), an absorber (400), a condenser (200) and an evaporator. The desorber (100) and the absorber (400) are filled with a mixture of at least two miscible substances comprising a coolant fluid and an absorbing fluid. The mixture is combined in the absorber (400) in which the coolant fluid is absorbed by the absorbing fluid. A means for increasing the pressure difference is provided between the desorber (100) and the condenser (200) so as to slightly increase the pressure at the condenser (200) and/or slightly decrease the pressure of the desorber (100) and thus improve the operation of the air-conditioning device. The invention also relates to automobiles, air-conditioning systems for automobiles, and absorption air-conditioning devices.