Microwave Vehicle Heating Unit for Low-Power Blown Air Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle air conditioning systems in hybrid and electric vehicles consume high power, reducing the running distance and shortening the battery charging cycle due to high power consumption rates, especially when the ambient temperature is low or during initial vehicle operation.
Innovation Solution
A heating unit is integrated into the air flow path using a metal casing with microwave absorbing/heat emitting members and a microwave outputting means to heat blown air by absorbing microwaves, reducing power consumption and increasing the vehicle's running distance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a PTC heater is used to heat blown air in a vehicle air conditioning system, then the air can be heated effectively, but the power consumption rate is high when the ambient temperature is low or during initial vehicle operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional PTC heater (electrical resistance heating) with a microwave heating system. The microwave outputting means generates microwave energy that is absorbed by the microwave absorbing members, converting electromagnetic energy directly into thermal energy for heating blown air, thereby reducing power consumption rate while maintaining heating effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the heating mechanism from resistive heating to microwave dielectric heating. By introducing microwave absorbing members with specific dielectric properties into the air flow path, the system utilizes microwave radiation to directly heat the air molecules, achieving more efficient energy conversion and lower power consumption compared to PTC thermistor heating
2Duration of action of moving object
If the battery capacity is increased to extend cruising distance, then the running distance can be increased, but the vehicle weight increases which lowers power consumption efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional high-power heating system with a microwave-based heating system that consumes less power. This substitution reduces the overall power demand of the vehicle air conditioning system, thereby extending the cruising distance without requiring additional battery capacity or increasing vehicle weight
3Temperature
If conventional heating members are used in the vehicle air conditioning system, then heating function is provided, but the running distance is reduced and battery charging cycle becomes short
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes conventional electrical resistance heating members with microwave absorbing members that convert microwave energy into heat. This substitution significantly reduces power consumption during heating operations, thereby extending the running distance and prolonging the battery charging cycle while maintaining effective heating temperature
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 solution effectively reduces power consumption for heating, thereby increasing the vehicle's running distance and prolonging the battery charging cycle by using microwave absorbing/heat emitting members to efficiently heat blown air.
Implementation Method 1
microwave absorbing/heat emitting members arranged at the support at appropriate intervals, each having a hollow section... blown air being heated by heat generated as a result of absorption of microwaves by the microwave absorbing/heat emitting members
Implementation Method 2
a casing made of a metal material capable of electromagnetically shielding microwaves and arranged in the blown air flow path
Data Source
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AI summary
A heating unit (7) of a vehicle heating system arranged in a blown air flow path for either internal air or external air to be blown into the inside of a vehicle in order to heat blown air includes a casing (15) made of a metal material capable of electromagnetically shielding microwaves and arranged in the blown air flow path, a support (21) arranged in the hollow section of the casing, a large number of microwave absorbing/heat emitting members (23) arranged at the support at appropriate intervals, each having a hollow section with an upstream side opening and a downstream side opening at the opposite ends of the support and a microwave outputting means (25,27) arranged in the casing to output microwaves.