Cooling module for vehicle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle air conditioning systems using water-cooled condensers face increased power consumption and reduced cooling performance due to high thermal capacity and low condensation pressure, leading to inefficient layouts and increased weight and manufacturing costs, especially in compact engine compartments.
Innovation Solution
A cooling module integrating a high temperature radiator and a low temperature radiator with a condenser that receives coolant from each radiator, enhancing condensing performance and cooling efficiency by using coolant with different temperatures, thereby reducing compressor power consumption and eliminating the need for air-cooled condensers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If a water-cooled condenser is used to condense refrigerant, then condensation pressure is reduced, but cooling performance deteriorates due to small temperature difference between coolant and refrigerant
Solution Approach 1:
The condenser is divided into multiple heat radiating units (first heat radiating unit, second heat radiating unit, third heat radiating unit) that receive coolant from different radiators at different temperatures. This segmentation allows each unit to operate at optimized temperature differences, maintaining low condensation pressure while improving overall cooling performance through multi-stage heat exchange.
2Productivity
If a cooling fan and large capacity radiator are added to improve cooling performance, then cooling performance increases, but vehicle weight and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The radiators serve dual functions: they cool the engine coolant and simultaneously provide cooled coolant to the condenser for refrigerant condensation. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated condenser cooling systems, reducing overall system weight and component count while maintaining effective cooling performance.
3Area of stationary object
If a water-cooled condenser is mounted in a small engine compartment, then space utilization is attempted, but layout becomes complicated and assembling performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The condenser is merged with the radiator assembly to form an integrated cooling module. The heat radiating units of the condenser are positioned to share coolant flow paths with the radiators, creating a compact unified structure that simplifies mounting layout and improves assembling performance while effectively utilizing the engine compartment space.
4Reliability
If coolant is used to cool multiple components before the condenser, then component cooling is improved, but refrigerant condensation efficiency is reduced due to increased coolant temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The condenser is segmented into multiple heat radiating units that receive coolant from different radiators at different temperatures. This segmentation allows the system to utilize the temperature gradient of the coolant, with cooler coolant directed to condenser units where it provides more effective cooling, thereby maintaining condensation efficiency even while cooling multiple components.
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
Improves refrigerant condensing performance, reduces power consumption, and increases space utilization by integrating radiators and condensers, minimizing the size and capacity of radiators, and lowering manufacturing costs.
Implementation Method 1
a condenser disposed at a side surface of the high temperature and low temperature radiators corresponding to the second and fourth header tanks to be respectively connected to the second and fourth header tanks, the condenser configured to condense a refrigerant flowing therein through heat exchange with the coolant supplied from the second and fourth header tanks
Implementation Method 2
the condenser configured to condense a refrigerant flowing therein through heat exchange with the coolant supplied from the second and fourth header tanks
Implementation Method 3
a high temperature radiator including first and second header tanks into which a coolant flows and from which the coolant is exhausted, and a plurality of first tubes and a plurality of first heat radiating fins respectively interconnecting the first header tank and the second header tank
Implementation Method 4
a plurality of first tubes and a plurality of first heat radiating fins respectively interconnecting the first header tank and the second header tank
Data Source
AI summary
A cooling module for a vehicle includes: a high temperature radiator including first and second header tanks into which a coolant flows and from which it is exhausted, and a plurality of tubes and heat radiating fins respectively interconnecting the first and second header tanks; a low temperature radiator including third and fourth header tanks into which a coolant flows and from which it is exhausted, and a plurality of tubes and heat radiating fins respectively interconnecting the third and fourth header tanks; and a condenser disposed at a side surface of the high temperature and low temperature radiators corresponding to the second and fourth header tanks to be respectively connected to the second and fourth header tanks and condensing a refrigerant flowing therein through heat exchange with a coolant supplied from the second and fourth header tanks.