Vehicle Thermal Loop Vapor Injection for Dehumidification
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Solution Overview
Problem
In battery electric vehicles (BEVs), dehumidification to prevent windshield fogging consumes more energy than heating or cooling, affecting driving range and customer comfort, as it requires conditioning cabin air below the dewpoint and then reheating, which is inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle system with a thermal loop comprising a compressor, condenser, vapor injector, internal heat exchanger, chiller, and bypass valve, controlled to manage fluid flow during dehumidification, allowing mid-pressure vapor injection and bypassing the internal heat exchanger to optimize dehumidification while minimizing energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cabin air is conditioned below dewpoint and then reheated to achieve dehumidification, then moisture is removed from cabin air, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system utilizes phase transition of refrigerant between liquid and vapor states in the thermal loop to achieve dehumidification. The refrigerant absorbs moisture from cabin air through condensation phase change, and the phase transition process inherently provides both cooling and dehumidification without requiring separate heating cycles
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines dehumidification and temperature control functions into a single integrated thermal loop operation. By merging these functions, the system eliminates the need for separate conditioning and reheating cycles, reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining cabin comfort
2Productivity
If mid-pressure vapor is injected into compressor and bypass valve is opened, then dehumidification efficiency increases, but fluid flow path changes
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the positions of the injector valve and bypass valve based on real-time dehumidification requirements. The controller modulates valve positions to optimize refrigerant flow paths, allowing mid-pressure vapor injection when dehumidification efficiency needs enhancement while maintaining simple flow paths during normal operation
Solution Approach 2:
The bypass valve acts as an intermediary element that provides alternative fluid flow paths. When opened, it creates a bypass route that allows refrigerant to flow through paths optimized for dehumidification, while the injector valve serves as another intermediary that introduces mid-pressure vapor to enhance the dehumidification process
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
This approach reduces energy consumption by efficiently managing fluid flow and vapor injection during dehumidification, effectively preventing windshield fogging without compromising cabin comfort and extending the vehicle's driving range.
Implementation Method 1
open an injector valve of the vapor injector such that the vapor injector allows flow of mid-pressure vapor into the compressor injection inlet
Implementation Method 2
open the bypass valve such that fluid flow through the internal heat exchanger
Implementation Method 3
a compressor, condenser, vapor injector, internal heat exchanger, chiller, and bypass valve
Implementation Method 4
a compressor, condenser, vapor injector, internal heat exchanger, chiller, and bypass valve
Data Source
AI summary
Presented is a vehicle thermal system. The vehicle thermal system comprises a thermal loop and a controller. The thermal loop includes a compressor, condenser, vapor injector, internal heat exchanger, chiller, and bypass valve. The controller, during a dehumidification operation, opens an injector valve of the vapor injector such that the vapor injector injects vapor into the compressor, and opens the bypass valve such that fluid flow through the internal heat exchanger decreases.