Vehicle Seat Cooling With Reversible Airflow Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle seat ventilation systems do not efficiently condition air for seat occupants, leading to occupant discomfort and increased power consumption due to the thermal mass and thermal energy of the seat, resulting in decreased fuel and energy efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A seat cooling system that includes an HVAC device, a fan, and an electronic control unit (ECU) to control airflow direction based on temperature thresholds, pulling cooled air through the seat when it's hot and pushing cooled air when it's not, thereby considering the thermal mass and thermal energy of the seat.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional seat ventilation systems push air through the seat surface, then air flow is provided to the occupant, but the seat heats up the air leading to occupant discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional airflow direction by pulling air through the seat from the occupant side rather than pushing from the base. This reversal prevents the seat from heating the air that contacts the occupant, directly resolving the temperature discomfort issue while maintaining ventilation effectiveness
2Ease of operation
If conventional seat ventilation systems operate continuously, then cooling is provided to the occupant, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates temperature sensors that continuously monitor seat and ambient temperatures, feeding this data to a control unit that adjusts fan operation accordingly. This feedback mechanism enables the system to provide cooling only when and where needed, significantly reducing unnecessary power consumption while maintaining occupant comfort
Solution Approach 2:
The ventilation system transitions from continuous static operation to dynamic variable operation, where fan speed and airflow direction are continuously adjusted based on real-time temperature conditions and occupant position, optimizing the balance between comfort and energy efficiency
3Quantity of substance
If the HVAC system cools more air, then more conditioned air is available for the seat, but fuel efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of cooling large volumes of air throughout the cabin, the system focuses cooling resources locally at the seat level, using the seat's thermal mass as a heat sink. This localized approach provides effective cooling with minimal HVAC energy input, directly improving fuel efficiency while maintaining adequate conditioned air availability
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 system provides quick and efficient seat cooling, improving occupant comfort and fuel efficiency by minimizing energy waste and reducing the need for additional HVAC system cooling, thus enhancing vehicle range and energy efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The fan may be configured to pull air through the seating surface in an inward flow direction and to push air through the seating surface in an outward flow direction
Implementation Method 2
The fan may be configured to pull air through the seating surface in an inward flow direction and to push air through the seating surface in an outward flow direction
Implementation Method 3
a temperature sensor configured to detect an internal temperature of the vehicle
Implementation Method 4
an HVAC device configured to direct conditioned air into a cabin of the vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and devices for a seat cooling system. The seat cooling system includes a fan configured to pull air through a seat in an inward flow direction and to push air through the seat in an outward flow direction and an electronic control unit (ECU) connected to the fan. The ECU is configured to control an HVAC device to direct conditioned air into a cabin of a vehicle. The ECU can be further configured to control the fan to pull at least a portion of the conditioned air through the seat in the inward flow direction when an internal temperature of the vehicle is greater than a first temperature threshold and control the fan to push at least a portion of the conditioned air through the seat in the outward flow direction when the internal temperature of the vehicle is less than a second temperature threshold.