Integrated Perforated Partition for Vehicle HVAC Heat Pick-Up
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional two-layered vehicle air conditioners face heat pick-up issues, which deteriorate cooling performance and manufacturing complexity due to the separation between the heater core and electric heater, leading to reduced defogging and heating efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A perforated member with partition walls integrated into the air-conditioning case divides the air passageway into multiple sections, allowing for optimal placement of the electric heater and heater core, enhancing heat pick-up performance and manufacturing simplicity by maintaining the two-layered structure's benefits while preventing thermal damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the heater core and electric heater are separated to form a two-layered structure, then defogging performance and heating performance are improved, but heat pick-up occurs which deteriorates cooling performance
Solution Approach 1:
The air-conditioning case is divided into an upper air passageway and a lower air passageway by a partition wall, with the heater core and electric heater separately positioned in different layers. This segmentation allows independent control of heating and cooling functions while preventing heat transfer between layers, thus improving defogging performance without causing heat pick-up that would deteriorate cooling performance.
2Reliability
If the heater core and electric heater are separated into different spaces, then two-layered air flow is achieved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The partition wall that separates the upper and lower air passageways is integrated with the electric heater assembly, forming a combined structure. This merging reduces the number of separate components and simplifies the manufacturing process while maintaining the functional separation needed for two-layered air flow and high heating performance.
3Volume of moving object
If the electric heater is placed close to the heater core, then space is saved, but thermal damage may occur to the partition wall
Solution Approach 1:
The partition wall serves as a thermal barrier positioned between the heater core and electric heater. It acts as an intermediary that blocks heat transfer from the high-temperature heater core to the electric heater and surrounding components, preventing thermal damage while allowing the compact arrangement to save space.
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 addresses heat pick-up issues, maintains high heating performance, and improves manufacturing and assembly efficiency by optimizing the arrangement of the heat generating unit, ensuring effective defogging and enhanced passenger comfort.
Implementation Method 1
an electric heater, such as a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) heater which generates heat by application of electric power
Implementation Method 2
a heater core for heating the inside of an air-conditioning case
Data Source
AI summary
An air conditioner for a vehicle including an air-conditioning case divided into a plurality of air passageways by a separation wall. A heating heat exchanger is disposed inside the air-conditioning case and exchanges heat with air to heat the interior of the vehicle. A perforated member is disposed at a downstream side of the heating heat exchanger and has a plurality of perforated holes through which the air passing the heating heat exchanger passes, and a partition wall is disposed between the heating heat exchanger and the perforated member to divide the air passageway of the air-conditioning case into a plurality of air passageways, wherein the partition wall is formed integrally with the perforated member.