Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system for vehicle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electric vehicles face reduced driving distances and increased costs due to inefficient energy management for battery temperature control, relying on separate cooling and heating systems which are not effective in maintaining optimal battery performance.
Innovation Solution
A Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system with an integrated heat management module that includes a refrigerant line, heat exchangers, and a controller to selectively connect coolant lines, allowing for efficient cooling and heating of both the indoor air and the high-voltage battery core, eliminating the need for high-capacity PTC heaters and heat pumps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate cooling and heating systems are used for battery temperature control and indoor air conditioning, then battery performance is maintained, but energy management efficiency deteriorates and driving distance is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the battery thermal management system and indoor air conditioning system into a single integrated HVAC system. The coolant circulation system serves dual purposes: cooling the battery through dedicated coolant lines and providing air conditioning through the indoor air conditioning core. This merging eliminates the need for separate heating and cooling systems, improving energy management efficiency while maintaining battery performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The HVAC system is designed with multi-functionality to perform both battery thermal management and indoor air conditioning using a single coolant circulation system. The controller selectively directs coolant flow to either the battery core or the indoor air conditioning core based on thermal management requirements, allowing one system to fulfill multiple functions and improve overall energy efficiency.
2Temperature
If high-capacity PTC heater is used for indoor heating in winter, then heating performance is improved, but driving distance is reduced by 40% or more
Solution Approach 1:
The system converts the waste heat generated by the battery during charging or operation into a useful resource for indoor heating. Instead of dissipating this heat through the radiator, the controller directs coolant flow to the indoor air conditioning core which acts as a heat exchanger, transferring thermal energy to the cabin air. This converts what would be wasted energy into beneficial heating, improving indoor heating performance without additional energy consumption and preserving driving distance.
3Reliability
If separate cooling and heating systems are used for battery and indoor environment, then temperature control reliability is improved, but system weight and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the battery cooling system and indoor air conditioning system into a single integrated HVAC system with shared components including the coolant circulation pump, radiator, and control unit. This consolidation reduces the total weight of the thermal management system compared to having separate independent systems for battery and cabin temperature control.
4Reliability
If separate cooling and heating systems are used for battery and indoor environment, then temperature control reliability is improved, but system complexity and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated HVAC system combines multiple functions into a single system architecture, reducing the number of independent components and control units required. The single controller manages both battery thermal management and indoor air conditioning, simplifying the overall system complexity while maintaining reliable temperature control for both battery and cabin through selective coolant flow distribution.
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 solution enhances driving distance, reduces weight and costs by integrating heat management, and allows for a compact HVAC system layout, effectively managing energy for both passenger comfort and battery performance.
Implementation Method 1
a first coolant exchange line passing through a first heat exchanger
Implementation Method 2
a second coolant exchange line passing through a second heat exchanger
Implementation Method 3
a refrigerant line including the first heat exchanger, the second heat exchanger, and a compressor
Data Source
AI summary
A Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system for a vehicle, may include a first coolant line passing through a radiator; a second coolant line passing through an indoor air conditioning core and a high voltage battery core; a first coolant exchange line passing through a first heat exchanger; a second coolant exchange line passing through a second heat exchanger; a refrigerant line including the first heat exchanger, the second heat exchanger, and a compressor, in which coolant circulates; and a controller configured to control the first valve and the second valve to selectively connect the first coolant line or the second coolant line to the first coolant exchange line or the second coolant exchange line.