Detachable Fluid Heater Modules to Cut Repair Cost and Deformation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electric vehicles lack a heat source for their air conditioning systems, necessitating additional installations, and existing fluid heaters face challenges in repair costs and deformation during maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A detachable fluid heater design featuring a main body with a plate-like compartment and heating plate, a controller module with a substrate, and gaskets to facilitate easy replacement and minimize deformation, with a busbar connecting the heating plate and substrate, and radiating fins for efficient heat transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the heater is designed as an integrated unit, then the structural strength is improved, but the repair cost increases and maintenance becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The heater is divided into separate modules: a heating module containing the heating plate and flow path, and a controller module containing the controller body and substrate. These modules can be detached from each other, allowing individual replacement of failed components without replacing the entire heater, thereby reducing repair costs while maintaining structural integrity through modular design
2Device complexity
If the heating module is made compact, then the device complexity is reduced, but deformation occurs during maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The heating module is separated from the controller module with a detachable coupling mechanism. This segmentation allows the heating module to be removed and maintained independently without subjecting it to deformation forces from the controller side, while keeping the overall device design relatively simple through standardized coupling interfaces
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 design allows for cost-effective repairs by replacing only failed components and prevents deformation of the heating module, enhancing maintenance efficiency and heat transfer efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a heating plate (110) having a flow path formed thereon
Implementation Method 2
fluid-heated heaters (or coolant heaters), which indirectly heat the air by heating the coolant that exchanges heat with the air
Implementation Method 3
a plurality of radiating fins are disposed in an area of the straight portions
Data Source
AI summary
Vehicle air conditioning apparatus comprising air conditioning case with inlet and outlet, partition wall dividing the inner space into a first and a second space portions; cooling heat exchanger disposed inside the air conditioning case to span the first and second space portions and connected to the outlet; and heat exchanger disposed inside the air conditioning case to span the first and second space portions. The air conditioning case includes a first flow path disposed in the second space portion below the heat exchanger; a channel part disposed behind the heat exchanger, with its entrance communicating with the first flow path, and exit communicating with the first space portion. Accordingly, a portion of air flowing to the first flow path via cooling heat exchanger without passing through heat exchanger is guided to the first space portion via the channel part without being mixed with air passing through heating heat exchanger.