Car A/C Condensate Drain Layout for Inclined and High-Airflow Use
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air conditioning systems for vehicles struggle to reliably remove condensation water under various operating conditions, including different airflow rates and vehicle inclinations, which can lead to condensation water entering the vehicle interior.
Innovation Solution
The system separates the condensation water outlet path into two sections: a condensation water collection area and a condensation water removal section, utilizing an open collecting bowl and a condensation water removal canal with adjustable transitions and multiple outlets, and integrates an external water collection area and canal to handle external water ingress.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If condensation water removal system is designed to handle high airflow rates, then condensation water can be removed effectively under high airflow conditions, but the system becomes complex and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The outlet path is divided into two distinct sections: a first section with an open cross-section for low airflow rates and a second section with a closed cross-section for high airflow rates. This segmentation allows each section to be optimized for its specific operating condition, achieving reliable condensation water removal across all airflow rates without requiring a single complex system design.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adapts to different airflow rates by using different sections of the outlet path. The open cross-section is used when airflow is low, while the closed cross-section is engaged when airflow is high. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to maintain reliability across varying operating conditions without unnecessary complexity.
2Reliability
If a closed cross-section is used for the entire outlet path, then condensation water can be removed reliably under high airflow rates, but the system becomes more complex and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than using a closed cross-section throughout the entire outlet path, the invention segments the outlet path so that only the second section (dealing with high airflow rates) has a closed cross-section. The first section maintains an open cross-section, reducing overall system complexity and cost while still ensuring reliable condensation water removal when high airflow conditions occur.
3Device complexity
If an open cross-section is used for the outlet path, then the system is simpler and less expensive, but condensation water cannot be removed reliably under high airflow rates
Solution Approach 1:
The outlet path is segmented into two sections with different cross-sectional characteristics. The first section has an open cross-section for simplicity and cost-effectiveness under low airflow conditions, while the second section has a closed cross-section to ensure reliable condensation water removal under high airflow rates. This segmentation allows the system to maintain simplicity where possible while ensuring reliability where necessary.
4Length of stationary object
If multiple outlets are provided in the collection wall, then the collecting bowl height can be reduced, but the design and manufacturing becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The collection wall is segmented with multiple outlets at different positions, allowing the collecting bowl to be shorter by distributing the condensation water removal paths. While this increases manufacturing complexity slightly, the patent implements this in a systematic way that balances the trade-off between compactness and manufacturability.
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
Effectively removes condensation and external water from the air conditioning system, ensuring it does not enter the vehicle interior, even under varying conditions and inclinations, with minimal design effort and cost.
Implementation Method 1
When the airflow flows through the evaporator, a portion of the humidity contained in the airflow can be condensed in such a way that condensation water is formed directly on the evaporator or on other components positioned downstream from the evaporator
Implementation Method 2
The collecting bowl preferably has a floor that is inclined. This ensures that the condensation water is collected at the lowest point or at the lowest points of the collecting bowl
Data Source
Figure 1~2a
Figure 2b
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to an air conditioning system (10) for a car, with a housing, at least one evaporator (14), and an outlet path for condensation that condenses on the evaporator, characterized in that the outlet path consists of a collection section (16) and a removal section (18).