Evaporative Seat Cooling Assembly for Faster Start-Up Comfort
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle air conditioning systems take time to provide comfort in warm environments due to the thermal inertia of the vehicle interior, and auxiliary coolers, like thermoelectric air conditioners, only provide faster comfort during steady-state operation.
Innovation Solution
An evaporative cooler is integrated with an auxiliary cooler to provide pre-cooled air, utilizing parallel tubular dry and wet channels to cool air quickly and efficiently, allowing for immediate comfort upon start-up without waiting for the air conditioning system to reach steady state.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the primary vapor compression air conditioning system is used to cool the passenger compartment, then the entire interior can be cooled, but the cooling rate of the passenger is relatively slow due to thermal inertia of the vehicle interior
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the cooling function into two parts: (1) the primary HVAC system continues to cool the overall passenger compartment, and (2) an auxiliary cooler embedded in the seat assembly provides localized rapid cooling directly at the passenger contact point. This segmentation allows the seat to be cooled independently and rapidly without waiting for the entire vehicle interior to reach the desired temperature.
Solution Approach 2:
The auxiliary cooler in the seat assembly performs preliminary cooling action at the passenger contact point before the primary HVAC system completes cooling the entire passenger compartment. By pre-cooling the seat surface, the system provides immediate thermal comfort to the passenger upon entry or during transient conditions.
2Productivity
If an auxiliary cooler is embedded in the seat assembly to provide direct cooling contact, then faster comfort can be achieved during steady state operation, but the conditioned air is incapable of providing quick comfort upon initial start-up
Solution Approach 1:
The evaporative cooler performs preliminary cooling of the air before it reaches the auxiliary cooler. By pre-cooling the air through evaporation in the wet channels, the system reduces the thermal load on the auxiliary cooler and enables it to provide immediate cooling effect from start-up, eliminating the delay associated with warming up the auxiliary cooler components.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes the phase transition of water from liquid to vapor in the wet channels of the evaporative cooler. This evaporation process absorbs heat from the air passing through the dry channels, providing rapid cooling without requiring the auxiliary cooler to first reach its operating temperature. The phase change occurs immediately upon contact of water with the air stream.
3Quantity of substance
If cool air is circulated throughout the interior to cool the passenger, then the entire passenger compartment can be cooled, but a significant amount of cool air is utilized to cool the surrounding thermal mass with only part actually cooling the passenger
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies local quality by providing cooling specifically at the passenger contact point (seat assembly) rather than uniformly cooling the entire passenger compartment. The auxiliary cooler and evaporative cooler are localized to the seat assembly, concentrating the cooling effect where it is most needed and reducing the total amount of cool air required to achieve passenger comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The evaporative cooler utilizes water evaporation, a natural physical process, to provide cooling without requiring additional energy input beyond the minimal power needed to circulate air through the channels. This self-service cooling mechanism reduces the energy burden on the primary HVAC system while maintaining effective passenger cooling.
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
The evaporative cooler enhances passenger comfort by providing quick cooling upon initial start-up and reduces energy consumption by minimizing power needed to operate the system, as it pre-cools air before the auxiliary cooler takes over during steady-state operation.
Implementation Method 1
The evaporative cooler includes a plurality of parallel tubular dry channels and a plurality of tubular wet channels... the air in the adjacent dry channels is cooled
Implementation Method 2
An evaporative cooler is integrated with an auxiliary cooler to provide pre-cooled air, utilizing parallel tubular dry and wet channels to cool air quickly and efficiently
Implementation Method 3
by an auxiliary cooler such as a thermoelectric air conditioner embedded in the seat assembly
Implementation Method 4
The primary air conditioning system utilizes ducts to convey the cooled air through the instrument panel and vents to deliver the cooled air from the ducts to the interior
Data Source
AI summary
An evaporatively pre-cooled seat assembly comprising a seat cushion, an auxiliary cooler, and an evaporative cooler. The evaporative cooler includes a plurality of parallel tubular dry channels and a plurality of tubular wet channels. The dry channels and wet channels are arranged such that they alternate from dry channel to wet channel from channel to channel. Each of the channels is defined by two parallel side walls, a top, and a bottom. A first plurality of dry channels defines a plurality of apertures in the side walls thereof for conveying air out of the respective dry channel and into an adjacent wet channel. A second plurality of dry channels alternates with the first plurality and is disposed between two wet channels and defines a plurality of cooler apertures in the tops thereof for conveying cooled air out of the second plurality of alternating dry channels and to the auxiliary cooler.