Temperature control by conduction of radiation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air conditioning systems in motor vehicles, especially electric vehicles, are energy-intensive and delay the start of a car trip, increasing fuel consumption and reducing the vehicle's range, as they require a start-up time to achieve cooling and are often inefficient in dissipating heat.
Innovation Solution
A device for temperature control using a diffractive optical element to redirect incident radiation away from the vehicle's passenger compartment, combined with a radiator and thermoelectric generator to dissipate heat efficiently, allowing for passive cooling without energy consumption and potentially converting heat into electrical energy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If air conditioning units are used to cool the passenger compartment, then the temperature control function is achieved, but energy consumption increases and vehicle range decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the solar radiation into different wavelength components and directs them to different destinations: visible light passes through to illuminate the interior, while infrared radiation (heat) is reflected by the radiation control layer toward the radiator for dissipation. This segmentation allows selective thermal management without blocking useful light
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the harmful thermal radiation (infrared) from the total solar radiation spectrum and separates it from the useful visible light. The radiation control layer selectively reflects infrared wavelengths while transmitting visible wavelengths, effectively taking out the harmful component without removing the beneficial component
Solution Approach 3:
The patent converts the harmful solar heat radiation into a beneficial cooling effect by reflecting it onto the radiator, which dissipates the heat to the external environment. The same solar radiation that would normally heat the passenger compartment is instead utilized to drive the radiator's heat dissipation function
2Temperature
If air conditioning units are started before the vehicle trip, then cooling effect is achieved, but start-up time delays the trip and fuel consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The radiation control device is installed in the vehicle roof and is ready to function immediately upon vehicle use. The passive radiation control mechanism is pre-positioned to block solar heat ingress from the start, eliminating the need for preliminary air conditioning operation to achieve thermal comfort
3Temperature
If conventional air conditioning systems are used, then cooling is achieved, but the system complexity and energy expenditure increase
Solution Approach 1:
The radiation control device operates passively without requiring external energy input or complex control systems. The phase change material automatically absorbs excess heat when the passenger compartment temperature rises, and the radiation control layer continuously reflects solar infrared radiation, providing self-regulating thermal management
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the active mechanical air conditioning system with a passive optical-thermal control system. Instead of using compressors, refrigerants, and motors to remove heat, the system uses optical layers to reflect radiation and phase change materials to absorb heat, eliminating complex mechanical components
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 solution reduces the heating of the passenger compartment without energy expenditure, enabling a smaller air conditioning unit, increasing the vehicle's range by reducing power draw from the alternator and providing additional electrical energy for the motor, thus improving the vehicle's efficiency and range.
Implementation Method 1
a diffractive optical element, which is arranged on a surface of the motor vehicle, wherein the diffractive optical element is formed to couple in a part of incident radiation and to conduct it away from an area of the motor vehicle to be cooled
Implementation Method 2
a radiator, which is formed to release energy, wherein the radiator includes an absorber, which is formed to absorb radiation
Implementation Method 3
the radiator can release heat to an environment or itself emit heat in the form of radiation
Data Source
AI summary
A device for temperature control for a motor vehicle, includes a diffractive optical element disposed on a surface of the motor vehicle, and a radiator. The diffractive optical element couples in incident radiation and conducts the coupled-in incident radiation away from an area of the motor vehicle to be cooled. The radiator includes an absorber to absorb the coupled-in incident radiation which is conducted to the absorber from the diffractive optical element. The radiator releases energy based on the coupled-in incident radiation absorbed by the absorber.