Evaporator Air Distribution Structure for Uniform Cooling Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air conditioning systems for vehicles, such as caravans and motorhomes, face inefficiencies in cooling performance due to uneven distribution of air across the evaporator heat exchanger, leading to suboptimal interaction with the coolant and reduced cooling efficiency.
Innovation Solution
An air conditioning system with a distributor structure featuring a bulge that reduces the distance between the air and the evaporator heat exchanger, ensuring even air distribution and enhanced interaction with the coolant, combined with a support surface having ribs to prevent air from flowing under the evaporator and direct it effectively into the heat exchanger.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If air is passed through the evaporator heat exchanger without a distribution structure, then the structure is simple, but the air distribution is uneven leading to suboptimal cooling performance
Solution Approach 1:
The distribution structure divides the incoming air flow into multiple segments that are directed uniformly across the evaporator heat exchanger surface. The protrusions act as individual flow distributors that segment the air stream to achieve even distribution across the heat exchanger, resolving the contradiction between simple structure and effective cooling performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The distribution structure introduces a new spatial dimension by adding protrusions that extend into the air flow path. This three-dimensional feature redistributes the two-dimensional air flow across the evaporator surface, improving cooling performance without significantly increasing overall structural complexity.
2Productivity
If the distance between air inlet and evaporator heat exchanger is large, then the structure is simple, but the interaction between air and coolant is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The distribution structure performs preliminary action by pre-positioning and pre-distributing the air flow immediately before it reaches the evaporator heat exchanger. The protrusions guide the air into close proximity with the heat exchanger surface and distribute it uniformly, maximizing the interaction between air and coolant while minimizing the required distance.
Solution Approach 2:
The protrusions create local quality variations in the air flow path, with different regions having optimized distances to the evaporator surface. This local optimization ensures that air is delivered as close as possible to the heat exchanger where needed, improving cooling capacity without requiring uniform reduction of the entire air inlet structure.
3Productivity
If air flows directly under the evaporator without direction control, then the structure is simple, but condensation water is carried away and cooling efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The support surface with ribs segments the air flow path beneath the evaporator, creating separate channels that direct air flow in specific directions. This segmentation prevents uncontrolled air movement that would carry away condensation water, while maintaining relatively simple structural elements (ribs) to achieve the flow control.
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 solution improves cooling performance by ensuring even air distribution and interaction with the coolant, increasing the cooling capacity and preventing condensation water from being carried away, while also directing air effectively to enhance cooling efficiency and prevent re-circulation of heated air.
Implementation Method 1
the air to be cooled passes through the evaporator heat exchanger, wherein a distribution structure distributes the air to be cooled substantially uniformly over one side of the evaporator heat exchanger
Implementation Method 2
the evaporator heat exchanger is part of the evaporator where the thermal energy of the air to be cooled is transferred to the refrigerant, thus cooling the air
Implementation Method 3
Another fan and an associated heat exchanger belong to the condenser, where thermal energy from the refrigerant is transferred to the ambient air and thus dissipated
Implementation Method 4
the evaporator fan draws the air to be cooled through the evaporator heat exchanger
Implementation Method 5
the condenser fan introduces the outside air into the housing via the air inlet and discharges it via the air outlet
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a
Figure 2b
AI summary
The invention relates to an air conditioning system (1) for cooling air, comprising an evaporator heat exchanger (61) through which the air to be cooled passes. A distribution structure (65) is arranged in front of the evaporator heat exchanger (61), said structure distributing the air to be cooled uniformly over one side of the evaporator heat exchanger (61) facing it.