Regenerable CO2 Sorbent Cabin Air Purification
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Solution Overview
Problem
HVAC systems in vehicles contribute significantly to energy consumption and fuel economy, and operating in recirculation mode leads to increased carbon dioxide levels and volatile organic compounds, posing health risks and reducing air quality.
Innovation Solution
A system using regenerable carbon dioxide sorbent materials to remove excess CO2 from the cabin air, allowing for full recirculation mode operation while maintaining safe CO2 levels and reducing external air intake, combined with a contaminant removal assembly for improved air quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the HVAC system operates in recirculation mode to reduce energy load, then energy consumption is reduced, but carbon dioxide concentration in the cabin increases rapidly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes carbon dioxide from the recirculated air stream using a dedicated CO2 removal assembly with sorbent material. This allows the HVAC system to maintain recirculation mode for energy efficiency while actively removing the harmful CO2 component that would otherwise accumulate.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a CO2 sorbent material as an intermediary substance that selectively binds and removes carbon dioxide from the cabin air. This intermediary enables the system to achieve both recirculation (energy saving) and CO2 control (air quality) simultaneously.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If external air intake is increased to maintain carbon dioxide levels, then carbon dioxide concentration is controlled, but energy load of the HVAC system increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of introducing external air to control CO2 levels, the patent extracts and removes CO2 directly from the recirculated air stream. This eliminates the need for high external air intake while maintaining CO2 control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables continuous recirculation of cabin air through the CO2 removal assembly, maintaining both energy efficiency and CO2 control continuously without needing to switch between fresh air and recirculation modes.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If recirculation mode is used to reduce particulate pollutants, then air quality is improved, but volatile organic compounds build up
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the CO2 removal assembly with sorbent material that provides multi-functional air purification, simultaneously addressing CO2 removal, VOC adsorption, and particulate filtration. This universal approach allows recirculation mode to improve overall air quality without the drawbacks of single-function systems.
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 effectively maintains carbon dioxide levels below 1500 ppm, enhances air purification, reduces energy load, and extends the lifetime of contaminant removal assemblies, improving passenger comfort and health while increasing vehicle range and fuel efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a carbon dioxide removal assembly, comprising regenerable carbon dioxide sorbent material
Implementation Method 2
a regeneration conduit arranged to flow desorption gas over the regenerable carbon dioxide sorbent material to desorb carbon dioxide from the sorbent material
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to systems and methods for controlling the atmosphere in the cabin (1) of a vehicle. The system comprises a carbon dioxide removal conduit (2) comprising a regenerable carbon dioxide removal chamber (5,6) containing a carbon dioxide sorbent material and a regeneration circuit (7) arranged to expel the desorbed carbon dioxide at a location exterior (8) of the cabin (1) The system is operable to maintain a carbon dioxide level below 1000 ppm in the passenger cabin for a period of at least 5 minutes while restricting the flow of air from outside the vehicle into the passenger cabin to 10 L/s or less.