Rotating Air Resistance Element for Vehicle HVAC Mixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional air conditioning systems for vehicles face challenges in achieving optimal temperature mixing with minimal stratification and cost, often requiring additional hardware that increases space requirements, energy consumption, and maintenance costs, while also producing noise and pressure losses.
Innovation Solution
An air conditioning system with a housing having at least two flow paths that empty into a mixing chamber, featuring an air mixing device with a rotating air resistance element that adjusts its position via connection elements linked to air flaps, allowing for optimal mixing with minimal components and space, reducing temperature stratification and energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If traditional mixing chambers and flow baffles are used to achieve optimal air mixing, then temperature stratification is reduced, but the design volume increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a rotating air resistance element that can dynamically adjust its position to control air flow mixing. This dynamic component replaces static mixing chambers and baffles, achieving effective air mixing in a compact space without requiring large-volume stationary mixing structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses air flow itself to drive the rotation of the air resistance element, utilizing pneumatic principles to create turbulence and enhance mixing. The air mass flow drives the rotor, converting kinetic energy into rotational motion that promotes thorough mixing while maintaining a compact design.
2Stability of the object's composition
If additional hardware components are added to improve air mixing, then mixing quality improves, but device complexity and maintenance costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The air resistance element serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a mixing device, a flow control mechanism, and a driven component. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate mixing chambers, baffles, and control mechanisms, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining mixing quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The air resistance element is driven automatically by the air mass flow itself, without requiring external motors or power sources. The system uses the kinetic energy of the incoming air to rotate the element, creating a self-service mechanism that reduces complexity and maintenance requirements.
3Temperature
If warm air ducts are added to direct warm air to specific outlets, then temperature distribution improves, but air flow is detracted and acoustics deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The rotating air resistance element dynamically directs air flows to different outlets based on its rotational position, eliminating the need for fixed warm air ducts. This dynamic flow distribution maintains overall air flow productivity while achieving improved temperature distribution at various outlets.
4Stability of the object's composition
If deflectors or baffles are used to generate turbulence for better mixing, then mixing effectiveness improves, but pressure loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses the air flow's own kinetic energy to drive the rotation of the air resistance element, converting useful kinetic energy into rotational motion that generates turbulence. This approach creates effective mixing without the excessive pressure losses associated with traditional deflectors and baffles, as the system harnesses rather than fights the air flow energy.
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 achieves efficient air mixing with reduced temperature stratification, minimizing costs and energy consumption, and enhancing passenger comfort by optimizing the air distribution system's design and operation.
Implementation Method 1
the air resistance element is configured with streamlined profiles or flow through openings as an incident flow surface for an air mass flow
Implementation Method 2
The air mixing device (18) is mounted so as to turn in a direction of rotation (19) about an axis of rotation (20) between two end positions
Implementation Method 3
The device according to the invention is configured to be coupled via connection elements to at least one of the at least one air flap such that the position of the air resistance elements is changed with a movement of the air flap
Data Source
AI summary
An arrangement for the air distribution of an air conditioning system (1) of a motor vehicle. The air conditioning system (1) is configured with a housing (2) with at least two flow paths (6, 7), which empty into a mixing chamber (8), and at least one air outlet (3a, 3b, 3c) as well as an air flap (10, 11, 12) which can open and close the at least one air outlet (3a, 3b, 3c). The arrangement has a device (18) for air mixing with at least one air resistance element (21), which is supported so that it can turn about an axis of rotation (20) and which extends in the direction of the axis of rotation (20). The air resistance element (21) is configured with at least one flow through opening, so that depending on the position of the device (18) a cross section of at least one flow path (6, 7) of the housing (2) can be changed.