Footrest Heat Storage for EV Cabin Warming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electric vehicles face challenges in providing heat for cabin heating without increasing battery power consumption, especially in cold areas, as they lack a significant heat source like combustion engines, and existing solutions require external power supplies, leading to high electricity costs and reduced driving distance.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle heating device incorporating a heat storage material, a heat recovery unit, and a footrest with a heat controller that stores thermal energy from vehicle behavior or natural sources, allowing for efficient heating of the footrest before occupancy without external power, using a heat storage material packed in a heat insulating material and controlled by a microcomputer-based system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If electrical heat generators or heat-pump air conditioners are used for cabin heating in electric vehicles, then heating function is provided, but battery power consumption increases and driving distance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The heat storage material is heated in advance during vehicle operation when waste heat is available, storing thermal energy before the vehicle is parked. This preliminary heating action allows the cabin to be warmed without consuming battery power during parking, resolving the contradiction between providing heating function and minimizing battery power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention converts waste heat generated during vehicle operation, which would otherwise be discarded, into useful thermal energy stored in the heat storage material. By recovering and storing this previously wasted thermal energy, the system provides heating function without additional battery power consumption, transforming a harmful waste product into a beneficial resource.
2Use of energy by moving object
If external power supply is used for preheating the vehicle cabin, then driving distance is extended by suppressing battery consumption, but electricity costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle heating system serves itself by using its own waste heat during operation to charge the heat storage material. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for external power supply or battery power during preheating, simultaneously achieving suppression of battery consumption and avoidance of electricity costs by making the system self-sufficient.
3Productivity
If heat storage material is used in the footrest, then occupant heating efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heating function is segmented and localized to the footrest area rather than heating the entire cabin. The heat storage material is specifically placed in the footrest where it directly contacts the occupant's feet, providing targeted heating efficiency while keeping the overall device structure simple and focused on a specific function.
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 enables quick and efficient warming of occupants with minimal electric power consumption, reducing electricity costs and extending driving distance in cold conditions by utilizing thermal energy generated during vehicle operation or natural sources, without the need for external power supplies.
Implementation Method 1
The heat storage material is configured to store the thermal energy recovered by the heat recovery unit
Implementation Method 2
The heat recovery unit is configured to recover thermal energy from at least one of a heat source generated by a behavior of a vehicle or a natural heat source from outside of the vehicle
Implementation Method 3
The footrest has the heat storage material packed inside a heat insulating material
Implementation Method 4
The heat controller is configured to heat the footrest by radiating the heat stored in the heat storage material
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle heating device includes a heat storage material, a heat recovery unit, a footrest, and a heat controller. The vehicle heating device heats an occupant with heat stored in the heat storage material. The heat recovery unit recovers thermal energy from at least one of a heat source generated by a vehicle or a natural heat source from outside of the vehicle. The heat storage material stores the recovered thermal energy. The footrest is provided at a front portion of a vehicle seat disposed in a vehicle cabin, and has the heat storage material packed inside a heat insulating material. The heat controller heats the footrest by radiating the heat stored in the heat storage material at a predetermined timing with respect to the occupant to be on the vehicle.