Vehicle Blower Intake Control for EV Cabin Heat and Range
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electric vehicles without an automatic defogging sensor (ADS) face increased power consumption of the positive temperature coefficient (PTC) element in low temperature environments, leading to reduced all electric range (AER) and discomfort due to uncontrolled blower intake rates.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that intelligently control the intake rate of a vehicle blower by detecting passenger seating information, vehicle velocity, and blower step number, using a Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) control device to determine when to turn on or off the intake rate control function.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the PTC element is heated in a low temperature environment to maintain cabin temperature, then the cabin temperature comfort is improved, but the power consumption of the PTC element is increased and the all electric range (AER) is decreased
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the blower intake rate based on vehicle velocity and environmental conditions. At high vehicle velocities, the blower intake rate is reduced or stopped, utilizing the natural pressure differential created by vehicle motion to control external air intake, thereby reducing PTC heating requirements and power consumption while maintaining cabin temperature comfort
2Use of energy by moving object
If the blower step number is low at high vehicle velocity to save energy, then the power consumption is reduced, but the suction pressure of the blower is low and external cold air is introduced into the vehicle, lowering the temperature of the foot region and head region
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the blower intake rate based on real-time vehicle velocity and environmental conditions. The control strategy transitions from fixed blower operation to adaptive control where the blower intake rate is modulated according to vehicle velocity, ensuring adequate suction pressure and temperature control at high velocities while reducing power consumption
3Ease of manufacture
If the electric vehicle does not equip an automatic defogging sensor (ADS) to reduce prime cost, then the manufacturing cost is reduced, but the intake rate of the blower cannot be controlled according to external environment changes, making fogging easy to generate on the front window
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses existing vehicle sensors (temperature sensor, humidity sensor, velocity sensor) to autonomously determine the optimal blower intake rate without requiring additional ADS hardware. The control unit processes sensor data and automatically adjusts blower operation to prevent fogging, enabling the vehicle to self-regulate its defogging strategy based on environmental conditions
Data Source
AI summary
In a system and a method of controlling an intake rate of a vehicle blower, the system of controlling an intake rate of a vehicle blower includes: a blower step number detection device configured to detect a current step number of a blower; a vehicle velocity detection device configured to detect a current vehicle velocity of a vehicle; a passenger seat seating detection device configured to detect whether a passenger is seated on a passenger seat; and an HVAC control device electrically connected to each of the blower step number detection device, the vehicle velocity detection device, and the passenger seat seating detection device, and configured to receive information from the passenger seat seating detection device, the vehicle velocity detection device, and the blower step number detection device, and to determine whether an intake rate control of the blower is turned on or off according to the current step number of the blower, the current vehicle velocity, and the passenger seat seating information when the blower is turned on as the vehicle is started.