Triple-Zone Automotive HVAC Merging Air Paths
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional HVAC systems for automotive vehicles with triple-zone control systems are complex and costly due to the need for multiple doors and actuators, increasing size and manufacturing costs without simplifying the structure.
Innovation Solution
The HVAC apparatus divides the air blowing zone into three zones using an upper and lower partition wall, reducing the number of doors and actuators by forming separate flow paths for the front and rear seat vents, and utilizing sub-doors to control air temperature distribution across the seats.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a triple-zone control system is implemented with separate mixing zones for front and rear seats, then temperature control for each zone is improved, but the number of doors and actuators increases resulting in increased device complexity and manufacturing cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the mixing zones for front and rear seats into a single shared mixing zone. Multiple air outlets (front face vent, front foot vent, rear seat vent) share common mixing chambers where air from the evaporator and heat exchanger are mixed before distribution. This eliminates the need for separate mixing zones and reduces the number of control doors and actuators while maintaining independent temperature control capability for each zone through shared actuators controlling common mixing doors.
2Temperature
If a triple-zone control system is implemented with separate mixing zones for front and rear seats, then temperature control for each zone is improved, but manufacturing cost increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple air outlet systems into a unified structure where front face vent, front foot vent, and rear seat vent share common mixing zones and control mechanisms. This merging reduces the total number of doors, actuators, and mixing chambers required, directly lowering manufacturing costs while preserving the ability to independently control temperature in each zone through the shared control system.
3Device complexity
If flow paths are simplified with fewer doors, then device complexity is reduced, but the ability to control air distribution to multiple zones independently is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the air distribution system into multiple independent flow paths within the shared mixing zone. Each air outlet (front face vent, front foot vent, rear seat vent) has its own controlled flow path that can be independently regulated. The segmentation is achieved through strategically positioned doors and actuators that control air flow direction to different outlets while sharing the common mixing chamber, thereby maintaining independent control capability with reduced structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamically controllable doors and actuators within the shared mixing zone that can adjust their positions to direct air flow to different outlets based on demand. The actuators can dynamically change the opening degree of doors to regulate air flow distribution to front face vent, front foot vent, and rear seat vent independently, enabling versatile air distribution control with a simplified static structure.
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 configuration allows for efficient triple-zone control with a reduced number of doors and actuators, simplifying the structure and reducing costs while maintaining effective temperature control across all zones.
Implementation Method 1
the air cooled by an evaporator 11
Implementation Method 2
when the air cooled by an evaporator 11 passes through a heat exchanger 12 under the control of a temperature door 13, the air becomes heated
Data Source
AI summary
A triple-zone heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) apparatus for an automotive vehicle may be configured to mix cold air passing through an evaporator and warm air passing through a heat exchanger with each other and blow the mixed air to a front seat foot vent through a front seat foot door and to a rear seat vent through a rear seat door.