Catalyst Heater Air Conditioning for Electric Vehicles

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional air conditioning systems in electric and fuel cell vehicles consume significant power from secondary cells or fuel cells for heating, reducing travel distance and shortening the lifetime of the cells, and are inefficient in cold regions due to low heat pump efficiency and risk of heat exchanger freezing.

Innovation Solution

An air conditioning system using a catalyst heater with a fuel tank and air conditioning duct, where air is heated by catalytic combustion and blown into the passenger compartment, eliminating the need for secondary cell power consumption and maintaining efficiency in cold temperatures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If an electric heater such as a PTC heater is used for heating, then heating function is provided, but electric power from the secondary cell is consumed significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheating capabilityVSAvoidelectric power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the electric heater (electrical system) with a catalyst heater that uses chemical energy from fuel combustion. The catalyst heater burns fuel to generate heat, substituting the electrical heating mechanism with a chemical combustion process, thereby eliminating the need for high electric power consumption from the secondary cell.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the energy source parameter from electrical energy to chemical energy. By introducing a fuel tank and catalyst heater system, the heating mechanism transitions from using electricity to using fuel combustion, fundamentally changing the energy parameter and reducing dependency on the secondary cell's electric power.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Use of energy by moving object

If a heat pump method is used for heating, then energy efficiency is improved, but efficiency significantly decreases when ambient air temperature is low

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy efficiencyVSAvoidheating performance in cold regions

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a fuel tank containing fuel as a disposable energy source. The fuel is consumed to generate heat through catalytic combustion, providing reliable heating in cold regions without depending on ambient air temperature. This approach sacrifices the fuel resource to maintain consistent heating performance regardless of external conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The catalyst heater is designed to automatically generate heat through fuel combustion without requiring external control or adjustment based on ambient temperature. The system self-regulates by burning fuel to maintain heating output, ensuring reliable operation in cold regions without the efficiency degradation experienced by heat pump systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Use of energy by moving object

If a heat pump method is used for heating, then energy efficiency is improved, but the heat exchanger is frozen when ambient air temperature is too low

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy efficiencyVSAvoidheat exchanger freezing

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the heating function from the heat pump system and implements it separately through the catalyst heater. By removing the heat exchanger from the heating process and using direct fuel combustion for heating, the system eliminates the freezing problem that affects heat exchangers in cold temperatures while maintaining energy efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Temperature

If an electric heater is used for heating, then heating function is provided, but the charge frequency of the secondary cell increases and lifetime decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheating capabilityVSAvoidsecondary cell lifetime

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent substitutes the electrical heating system with a chemical combustion system. The catalyst heater uses fuel from the fuel tank to generate heat, replacing the electric heater that draws power from the secondary cell. This substitution reduces the charge frequency and extends the secondary cell's lifetime by eliminating high-power heating demands.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

The system efficiently conditions air without consuming secondary cell power, increasing travel distance and extending cell lifetime, while maintaining performance in cold regions by utilizing the catalyst heater's heat for both heating and cooling.

Implementation Method 1

the at least one catalyst heater generates heat by supplying the fuel in the fuel tank and an oxidizing gas to the catalyst

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCatalytic combustion: Catalysis

Implementation Method 2

the at least one catalyst heater generates heat by supplying the fuel in the fuel tank and an oxidizing gas to the catalyst

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCombustion: Combustion

Implementation Method 3

the air conditioning fan is provided in the air conditioning duct, the air in the passenger compartment is drawn into the air conditioning duct through the intake port, and the drawn air flows through the air conditioning duct and is blown from the blowing port with the air conditioning fan

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectForced convection: Forced Convection

Implementation Method 4

the air drawn into the air conditioning duct is conditioned by utilization of the heat generated with the at least one catalyst heater

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP2492120B1Air conditioning system

Publication Date: 2017.10.11 MIHAMA CORP

Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4

AI summary

The present invention provides an air conditioning system for conditioning air in a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle including a secondary cell or a fuel cell for driving wheels with a motor. The air conditioning system includes a catalyst heater, an air conditioning duct, and an air conditioning fan. The catalyst heater generates heat by supplying a fuel and an oxidizing gas to the catalyst. The air conditioning duct is connected with an intake port and a blowing port. The air conditioning fan is provided in the air conditioning duct so that the air in the passenger compartment can circulate. The air in the air conditioning duct is conditioned by utilization of the heat generated with the catalyst heater so that the air in the passenger compartment is conditioned. As a result, there is provided an air conditioning system that can inhibit the heater for air conditioning such as heating from consuming the power of the secondary cell and the like so as to avoid reduction of the travel distance and cell lifetime, in a motor vehicle having the secondary cell or fuel cell in which its wheels are driven with a motor using the secondary cell and the like, such as an electric vehicle, hybrid vehicle, and fuel cell vehicle.