Vehicle Air Conditioner Pillar Drain Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle air conditioners face challenges in reducing power consumption while maintaining design freedom, as existing configurations often require large components that compromise the vehicle's design and efficiency due to the need for extensive drain hoses and component placement.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle air conditioner configuration where the evaporator is on the ceiling, the condenser and spray nozzle are in the lower portion, and the drain hose guides condensed water through a pillar to a central water tank, reducing the length of coolant and drain hoses and minimizing heat loss, thus improving cooling efficiency without compromising the vehicle's design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the evaporator is provided on the ceiling and the condenser is provided in the lower portion, then the design freedom of the ceiling portion is improved, but a drain hose must extend in the upward and downward direction which may compromise the design
Solution Approach 1:
The drain hose is routed through the pillar structure, utilizing the vertical dimension and existing structural elements to guide condensed water from the ceiling evaporator to the lower water tank, thereby avoiding compromise to the ceiling design while solving the drainage path problem
2Ease of manufacture
If almost all components are housed in a single case to be unitized, then the installation is simplified, but the case would have a large size which limits the design freedom of the ceiling portion
Solution Approach 1:
The air conditioner components are divided into separate locations: the evaporator is installed in the ceiling portion while the condenser and water tank are positioned in the lower portion, allowing each component to be optimally sized and positioned without requiring a large integrated case
3Volume of moving object
If the coolant pipe and drain hose are provided through the same pillar, then the installation space is reduced, but the pillars would have to be large to accommodate both
Solution Approach 1:
The coolant pipe and drain hose are routed through different pillars, creating an asymmetric distribution that balances the structural load and allows each pillar to be appropriately sized for its specific function, avoiding the need for oversized pillars
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 configuration effectively utilizes condensed water, reduces power consumption, and enhances air conditioning efficiency by minimizing heat loss and maintaining design freedom, allowing for a more efficient and aesthetically pleasing vehicle setup.
Implementation Method 1
an evaporator that is provided on a ceiling of the vehicle and causes heat exchange between air in an interior of a passenger compartment and a coolant
Implementation Method 2
a condenser that causes heat exchange between the coolant and outside air
Implementation Method 3
mist (water) is injected to a portion near a compressor performing heat exchange between a coolant and outside air. With the heat of vaporization of the mist, cooling efficiency of the coolant is improved
Implementation Method 4
condensed water generated in the evaporator
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle air conditioner installed in a vehicle includes: an evaporator that is provided on a ceiling of the vehicle and causes heat exchange between air in an interior of a passenger compartment and a coolant; a condenser that causes heat exchange between the coolant and outside air; a spray nozzle that sprays water to a portion near the condenser; a water tank that is provided in a lower portion of the vehicle and stores the water to be sprayed; and a drain hose that guides condensed water generated in the evaporator to the water tank. The drain hose is provided through a pillar.