Condenser Partial Cross Section for Engine Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling assemblies for motor vehicle engines are inefficient when the engine is switched off, as they require oversized condensers for sufficient cooling capacity under full load, leading to high energy consumption and increased weight.
Innovation Solution
A compact cooling module with a condenser having a second partial cross-section that allows air flow to reverse direction, reducing flow resistance and enabling energy-efficient operation even when the engine is off, combined with a fan driven by an electric motor for low energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the air flow cross section of the condenser is increased to provide sufficient cooling capacity under full load, then the cooling capacity is improved, but the condenser becomes oversized and correspondingly uneconomical with increased weight
Solution Approach 1:
The condenser air flow cross section is divided into two partial cross sections: a first partial cross section through which air flows in the air flow direction of the fan, and a second partial cross section through which air can flow back in the opposite direction. This segmentation allows the condenser to have a smaller overall cross section while still providing sufficient cooling capacity under full load conditions.
2Weight of stationary object
If the condenser cross section is reduced to decrease weight and cost, then the weight and cost are reduced, but the cooling capacity under full load becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adapts its air flow characteristics based on operating conditions. When the vehicle is parked and the engine is switched off, air conveyed by the fan through the first partial cross section can flow back through the second partial cross section, creating a return flow that reduces pressure loss and maintains adequate cooling capacity with the reduced condenser cross section.
3Reliability
If the condenser cross section is increased to ensure adequate cooling when the engine is switched off, then the cooling capacity is improved, but the flow resistance and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention utilizes reverse air flow through the second partial cross section when the engine is switched off. This return flow against the normal air flow direction reduces the pressure loss across the condenser, allowing the fan to operate more efficiently with lower energy consumption while maintaining adequate cooling capacity.
4Loss of energy
If the distance between the condenser and engine cooler is increased to allow return flow, then the flow resistance is reduced, but the overall assembly size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention creates a localized return flow path through the second partial cross section of the condenser that is sufficient to reduce pressure loss without requiring a large overall distance between the condenser and engine cooler. The distance d is optimized to be greater than 6 mm (particularly 8 mm ≤ d ≤ 20 mm) to enable adequate air flow distribution and return flow while maintaining a compact assembly.
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 solution provides efficient cooling for both engine and air conditioning systems with reduced energy consumption and weight, ensuring adequate cooling capacity under full load conditions.
Implementation Method 1
air flowing back over the second partial cross section of the condenser counter to the air flow direction of the fan can again absorb thermal energy from the refrigerant of the vehicle air conditioning system
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a cooling module (10) of a vehicle air conditioning system, in particular for trucks, having a fan (12) which has an air inlet (14) and an air outlet (16) and generates an air flow in an air flow direction (18) from the air inlet (14) to the air outlet (16), a condenser (20) which can be flowed through bidirectionally for liquefying a refrigerant of the vehicle air conditioning system, which condenser (20) has an air flow cross section (A1) and is arranged so as to be adjacent to the air outlet (16) of the fan (12), wherein the air flow cross section (A1) has a first part cross section (22) and a second part cross section (24) which is different from the first part cross section (22), wherein the air outlet (16) of the fan (12) is assigned exclusively to the first part cross section (22) and loads the latter in the air flow direction (18) with the entire air flow of the fan (12), and wherein the second part cross section (24) can be flowed through during operation of the fan (12) selectively in the air flow direction (18) of the fan (12) and counter to the air flow direction (18) of the fan (12). Furthermore, the invention also relates to an assembly (28) for cooling a motor vehicle engine (30) with a cooling module (10) of this type.