Device for the thermal conditioning of a passenger compartment of a vehicle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles face challenges in maintaining effective thermal conditioning of the passenger compartment, particularly heating, due to the absence or temporary unavailability of internal combustion engines, leading to issues like frost formation in air conditioning loops that degrade performance.
Innovation Solution
A thermal conditioning device with an additional evaporator installed on the front face of the vehicle, where the outside air passes through a heat exchanger and then the evaporator, using a heat transfer fluid loop to capture calories and defrost the evaporator, and a refrigerant circuit management system that allows simultaneous circulation of refrigerant fluid to both evaporators for enhanced heat load and performance in heating, dehumidification, and defrosting modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the air conditioning loop operates in heating mode with the second heat exchanger cooling outside air flow, then heating of interior air is achieved, but the second heat exchanger becomes covered with frost which obstructs air passage and degrades performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single heat exchanger system into two separate heat exchangers: a first heat exchanger for cooling the refrigerant fluid, and a second heat exchanger for heating interior air by cooling outside air. This segmentation allows the second heat exchanger to be dedicated to heating function while a separate defrosting system handles frost removal, resolving the contradiction between maintaining heating performance and preventing air passage obstruction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a defrosting system as an intermediary mechanism that periodically removes frost from the second heat exchanger. This defrosting system acts as a mediator between the heating function and the frost accumulation problem, allowing the second heat exchanger to maintain its heating function while the defrosting system handles the harmful frost accumulation, thus resolving the contradiction.
2Reliability
If an additional evaporator is added to the front face of the vehicle for defrosting, then defrosting capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The first evaporator is designed with multi-functionality: it serves both as a condenser for cooling the refrigerant fluid during normal operation and as a defrosting heat exchanger when needed. The circulation management member enables the refrigerant fluid to be directed to either the first evaporator or the second evaporator based on operating conditions. This universal design allows one component to perform multiple functions, improving defrosting capability without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic control through a circulation management member that can redirect refrigerant fluid flow between the first and second evaporators based on real-time operating conditions. This dynamic switching capability allows the system to adapt to different thermal demands and defrosting requirements, optimizing performance while managing system complexity through intelligent control rather than static redundant components.
3Power
If the circulation management member directs refrigerant fluid to both evaporators simultaneously, then heat load capacity increases, but control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The circulation management member incorporates feedback control mechanisms that monitor thermal demands, refrigerant flow conditions, and evaporator performance to dynamically adjust refrigerant distribution. This feedback system enables the member to optimize heat load capacity by directing refrigerant fluid to both evaporators when conditions are favorable, while automatically adjusting or switching to single evaporator operation when control or performance thresholds are approached, thus managing control complexity through intelligent regulation.
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 maintains the heating function regardless of external climatic conditions, ensures efficient dehumidification, and prevents icing, thereby maintaining high thermal load and performance in the passenger compartment, even at low outside temperatures.
Implementation Method 1
the refrigerant fluid successively passes through a first expansion device, then a first evaporator arranged to be crossed by the flow of outside air
Implementation Method 2
the flow of outside air successively passes through the second outside heat exchanger then the first evaporator
Implementation Method 3
the heat transfer fluid circuit comprises a second loop comprising the second outside heat exchanger, arranged in series with the first thermal source
Implementation Method 4
a second outside heat exchanger, through which the flow of outside air, previously heated, passes
Implementation Method 5
a compressor arranged to compress the refrigerant fluid
Implementation Method 6
a condenser arranged to condense the refrigerant fluid
Implementation Method 7
a first expansion device, then a first evaporator
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a device for thermal conditioning, including a cooling fluid circuit (1), a heat transfer fluid circuit (2), and a fluid/fluid heat exchanger (6) that is intended to enable thermal exchange between the cooling fluid and the heat transfer fluid, wherein the cooling fluid circuit (1) includes at least one compressor (3), a first outer heat exchanger (15) through which an outer air flow (14) passes and a first evaporator (13), and wherein the heat transfer fluid circuit (2) includes at least a first inner heat exchanger (30), a first heat source (32) and a second outer heat exchanger (31) through which the outer air flow (14) passes. The cooling fluid circuit (1) includes a second evaporator (19).