Vehicle Heat Management Device Frost Removal via Controller
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Solution Overview
Problem
Heat management devices used in vehicles often experience reduced heat-exchange efficiency due to frosting on radiators during air-heating operations, which degrades their performance.
Innovation Solution
A heat management device with a controller that executes a defrosting operation by circulating a high-temperature heat medium through the radiator passage, using a combination of air-heating and heat storage operations to remove frost and maintain high heat-exchange efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the radiator is cooled by the low-temperature heat medium during air-heating operation, then the heat medium can be heated for cabin heating, but the radiator surface may be frosted which degrades heat-exchange efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs a heat storage operation before the air-heating operation, where the heat medium circulates through the electrical apparatus passage to absorb heat from electrical apparatus. This preliminary heating of the heat medium prevents the radiator from being cooled too much during subsequent air-heating, thereby preventing frost formation while still enabling effective cabin heating.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously circulates the heat medium through multiple passages (electrical apparatus passage, radiator passage, air-heating passage) in a coordinated sequence. The heat storage operation continuously heats the heat medium, and the air-heating operation continuously uses this heated medium for cabin heating, maintaining continuous useful action throughout the system to prevent frost accumulation.
2Temperature
If the heat medium circulates through the electrical apparatus passage for cooling, then the electrical apparatus can be cooled, but the heat medium temperature increases which may cause frosting issues in the radiator
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts the heat from the electrical apparatus through the heat storage operation, separating this heat recovery function from the air-heating operation. By taking out the heat from the electrical apparatus passage first, the system prevents this heat from directly causing radiator frosting while still utilizing it to preheat the heat medium for subsequent air-heating.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat medium acts as an intermediary carrier that transfers heat from the electrical apparatus to the radiator and air-heating system. By controlling the circulation path and timing, the heat medium mediates between the cooling of electrical apparatus and the prevention of radiator frosting, allowing heat recovery without causing harmful frost formation.
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 device effectively removes frost from the radiator, restoring its heat-exchange efficiency and ensuring continuous, high-efficiency air-heating operations.
Implementation Method 1
a radiator configured to exchange heat between the heat medium in the radiator passage and outside air
Implementation Method 2
electrical apparatus configured to be cooled by the electrical apparatus passage
Implementation Method 3
air-heating apparatus configured to heat air in a cabin of the vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
A heat circuit may include a controller configured to execute a first process and then a defrosting operation. The first process may be a process to execute a first air-heating operation and a heat storage operation simultaneously. The second process may be a process to execute a defrosting operation. The controller may be configured, in the first air-heating operation, to cause the radiator to heat a radiator passage and cause the air-heating apparatus to heat air using heat of a air-heating passage while circulating the heat medium in the radiator passage and the air-heating passage. The controller may be configured, in the heat storage operation, to circulate the heat medium in an electrical apparatus passage and a bypass passage. The controller may be configured, in the defrosting operation, to circulate the heat medium in the electrical apparatus passage and the radiator passage.