Vehicle Air Compressor Humidity Control for Condensate Evaporation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing compressor control strategies fail to efficiently manage liquid water accumulation, leading to corrosion and energy waste due to insufficient or excessive operation times, without a balanced approach to evaporate condensate.
Innovation Solution
A method that monitors atmospheric and compressed air humidity to calculate liquid water mass formation and evaporation, allowing timely compressor shutdown when the mass reaches zero, ensuring efficient energy use by avoiding unnecessary operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the compressor runs for a predetermined time period to evaporate accumulated liquid, then liquid water accumulation is avoided, but energy is wasted due to excessive operation time
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit continuously monitors absolute humidity values from sensors and dynamically adjusts compressor operation based on real-time feedback. The system calculates liquid water mass formation/evaporation rates and cumulated liquid water mass, stopping the compressor precisely when the cumulated mass returns to zero, avoiding both premature shutdown and excessive running time
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from fixed predetermined operation time to dynamic parameter-based control. By monitoring absolute humidity parameters and calculating their rate of change, the system adapts compressor run time to actual environmental conditions and liquid accumulation rates, optimizing energy efficiency while preventing corrosion
2Use of energy by moving object
If the compressor stops immediately when liquid water mass reaches zero, then energy consumption is minimized, but corrosion risk increases if shutdown occurs too early
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit continuously monitors absolute humidity values from sensors and dynamically adjusts compressor operation based on real-time feedback. The system calculates liquid water mass formation/evaporation rates and cumulated liquid water mass, stopping the compressor precisely when the cumulated mass returns to zero, avoiding both premature shutdown and excessive running time
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary calculations of liquid water mass based on measured absolute humidity values before making shutdown decisions. By continuously calculating the cumulated liquid water mass and monitoring when it returns to zero, the system ensures liquid is fully evaporated before stopping, preventing corrosion while minimizing energy waste
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 prevents compressor corrosion and reduces energy consumption by accurately determining when liquid water has evaporated, optimizing compressor operation based on real-time humidity data.
Implementation Method 1
Compressors suck atmospheric (ambient) air and increase the pressure of the air
Implementation Method 2
The vapour contained in the atmospheric air is converted into liquid water (condensation) inside the compressor if the compressed air temperature (temperature of the air after compression) is below the so-called pressure dew point
Implementation Method 3
When the compressed air temperature becomes strictly higher than Tdpres, liquid water (which was formed when compressed air temperature was below Tdpres) is vaporized and can be released from the compressor as vapour in air flow
Data Source
AI summary
A method of controlling an air compressor of a vehicle. The absolute humidity is determined for atmospheric air entering the compressor as well as for the compressed air exiting the compressor. A liquid water mass formed or evaporated inside the compressor during a defined period of time is calculated. The above steps are repeated in order to calculate a cumulated liquid water mass inside the compressor. The compressor is stopped when the calculated cumulated liquid water mass has returned to zero and the control unit no longer receives a compressed air request.