Indirect Enclosure Temperature Estimation via Recirculated Air Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heating/air conditioning systems face challenges in accurately estimating the temperature within an enclosure without using additional sensors or performing energy balances, which can be costly and energy-intensive, especially when preheating vehicles or buildings.
Innovation Solution
An estimation device that controls the supply and mixing flaps to direct recycled air through the heating means, allowing indirect temperature estimation using existing temperature sensors upstream of the heating system, without the need for additional sensors or energy balances, by assimilating or subtracting measured temperatures with predefined values based on outside or predefined temperatures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a temperature sensor is implanted in the enclosure to carry out direct measurements, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the heating means as an intermediary element to indirectly measure the enclosure temperature. By measuring the temperature of recycled air before it enters the heating means and knowing the heating power applied, the system infers the original enclosure temperature without placing a sensor inside the enclosure. This mediator approach resolves the contradiction by achieving measurement precision through indirect means, avoiding the complexity of direct sensor implantation.
2Device complexity
If indirect measurement by estimation via energy balance is used, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates due to lack of accurate data
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the measured temperature of recycled air upstream of the heating means is combined with the known heating power to continuously refine the enclosure temperature estimate. The system uses the actual measured values from the existing temperature sensor and heating power data to calculate and update the enclosure temperature, improving measurement precision while keeping device complexity low. This feedback-based calculation resolves the contradiction by achieving accurate temperature estimation without complex energy balance models or additional sensors.
3Measurement precision
If numerous sensors and computers are used to perform energy balance calculations, then measurement precision is improved, but use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential measurement needed for temperature estimation - the temperature of recycled air upstream of the heating means - and eliminates the need for numerous sensors and complex energy balance calculations. By focusing on this single critical measurement point and using simple calculation based on known heating power, the system achieves adequate measurement precision while dramatically reducing electrical energy consumption. This extraction approach resolves the contradiction by removing unnecessary energy-consuming components while retaining sufficient measurement accuracy.
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
Enables accurate temperature estimation within the enclosure without additional sensors or energy-intensive calculations, reducing costs and energy consumption while maintaining comfort and efficiency during preheating phases.
Implementation Method 1
heating means capable of heating air to supply a mixing chamber
Implementation Method 2
a temperature sensor suitable for measuring the (second) temperature of the air upstream of the heating means
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
A device (D) has the task of estimating a first temperature in an enclosed space (H) fed with air treated by a heating/air conditioning installation (IC) comprising a feed flap (V1) controlling the supply of exterior air and/or recirculated air, heating means (MC) feeding a mixing chamber (CM), a mixing flap (V2) controlling the distribution of air between the mixing chamber (CM) and the heating means (MC), and a temperature sensor (CT) measuring a second temperature of the air upstream of the heating means (MC). This device (D) is designed to order the positioning of the feed flap (V1) and of the mixing flap (V2) in positions in which they respectively supply the installation (IC) with recirculated air alone and the heating means (MC) with all of this recirculated air, then to estimate the first temperature from the second temperature measured following the positioning.