Vehicle Blower Damper Control for Air Mixing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle air conditioning systems face challenges in controlling the ratio of recirculated and fresh air, leading to inefficient fuel consumption and air cooling losses, particularly under hot and humid conditions, due to the lack of effective separation between air streams and inability to achieve partial recirculation.

Innovation Solution

A blower system with pivotally mounted dampers and a sealing rail within the blower case allows for selective control of air streams, enabling partial recirculation and mixing of fresh and recirculated air, using computer-controlled actuators and a separated air filter to manage air flow effectively.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If fresh air is continually added to the vehicle cabin, then the air conditioning system maintains temperature and humidity, but air cooling losses increase and fuel consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemperature and humidity maintenanceVSAvoidair cooling losses

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system recovers already-cooled air from the vehicle cabin and recirculates it back into the cabin through the blower case, discarding the need to continuously cool fresh air. This recovery approach maintains temperature and humidity while reducing air conditioning load and fuel consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Solution Approach 2:

The blower case serves multiple functions: it acts as a fresh air intake, a recirculation chamber, and a mixing chamber all in one component. The dampers enable the same blower case to handle different air streams (fresh air and recirculated air) depending on operating conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Loss of energy

If recirculated air is used, then fuel efficiency improves, but effective separation of air streams is not achieved

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefuel efficiencyVSAvoidair stream separation

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The air filter is divided into two separate sections: a first section for filtering fresh air and a second section for filtering recirculated air. This segmentation allows each air stream to be filtered and controlled independently, achieving effective separation while maintaining fuel efficiency benefits.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The rail structure acts as an intermediary sealing element between the fresh air intake and the recirculation chamber. It provides a sealing connection that prevents fresh air from leaking into the recirculation path, ensuring proper air stream separation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Loss of energy

If dampers are positioned for recirculation, then air cooling losses are reduced, but fresh air flow cannot be controlled

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveair cooling lossesVSAvoidfresh air flow control

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The dampers are designed to be dynamically adjustable to multiple positions: fully open for fresh air mode, fully closed for recirculation mode, and partially adjustable for intermediate positions. This dynamic control allows the system to adapt to different operating conditions, enabling partial recirculation and optimized fresh air flow control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Loss of energy

If partial recirculation is implemented, then fuel consumption is reduced, but sealing connection between blower box and filter is not established

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefuel consumptionVSAvoidair stream isolation

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The rail structure acts as an intermediary sealing element that establishes a reliable sealing connection between the blower box and the air filter assembly. This sealing mechanism ensures proper air stream isolation while enabling the partial recirculation function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The air filter is segmented into separate sections for fresh air and recirculated air, with each section having its own filtering path. This segmentation maintains reliable air stream isolation while allowing flexible control of recirculation ratios.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUSRE45939E1Method and apparatus for controlling mixture of fresh and recirculated air in a vehicle

Publication Date: 2016.03.22 HONDA MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

A blower system and method of operation for a vehicle air conditioning system, including a blower case for receiving air to be circulated into a vehicle cabin, with first and second dampers, for varying between a recirculation position for recirculating vehicle cabin air and a fresh position for introduction of fresh air from outside the vehicle. If a calculated outlet temperature is below a first temperature, a control system opens both dampers to a recirculation position. If the calculated outlet temperature is between the first temperature and a higher second temperature, the control system opens either the first or second damper to a fresh position, and opens the other damper to a recirculation position or the fresh position based upon relative humidity and vehicle speed. If the calculated outlet temperature is higher than the second temperature, the first and second dampers are both opened to the fresh position.