Heat Exchanger De-Icing Using Closed-Loop Air Circulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional heat exchanger de-icing methods in electric vehicles are inefficient, especially at low outside temperatures, leading to reduced vehicle range and susceptibility to re-icing, as they require waste heat that may not be available and often rely on energy-intensive auxiliary heaters.
Innovation Solution
An arrangement and method utilizing an air guiding housing with a fan to create a circulation flow within the housing, allowing heated air from a secondary heat exchanger to pass through a primary heat exchanger, thereby de-icing it without significant additional space or energy input, by closing the inlet and outlet openings and using the fan to maintain a pressure difference across a partition wall.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional de-icing methods using auxiliary heaters are employed, then de-icing effectiveness is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the de-icing function with the existing heat pump system by routing air through both the evaporator and condenser in sequence. The evaporator provides cold air for heat extraction, while the condenser provides warm air for de-icing, merging two functions into one integrated air handling system without requiring separate auxiliary heaters.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own operational components (the heat pump's evaporator and condenser) to perform de-icing. The condenser, which normally rejects heat to the environment, is utilized to provide warm air for melting ice on the evaporator, allowing the system to service itself without external energy input.
2Use of energy by moving object
If waste heat from a secondary heat exchanger is used for de-icing, then energy consumption is reduced, but de-icing effectiveness deteriorates at low outside temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary heating of air through the condenser before the air reaches the evaporator. By pre-warming the air stream in the condenser section, the system ensures that sufficient thermal energy is available at the evaporator to melt ice, even when outside temperatures are low, thus maintaining de-icing effectiveness without additional energy input.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat pump system operates continuously in a cycle where air is sequentially cooled in the evaporator and then heated in the condenser. This continuous cyclic operation ensures that warm air is constantly available from the condenser for de-icing the evaporator, maintaining reliable de-icing performance throughout operation regardless of outside temperature fluctuations.
3Reliability
If additional de-icing components are added, then de-icing capability is improved, but construction space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The air guiding housing and fan system serve multiple functions: they direct air through the evaporator for heat extraction, guide air through the condenser for heating, and enable the recirculation necessary for de-icing. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate de-icing components, maintaining de-icing capability while avoiding additional space requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The de-icing function is nested within the existing heat pump air handling system. The same air guiding housing, fan, and ductwork that serve the primary cooling function are also used to route warm air from the condenser to the evaporator for de-icing, effectively nesting the de-icing subsystem within the main heat pump system without increasing overall footprint.
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 approach enables efficient de-icing of heat exchangers without additional construction space and minimizes energy consumption, effectively addressing the inefficiencies of conventional methods by utilizing existing heat exchanger configurations to maintain operational performance.
Implementation Method 1
The at least one fan is positioned between the inlet opening and the outlet opening inside the air guiding housing and is configured to circulate the air in the air guiding housing
Implementation Method 2
The heat exchanger is positioned between the inlet opening and the outlet opening inside the air guiding housing, allows the air to pass therethrough, and is configured to cool the air
Implementation Method 3
the fan is operated to cause a pressure difference between one side and an other side of the partition wall
Data Source
AI summary
An arrangement for de-icing a heat exchanger includes an air guiding housing and at least one fan. The air guiding housing is configured to take in an air from an outside of a motor vehicle through an inlet opening and to discharge the air from an outlet opening. The fan is positioned between the inlet opening and the outlet opening inside the air guiding housing and is configured to circulate the air in the air guiding housing. The heat exchanger is positioned between the inlet opening and the outlet opening inside the air guiding housing and allows the air to pass therethrough, thereby being configured to cool the air. The inlet opening and the outlet opening each are configured to be closed. The air guiding housing is configured to cause a circulation flow therein when the fan is operated while the inlet opening and the outlet opening are closed.