Heated Sensor Cleaning Liquid Using AV Waste Heat Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous vehicle sensors face contamination issues due to environmental factors, leading to reduced performance and accuracy, and existing cleaning methods may not effectively address overheating of components.
Innovation Solution
A liquid cleaning system that utilizes heat generated by the vehicle's components, such as batteries or motors, to warm the cleaning liquid, which is then sprayed onto sensors using a heat exchanger or local heaters to enhance cleaning efficacy while cooling the components, and is controlled by the onboard computer to manage temperature and flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional cleaning methods are used, then sensors can be cleaned, but cleaning efficacy is insufficient and components may overheat
Solution Approach 1:
The system converts the harmful waste heat generated by vehicle components into a beneficial resource by using it to heat the cleaning liquid. The heat exchanger captures thermal energy that would otherwise be wasted and transfers it to the cleaning fluid, improving cleaning efficacy while simultaneously cooling the components.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning system performs multiple functions simultaneously: it cleans the sensors, cools the overheating components, and recycles waste heat. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by making the cleaning process serve both cleaning and thermal management purposes.
2Reliability
If waste heat is used to warm cleaning liquid, then cleaning efficacy is enhanced and components are cooled, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system integrates multiple functions into a unified cleaning apparatus that simultaneously cleans sensors, cools components, and recycles heat. This consolidation achieves multiple goals without proportionally increasing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat exchanger acts as an intermediary component that facilitates heat transfer from waste heat sources to the cleaning liquid. This mediator enables the thermal energy recovery process while maintaining system modularity and manageable complexity.
3Temperature
If cleaning liquid is heated using dedicated heaters, then cleaning efficacy improves, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of consuming additional energy to heat the cleaning liquid, the system converts harmful waste heat from components into a useful resource. This approach improves cleaning liquid temperature while actually reducing net energy consumption by recycling otherwise wasted thermal energy.
Solution Approach 2:
The vehicle's own operational heat serves the dual purpose of powering the cleaning system and cooling components. The system is self-sufficient, using the vehicle's waste energy to maintain cleaning liquid temperature without requiring external energy input.
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 cleans sensors, improves their performance by removing contaminants, and prevents overheating of components, ensuring reliable operation of autonomous vehicles.
Implementation Method 1
A liquid cleaning system includes a heat exchanger associated with a part of the autonomous vehicle. The heat exchanger transfers heat from the part to a liquid in the cleaning system.
Implementation Method 2
The heat exchanger transfers heat from the part to a liquid in the cleaning system
Implementation Method 3
A spraying nozzle of the autonomous vehicle sprays the liquid onto a surface of one or more sensors of the autonomous vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
Liquid cleaning systems for cleaning AV sensors are disclosed herein. An example liquid cleaning system includes a reservoir storing a liquid. The liquid can flow from the reservoir to a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger can transfer heat generated by a part of the AV to the liquid, thereby improving cleaning efficacy. The part may be battery, motor, engine, sensor (e.g., the sensor to be cleaned with the liquid or another sensor), etc. The heat may be an unintended product of an operation of the part. The heat exchanger can use the heat to warm up the liquid and cool down the part. Additionally or alternatively, the liquid can be heated by another heat exchanger or a heater. The heater can generate heat intended for heating the liquid. The heater may be local to the sensor to be cleaned, e.g., the heater is closer to the sensor than the reservoir.