Vehicular Air Conditioning Control for Single-Seat Foot Heating
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicular air conditioners face challenges in energy saving and reducing flush in the face of occupants due to inefficient air distribution, and the difficulty in making air-conditioning cases common across different vehicles due to varying structures and components.
Innovation Solution
A vehicular air conditioner with a switching section and controller that adjusts between normal and single seat concentration modes to reduce power consumption and air distribution, using a heating heat exchanger with a cooling fluid to optimize energy use and prevent face flush by directing warm air effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the outlet blows warm air toward the lower body of the occupant, then the occupant's sensation of warmth is improved, but the warm air may strike against the face and cause flush in the face
Solution Approach 1:
The outlet is divided into multiple air blowing sections (first section for lower body, second section for upper body) with different blowing directions. The first air blowing section directs warm air toward the lower body (thighs to waist) while the second air blowing section directs air toward the upper body, creating local quality differences in air distribution to simultaneously improve warmth sensation and prevent face flush
Solution Approach 2:
The outlet is segmented into multiple independent air blowing sections with different functions. The first air blowing section is dedicated to lower body heating while the second air blowing section handles upper body air supply, allowing independent control of air flow directions to resolve the contradiction between warmth provision and face flush prevention
2Adaptability or versatility
If the air-conditioning case incorporates multiple face opening sections with independent door sections, then the air conditioning can be adjusted independently for different seats, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The air-conditioning case is designed with a standardized structure that can accommodate different configurations of opening sections and door sections. The case serves multiple functions: it houses the air conditioning components, provides mounting surfaces for various opening sections, and supports different door section arrangements, making it universally applicable across different vehicle types and configurations
Solution Approach 2:
The door sections are designed to be movable and adjustable, allowing dynamic control of air flow to different seats. The door sections can be independently positioned to regulate air conditioning distribution, providing adaptability while maintaining a relatively simple case structure that doesn't require complex fixed arrangements
3Productivity
If the blower operates at high power to cool the vehicle compartment quickly, then the cooling efficiency is improved, but the power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The blower operates in periodic cycles rather than continuously at high power. The control unit activates the blower at high power when cooling is most needed, then reduces or stops operation when the target temperature is approached, creating a periodic action pattern that maintains cooling efficiency while significantly reducing overall power consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit monitors the vehicle compartment temperature and uses this feedback to adjust blower operation. When the temperature exceeds the target value, the blower operates at high power; when the temperature approaches the target, the blower power is reduced or stopped, creating a feedback-controlled system that optimizes the balance between cooling efficiency and power consumption
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 energy savings by reducing blower power consumption and maintaining occupant comfort through targeted air distribution, while allowing for independent adjustment of air-conditioning case openings without altering the case structure, enhancing commonality across vehicle types.
Implementation Method 1
a heating heat exchanger provided in an air-conditioning unit for heating the blown air by using a cooling fluid, which is used for cooling a drive unit used to obtain a driving force for running a vehicle, as a heat source
Data Source
AI summary
When there is no occupant in seats other than a driver seat during a foot mode, an air-conditioning controller executes a single seat concentration mode to prevent blowing of warm air to a passenger seat and a backseat by closing foot outlets on a passenger seat side and a backseat side. In this case, in order to maintain an air volume blown from the foot outlet on a driver seat side when the controller changes the mode from the normal foot mode to the single seat concentration mode, the controller sets a blower level to be lower than in the case of the normal foot mode with respect to the same target blown air temperature. Thus, an electric power consumed by an electric motor of a blower can be reduced, thereby realizing energy saving.