Active Grille Shutter Control for Vehicle Heating Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle air conditioning systems consume excessive energy during heating operations due to inefficient control of the active grille shutter, which increases air resistance and energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle air conditioning system that includes a grille shutter with a control unit that adjusts its opening degree based on the temperature difference between the thermal transfer medium and outside air, as well as vehicle speed, to optimize heat absorption and reduce energy consumption by minimizing air resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the grille shutter is opened to enable heat absorption from outside air during heating operation, then heating efficiency is improved, but air resistance increases and energy consumption rises
Solution Approach 1:
The grille shutter is designed to be dynamically adjustable rather than fixed, allowing it to change opening degree based on real-time temperature differential conditions. The control unit continuously monitors the temperature difference between inside and outside air, and adjusts the shutter opening accordingly - opening wider when the differential is large (more heat absorption potential) and closing when the differential is small (reducing air resistance), thus optimizing the balance between heating efficiency and energy consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the opening degree parameter of the grille shutter based on the temperature differential parameter. By establishing a control strategy that correlates shutter opening with temperature difference magnitude, the system adapts the air intake parameter to maximize heat absorption when beneficial while minimizing parasitic air resistance losses when the temperature advantage is insufficient
2Productivity
If the grille shutter is opened to absorb heat from outside air, then heating performance is improved, but air resistance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit adjusts the grille shutter opening degree parameter in response to changes in the temperature differential parameter. When the temperature difference between inside and outside air is large, the shutter opens to allow heat absorption, improving heating performance. When the temperature difference is small, the shutter closes to reduce air resistance, eliminating the harmful aerodynamic drag without significantly compromising heating performance
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 system effectively suppresses energy consumption and improves heating efficiency by dynamically controlling the grille shutter's opening degree in response to temperature and speed conditions, thereby reducing air resistance and enhancing heating performance.
Implementation Method 1
an outside air heat absorption unit that is configured to enable heat absorption from a thermal transfer medium that is input after circulating from outside air that is introduced
Implementation Method 2
an outside air heat absorption unit that is configured to enable heat absorption from a thermal transfer medium that is input after circulating from outside air that is introduced
Implementation Method 3
a heater core at which, when generating air-conditioned air for air conditioning of inside of a vehicle cabin, heat exchange is performed between a thermal transfer medium that is circulated during a heating operation of inside the vehicle cabin and the air-conditioned air
Data Source
AI summary
In the air conditioning system, when the opening and closing control of the grille shutter is performed during the heating operation using the heater core, the outside air temperature and the water temperature are detected, and when the outside air temperature is lower than the water temperature, the grille shutter is set to fully closed. When the outside air temperature is higher than the water temperature, the grille shutter is opened. At this time, the opening degree of the grille shutter is set in accordance with the outside air temperature, the temperature difference between the outside air temperature and the water temperature, and the vehicle speed. As a result, it is possible to suppress an increase in the air resistance in a state where the heat absorption effect from the outside air cannot be obtained, and thus it is possible to suppress the consumption of energy (power) in the vehicle.