Thermoelectric Vehicle Air Comfort for Engine-Off Cabin Cooling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle air conditioning systems require engine idling or battery power, leading to increased noise, fuel consumption, pollution, and battery drainage, making it difficult to maintain comfortable temperatures without draining the vehicle's battery.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle air comfort system utilizing thermoelectric coolers and thermal exchange assemblies to condition air efficiently, powered by the vehicle's battery or independent power sources like solar energy, without requiring engine idling, and incorporating components like fins, fans, filters, and sensors for optimal performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If compressor-based air conditioning is used to cool the vehicle interior, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but engine fuel consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical compressor-based air conditioning system with a thermoelectric cooling system that uses electrical current to generate cooling effect through the Peltier effect. This substitution eliminates the need for engine-driven compressors, thereby reducing fuel consumption while maintaining cooling capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operating parameters by using electrical power instead of mechanical power from the engine. The thermoelectric modules operate on electrical current to create temperature differential, fundamentally changing the energy input parameter from mechanical to electrical, which allows operation during engine idle or shutdown.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If engine idling is maintained to power air conditioning, then air conditioning operation is sustained, but noise and pollution increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the engine-driven mechanical system with an electrically-powered thermoelectric system. This allows the air conditioning to operate using electrical power from the vehicle battery or alternator without requiring the engine to idle, thereby eliminating noise and pollution emissions while sustaining cooling operation.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If battery power is used to run air conditioning when engine is off, then engine idle is avoided, but battery drainage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic or intermittent operation of the thermoelectric cooling modules, controlling their activation cycles to provide cooling when needed while allowing the battery to recharge or conserve power at other times. This periodic control prevents continuous battery drainage while maintaining acceptable comfort levels.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial cooling action by using multiple thermoelectric modules that can be selectively activated. Not all modules need to operate at full capacity simultaneously, allowing the system to provide sufficient cooling with reduced total power consumption, thus avoiding excessive battery drainage.
4Use of energy by moving object
If thermoelectric coolers are used for air conditioning, then fuel consumption is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the air conditioning system into multiple independent thermoelectric cooling modules arranged in an array. Each module can be controlled independently or in groups, allowing the system to achieve the required cooling capacity through parallel operation of simpler individual units rather than a single complex compressor system.
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
Enables comfortable temperature control within vehicles without engine idling, reducing power consumption and battery drainage, while being environmentally friendly and adaptable for various power sources.
Implementation Method 1
a thermoelectric cooler that is in thermal communication with the flow tunnels and operable to thermally condition the heat-transfer fluid in the flow tunnels
Implementation Method 2
a thermal exchange assembly that is operable to facilitate thermal exchange between the thermally conditioned heat-transfer fluid and the unconditioned air in order to condition the air
Implementation Method 3
a plurality of fins that are operable to dissipate thermal energy from the thermoelectric cooler
Data Source
AI summary
Vehicle air comfort systems and methods. The systems and methods may comprise: (1) a plurality of flow tunnels for passage of a heat-transfer fluid; (2) a thermoelectric cooler in thermal communication with the flow tunnels for thermally conditioning the heat-transfer fluid in the flow tunnels; (3) an air inlet for receiving unconditioned air; (4) a thermal exchange assembly for facilitating thermal exchange between the thermally conditioned heat-transfer fluid and the unconditioned air to result in conditioning of the air; and (5) an air outlet for outputting the conditioned air into the vehicle.