Thermal Separation of Control Valve and Collector Blocks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current heating/cooling systems in commercial vehicles lack separation of components by temperature and function, leading to undesirable interactions between hot and cold media, increased risk of errors during servicing, and inefficient installation due to unstructured piping systems.
Innovation Solution
The system separates control valves, collectors, and heat exchangers into independent units, with thermal separation and distinct routing of pipelines to prevent interactions, allowing for separate installation and improved serviceability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If control valves and collectors are combined in one block, then device complexity is reduced, but harmful thermal interactions occur between hot and cold media
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the heating/cooling system into separate functional units: control valve blocks for hot media and collector blocks for cold media. Each unit handles a specific temperature range and flow direction, preventing thermal interactions while maintaining manageable complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The collector function is extracted from the control valve block and implemented as a separate unit. This extraction eliminates the harmful thermal interaction between hot and cold media while preserving the control functionality in the valve block.
2Area of stationary object
If all components are integrated in a common valve block, then installation space is utilized efficiently, but serviceability and clarity of piping system deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into separate functional blocks (control valve blocks and collector blocks) that can be installed in different locations. This segmentation improves serviceability by allowing targeted maintenance of specific units while maintaining efficient space utilization through distributed placement.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a single integrated block to multiple distributed blocks arranged in space. This spatial distribution across different dimensions improves both serviceability (easier access to individual units) and installation flexibility while maintaining compact overall footprint.
3Ease of manufacture
If pipelines for hot and cold media are routed adjacently, then installation is simplified, but thermal efficiency deteriorates due to heat loss
Solution Approach 1:
The piping system is segmented into separate hot media lines and cold media lines with distinct routing paths. This prevents thermal interactions between adjacent pipelines while maintaining installation simplicity through standardized connection points at the control valve and collector blocks.
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 separation enhances system efficiency, reduces the risk of errors during maintenance, and simplifies installation by preventing unwanted heat exchanges and improving clarity in the piping layout.
Implementation Method 1
the heat transfer medium (e.g. water or a water/glycol mixture) is distributed to the various circuits with valves that are arranged in the various heating or cooling circuits supplied. The heat transfer medium then flows into heat exchangers, in which heat exchange takes place.
Implementation Method 2
The heat transfer medium then flows into heat exchangers, in which heat exchange takes place.
Implementation Method 3
collectors, which collect the heat transfer medium after it has flowed through the heat exchanger and direct it to the return
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The invention relates to a heating/cooling system, particularly for vehicles, having a plurality of separate heating/cooling circuits in which a heat carrier medium can circulate. The system comprises a feed line (12), a control valve (16), a heat exchanger (26) for each heating/cooling circuit, a collector (36) in which the heat carrier medium returning from the heat exchangers can be collected, and a return line (38). The control valves (16) are combined in a control valve block (18). The amount of heat carrier medium circulating in each heating/cooling circuit can be influenced by the control valves. The collector (36) and the control valve block (18) form individual units that can be arranged in a spatially separated way from each other. The control valve block (18) is thermally separated from the collector (36).