Cold Air Bypass for Stratified Vehicle HVAC Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current heating and ventilation systems in vehicles face challenges in achieving uniform air temperature distribution in mixed mode, leading to stratified air flows that cannot be individually controlled, and require complex multi-zone systems with high costs and design complexity.
Innovation Solution
A heating and ventilation system with a heat exchanger and a fluidically parallel second volume that allows for air flow bypass into a mixing chamber, controlled by air flow devices to manage air distribution, enabling stratified air flows with fresh air sections on both sides of the warm air, allowing for customizable temperature delivery to various compartments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a mixing chamber combines heated air and fresh air in mixed mode, then temperature control is achieved, but air stratification occurs causing non-uniform temperature distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The mixing chamber is segmented into multiple air supply zones with separate nozzles (defroster nozzles, dashboard nozzles, foot space nozzles) that can be independently controlled. This segmentation allows different regions of the mixing chamber to receive different air flows (heated or fresh air) based on specific operational requirements, resolving the stratification problem by creating controlled zones rather than allowing random stratification.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs dynamic control through multiple flaps (first flap, second flap, third flap) that can adjust in real-time to change air flow distribution. The flaps dynamically redirect air flows between different paths (through heat exchanger or bypass) and to different nozzles, enabling the system to adapt to varying temperature requirements and eliminate stratification effects under different operating conditions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multi-zone systems with additional conduits are used to achieve individual zone control, then customizable temperature delivery is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mixing chamber serves as a universal distribution point for all air flows (heated air from heat exchanger and fresh air from bypass). Multiple nozzles within the mixing chamber can receive different air types simultaneously, allowing the same structural component (mixing chamber) to fulfill multiple zone control functions without requiring separate conduits for each zone.
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges the heated air flow and fresh air flow into a single mixing chamber where they can be distributed to multiple nozzles. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate multi-zone conduits while maintaining the ability to deliver different air types to different zones through the shared mixing chamber and nozzle 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
This system achieves customizable air temperature distribution in the passenger compartment without additional zone conduits, ensuring defroster nozzles receive fresh air and foot space nozzles receive warm air, while maintaining efficient control over air stratification and distribution.
Implementation Method 1
a heat exchanger, arranged between a first volume suitable for supplying a first air flow to the heat exchanger and a mixing chamber
Implementation Method 2
a first air flow control device provided fluidically upline of the first volume and the second volume to control the air volume flowing through the first volume or/and the second volume
Implementation Method 3
the air flow heated in the heat exchanger and the fresh air flow from the fresh air conduit are brought together in a mixing chamber
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention describes a heating and ventilation system or air conditioning system for a motor vehicle comprising: a heat exchanger arranged between a first volume suitable for supplying a first air flow to the heat exchanger and a mixing chamber; a second volume, arranged fluidically parallel to the first volume and the heat exchanger and suitable for diverting a second air flow past the heat exchanger into the mixing chamber; a first air flow control device provided fluidically upline of the first volume and the second volume to control the air volume flowing through the first volume or/and the second volume; wherein a bypass installed fluidically downline of the first air flow control device is arranged between the first volume and the mixing chamber.