Engine-Off Truck Air Conditioning With Anti-Recirculation Airflow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Over-the-road trucks without no-idle air conditioning systems face challenges in maintaining a comfortable temperature in the sleeping compartment when the engine is turned off, leading to increased operating costs and reduced operational safety due to the need to continuously run the engine for cooling, which wastes fuel and increases pollution.
Innovation Solution
A modular, compressor-driven air conditioning system with a variable speed electric or DC motor-driven compressor that operates independently of the truck's engine, utilizing multiple heat exchangers and fans to efficiently cool the compartment, and can be retrofitted into existing vehicles, including installation in the side luggage compartment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the engine is continuously run to provide air conditioning when the vehicle is parked, then the sleeping compartment remains temperature controlled, but operating costs increase and pollution is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the engine-belt driven compressor with an electric motor-driven compressor. This substitution allows the air conditioning system to operate independently of the engine, enabling the engine to be turned off while maintaining cooling capability through battery-powered compression.
Solution Approach 2:
The air conditioning system is designed to provide both engine-on and engine-off operation. The electric compressor can draw power from either the engine alternator or the vehicle battery, making the system universally operational regardless of engine state, thus resolving the contradiction between temperature control and fuel consumption.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the engine is turned off to reduce operating costs, then fuel consumption decreases, but the sleeping compartment becomes uncomfortable due to elevated temperature
Solution Approach 1:
By replacing the engine-belt driven compressor with an electric motor-driven compressor, the system enables cooling operation during engine-off periods. The electric compressor draws power from the battery, maintaining temperature control without requiring fuel consumption.
3Reliability
If an engine-belt driven compressor is used, then the air conditioning system can cool the sleeping compartment while the engine is running, but the system cannot operate when the engine is turned off
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes the engine-belt driven compressor with an electric motor-driven compressor, fundamentally changing the power transmission mechanism from mechanical belt drive to electrical motor drive. This enables the system to operate independently of engine running state.
Solution Approach 2:
The electric compressor system is designed to accept power from multiple sources (engine alternator or battery), providing universal operation capability across different engine states and enhancing both reliability and adaptability.
4Temperature
If a no-idle air conditioning system with DC motor-driven compressor is installed, then cooling is provided when the engine is off, but the system requires significant space for proper installation and heat dissipation
Solution Approach 1:
The air conditioning system components are nested within the existing vehicle structure, specifically utilizing the side luggage compartment space. The condenser is positioned to utilize available space efficiently, and the electric compressor is integrated into the existing HVAC architecture, minimizing the additional space required.
Solution Approach 2:
The system design utilizes vertical space and three-dimensional arrangement of components within the side luggage compartment. The condenser is positioned to maximize heat dissipation in available space, and air flow paths are configured to optimize thermal management within the constrained volume.
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
Enables efficient temperature control of the vehicle interior without running the engine, reducing fuel consumption and pollution, while being easily installable and maintaining high cooling efficiency by preventing air recirculation and ensuring effective heat dissipation.
Implementation Method 1
a first heat exchanger positioned in one section of the housing and a second heat exchanger positioned in the other section of the housing
Implementation Method 2
a refrigeration system, which utilizes a first heat exchanger positioned in the housing
Data Source
AI summary
An air conditioning system for cooling an environment in an over-the-road vehicle is provided. The air conditioning system includes an electrically driven, variable speed compressor, which enables operation of the system when the engine of the over-the-road vehicle is not running. The system is modular and is adapted to be installed in the side luggage compartment of the vehicle to enable existing vehicles to be retrofitted to provide no-idle air conditioning. The housing of the system defines two flow paths therethrough; one cold air path and one hot air path. The hot air path is configured to intersect the condenser at least two times, and draws and expels the air through the same wall of the housing. An air direction device is used to reduce the amount of air recirculation through the hot air path to increase the efficiency of the system.