Compressor-heat exchanger unit for a heating-cooling module for a motor vehicle
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional heating-cooling modules for motor vehicles lack a compact arrangement of 'hot' elements in the refrigerant circuit, leading to unwanted heat transfers and increased dimensions and costs.
Innovation Solution
A compressor-heat exchanger unit is designed with a heat exchanger device having separate circuits for refrigerant and coolant, where at least one flow channel of each circuit surrounds the compressor device, allowing for a compact and efficient heat transfer configuration that can operate the module as both a refrigerator and a heat pump.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If conventional heating-cooling modules use separate components connected by refrigerant tubes, then assembly and maintenance are easier, but the module dimensions increase and unwanted heat transfers occur between hot and cold components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the compressor device and heat exchanger device into a single integrated unit where the heat exchanger surrounds the compressor. This integration eliminates the need for separate components connected by tubes, thereby reducing overall module dimensions and eliminating unwanted heat transfers between separate hot and cold components.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat exchanger device is designed to surround the compressor device, creating a nested configuration where one component is positioned within or around another. This nesting arrangement maximizes spatial efficiency, reduces the volume occupied by the refrigerant circuit, and minimizes thermal interference between components.
2Ease of manufacture
If separate components are used in the refrigerant circuit, then manufacturing and assembly are simpler, but assembly costs increase and installed tube length increases
Solution Approach 1:
By combining the compressor and heat exchanger into a single integrated unit, the patent reduces the number of separate components that need to be manufactured and assembled. This integration eliminates the need for multiple connections and reduces the installed length of refrigerant tubes, thereby lowering assembly costs and improving manufacturing efficiency.
3Loss of energy
If hot and cold components are arranged separately, then heat transfer between them is minimized, but the refrigerant circuit length increases and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The nested arrangement of the heat exchanger surrounding the compressor allows hot and cold components to be in close proximity without requiring long refrigerant tubes. The integration ensures that heat transfer occurs efficiently at the intended locations while minimizing parasitic heat losses that would occur with extended tube lengths and multiple connections.
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 configuration minimizes unwanted heat transfers, reduces module size, and lowers costs by enabling a spatially compact arrangement of high-temperature components, while allowing flexible operation as both a refrigerator and heat pump.
Implementation Method 1
a compressor device (20) for compressing the first fluid
Implementation Method 2
at least one heat exchanger device (40) which has at least one first circuit (45) for the first fluid to flow through and a second circuit (43) for a second fluid to flow through
Implementation Method 3
heat is removed from the refrigerant in the condenser/gas cooler and supplied to the refrigerant in the evaporator. By means of this heat transfer
Implementation Method 4
a refrigerant is passed through a refrigerant circuit, wherein this refrigerant circuit generally has at least one compressor, a gas cooler, an internal heat exchanger, an expansion member, an evaporator
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a compressor-heat exchanger unit for a heating-cooling module for a motor vehicle, in which at least one fluid serving as a coolant flows, comprising a compressor device for compressing the first fluid, at least one heat exchanger device that has at least one first circuit for the first fluid to flow through and a second circuit for a second fluid to flow through, this heat exchanger unit being arranged in the fluid stream after the compressor device, characterized in that the first fluid is guided at least partially in flow channels of the first circuit that at least partially enclose the compressor device.