System and method for starting-up a vehicular air-conditioning system

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Solution Overview

Problem

Vehicular air-conditioning systems face component failure due to simultaneous energization of electrically driven components, leading to potential health risks and discomfort for drivers, especially in high heat conditions where continuous operation is necessary.

Innovation Solution

A method for starting up a vehicle air-conditioning system that sequentially measures and ramps up power to the blower fan, condenser fan, and compressor, using predefined current thresholds to determine proper operation and prevent excessive load, thereby detecting and preventing component failure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If all electrically driven components (blower fan, condenser fan, compressor) are energized simultaneously when the air-conditioning system is turned on, then the system starts up quickly, but component failure risk increases due to excessive load

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem startup speedVSAvoidcomponent failure risk
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by sequentially energizing components in a specific order (blower fan first, then condenser fan, then compressor) rather than simultaneously. Current measurements are taken at each stage to verify proper operation before proceeding to the next component, preventing excessive load and component failure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If the system uses sequential startup with current measurements to detect component failure, then component failure detection accuracy improves, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomponent failure detection accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system incorporates feedback mechanisms by measuring current at each startup stage and comparing it against expected values. The controller adjusts system operation based on these measurements, enabling accurate component failure detection while managing complexity through structured sequential control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3507115B1System and method for starting-up a vehicular air-conditioning system
Publication Date: 2024.02.14 BERGSTROM INC
  • EP3507115B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3507115B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3507115B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention includes methods, devices, and systems for starting-up a vehicle air-conditioning system. A method is performed at a vehicle air-conditioning system including a blower fan, a condenser fan, and a compressor electrically coupled to a battery system. The method includes: (408) starting the blower fan; (410) after starting the blower fan, measuring a first current drawn from the battery system, the first current indicative of current drawn by the blower fan; (412) in accordance with a determination that the first current meets predefined criteria, starting the condenser fan; (414) after starting the condenser fan, measuring a second current drawn from the battery system, where the difference between the second current and the first current is indicative of current drawn by the condenser fan; and (416) in accordance with a determination that the second current meets predefined second criteria, starting the compressor.