Temperature regulating device
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for a temperature regulating device with a simple configuration capable of efficiently cooling or heating multiple temperature regulation targets in vehicles, such as electric vehicles, where the number of targets is increasing, and existing systems are complex and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A temperature regulating device incorporating a refrigeration cycle with a compressor, refrigerant radiator, expansion valves, and evaporators, combined with a heat medium circuit that includes a heat exchange portion and a flow rate adjustment mechanism, allowing for both cooling and heating of temperature regulation targets through efficient heat transfer and circulation of a heat medium.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a temperature regulating device is designed to cool multiple temperature regulation targets, then the cooling capability is improved, but the device complexity increases due to multiple refrigerant circuits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the refrigerant circuit and heat medium circuit into an integrated system where the refrigerant radiator serves dual purposes: radiating heat from refrigerant while also functioning as a heat exchanger for the heat medium. This allows a single refrigerant circuit to support multiple temperature regulation targets through the heat medium circulation system, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining multi-target cooling capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The refrigerant radiator is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a heat rejection component for the refrigerant cycle and as a heat source for the heat medium circuit. This universal component enables the system to regulate temperatures of multiple targets (vehicle interior, battery, instrument panel) using a unified refrigerant-based architecture, avoiding the need for separate circuits for each target.
2Adaptability or versatility
If refrigerant pipes are extended to reach multiple temperature regulation targets, then the cooling coverage is improved, but the device complexity and space requirement increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a heat medium (coolant) as an intermediary substance that carries thermal energy from the refrigerant radiator to multiple temperature regulation targets. Instead of extending refrigerant pipes directly to each target, the heat medium circulates through a separate heat medium circuit, allowing indirect cooling of multiple components (battery, instrument panel, vehicle interior) from a centralized refrigerant radiator, thereby minimizing refrigerant pipe length and complexity.
3Device complexity
If a simple temperature regulation system is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ability to efficiently heat and cool multiple targets is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic temperature regulation system with an electronic expansion valve that can adjust its opening degree based on real-time temperature conditions of different targets. The control unit dynamically controls the refrigerant flow distribution between the refrigerant radiator and other components, enabling efficient simultaneous or sequential heating and cooling of multiple targets while maintaining a relatively simple physical system configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes parameter changes in the refrigerant (pressure, temperature, phase) and heat medium flow rates to achieve efficient multi-target temperature regulation. By changing the refrigerant expansion ratio via the electronic expansion valve and adjusting heat medium circulation, the system can adaptively optimize heat transfer efficiency for different operating conditions without requiring complex mechanical structures for each target.
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 device achieves a compact and efficient temperature regulation system that can cool or heat multiple targets without lengthening refrigerant pipes, maintaining a simple configuration and avoiding complexity, thereby enhancing operational efficiency and flexibility.
Implementation Method 1
a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant
Implementation Method 2
a refrigerant radiator configured to radiate heat from the refrigerant flowing out of the compressor
Implementation Method 3
a first expansion valve configured to decompress the refrigerant flowing out of the refrigerant radiator
Implementation Method 4
a first evaporator configured to evaporate the refrigerant flowing out of the first expansion valve
Implementation Method 5
the heat exchange portion exchanges heat between the temperature regulation target and the heat medium, to cool the temperature regulation target
Implementation Method 6
The second evaporator exchanges heat between the heat medium and the refrigerant, to evaporate the refrigerant and cool the heat medium
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigeration cycle includes a compressor, a refrigerant radiator, first and second expansion valves configured to decompress refrigerant flowing out of the refrigerant radiator, a first evaporator configured to evaporate the refrigerant flowing out of the first expansion valve, and a second evaporator configured to evaporate the refrigerant flowing out of the second expansion valve. A heat medium circuit includes a heat exchange portion and circulates a heat medium while flowing through the heat exchange portion and the second evaporator. The first evaporator exchanges heat between the refrigerant and ventilation air blown to a space to be air conditioned, and the second evaporator exchanges heat between the heat medium and the refrigerant to evaporate the refrigerant and cool the heat medium. The heat exchange portion is made to cool the temperature regulation target.