PTC Honeycomb Air Conditioning Regeneration for EV Power Saving
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle air conditioning systems face inefficiencies in regenerating adsorbents, leading to increased power consumption and prolonged regeneration times, particularly in battery electric vehicles, where energy loss reduces cruising range and overall energy efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle air conditioning system utilizing a honeycomb structure with PTC material partition walls and electrodes, where voltage is applied to regenerate the functional material-containing layer and stopped at the Curie point to prevent excessive power input and heat generation, optimizing power usage and reducing thermal deterioration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a heater is used to regenerate the adsorbent, then the adsorbent can be regenerated, but the regeneration time becomes long and the system size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional heater (mechanical/thermal system) with a heating element that utilizes electrical resistance heating. This substitution allows for faster and more controlled heating of the adsorbent, significantly reducing regeneration time while maintaining compact system dimensions. The heating element can be directly integrated with the adsorbent structure, enabling rapid thermal response without the bulk and slow response characteristics of traditional heaters.
2Productivity
If voltage is applied to heat the honeycomb structure, then regeneration speed increases, but excessive power input and heat generation occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a temperature detection unit that continuously monitors the temperature of the honeycomb structure and provides feedback to the control unit. Based on this feedback, the control unit adjusts or stops voltage application to the heating element, preventing excessive power input and heat generation. This closed-loop control ensures optimal regeneration speed while maintaining energy efficiency and preventing thermal damage to the functional material.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the electrical resistance parameter of the honeycomb structure by utilizing the PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient) effect. As the honeycomb structure heats up, its resistance increases automatically, which naturally limits the current and power input. This parameter change provides inherent protection against excessive heating while maintaining high regeneration speed during the critical heating phase.
3Productivity
If the honeycomb structure is heated to high temperature, then regeneration efficiency improves, but thermal deterioration of functional material occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The temperature detection unit continuously monitors the honeycomb structure temperature and provides real-time feedback to the control unit. When the detected temperature reaches the predetermined threshold, the control unit immediately stops voltage application to the heating element. This feedback mechanism ensures that the functional material is exposed to high temperatures only for the necessary duration to achieve regeneration, preventing thermal deterioration while maintaining high regeneration efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent sets a predetermined temperature threshold before the heating process begins, based on the thermal stability characteristics of the functional material. This beforehand cushioning approach ensures that the honeycomb structure temperature never exceeds the safe limit for the functional material, protecting it from thermal deterioration while still achieving effective regeneration through controlled heating up to the safe threshold.
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 approach reduces power consumption and shortens regeneration time by precisely controlling the voltage application, ensuring efficient regeneration of the functional material while minimizing energy waste and maintaining the integrity of the adsorbent material.
Implementation Method 1
at least the partition walls being made of a material having a PTC property; a pair of electrodes provided on the honeycomb structure... voltage application to the pair of electrodes to heat the honeycomb structure
Implementation Method 2
a functional material-containing layer formed on surfaces of partition walls of the predetermined honeycomb structure... components to be removed such as CO2 and water vapor in the air in the vehicle interior are trapped by a functional material such as an adsorbent
Implementation Method 3
the components to be removed are then allowed to react or desorbed by heating to discharge them to the outside of the vehicle and regenerate the functional material
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle air conditioning system includes: an air conditioning duct through which air can flow; an air conditioning device disposed in the air conditioning duct; and a control unit for controlling the air conditioning device. The air conditioning device includes: a honeycomb structure including an outer peripheral wall and partition walls disposed on an inner side of the outer peripheral wall, the partition walls defining a plurality of cells, each of the cells extending from a first end face to a second end face to form a flow path, at least the partition walls being made of a material having a PTC property; a pair of electrodes provided on the honeycomb structure; and a functional material-containing layer formed on a surface of each of the partition walls.