Miniature Vapor Compression Thermal Bus for Vehicle Zones
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional thermal conditioning systems for vehicles are bulky, noisy, and limited in their ability to independently service multiple components at varying temperatures and power demands, often requiring complex configurations and multiple devices.
Innovation Solution
A thermal conditioning system utilizing a miniature vapor compression system with a thermal bus that circulates a thermal medium through multiple regions, including seats, storage bins, and cup holders, using a single main line with branches and flow control devices to regulate temperature, and incorporating a thermal battery for energy storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a large compressor is dedicated to a single component for thermal conditioning, then the component can be effectively cooled, but the system becomes bulky, noisy, and limited to servicing only one component
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple thermal conditioning functions into a single integrated system. A miniature vapor compression system serves multiple components (seats, cup holders, storage bins) through a shared thermal medium circulation system with a single compressor, eliminating the need for multiple separate compressors and reducing overall system bulk and noise.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermal conditioning system is designed to serve multiple different components and regions within the vehicle through a universal thermal medium circulation system. The same compressor and thermal medium can condition different components (seats, cup holders, storage bins) at different temperatures by adjusting flow rates to different heat exchangers.
2Reliability
If multiple dedicated thermal conditioning devices are used to service multiple components, then each component receives adequate thermal control, but the system complexity and number of devices increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments thermal control into independent controllable zones while using a single integrated compressor. Each component (seats, cup holders, storage bins) has its own heat exchanger and flow control mechanism, allowing independent temperature control of each zone while sharing the common compression and circulation system.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses dynamic flow control to adjust thermal medium distribution to different components based on demand. Flow control devices dynamically regulate the thermal medium flow rates to different heat exchangers, enabling the system to adapt to varying thermal demands of different components while maintaining independent control.
3Device complexity
If a single thermal medium line with branches is used to service multiple regions, then the system becomes more compact and efficient, but precise temperature control for each region becomes more challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates temperature sensors and control mechanisms that monitor thermal conditions in each region and provide feedback to adjust flow rates. This feedback control enables precise temperature regulation in each zone despite the shared thermal medium line, as the system continuously adjusts to maintain desired temperatures.
Solution Approach 2:
Flow control devices act as intermediaries between the shared thermal medium line and individual heat exchangers. These intermediaries precisely regulate the thermal medium flow to each component, enabling accurate temperature control for each region while maintaining the benefits of a compact single-line system architecture.
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 efficient, compact, and independent thermal conditioning of various vehicle components, reducing noise and complexity while providing flexible temperature control and energy storage capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
The thermal medium can be heated or cooled by a vapor compression system that has a miniature compressor, an evaporator and a condenser
Implementation Method 2
The thermal regions may each include a heat transfer device (e.g., a heat exchanger) and the component to be heated or cooled
Implementation Method 3
The system may also include a thermal battery coupled with the main line that provides thermal conditioning when the vapor compression system is not operating
Data Source
AI summary
Features for a vapor compression system configured to cool and/or cat (i.e. thermally condition) two or more distinct climate controlled vehicle interior components via a common thermal bus are disclosed. Some embodiments employ a single compressor. Some embodiments employ multiple compressors and/or thermal buses, each servicing components located within respective interior thermal zones of a vehicle, for example a front row seat zone, second and/or third row seat zones, and/or an overhead zone and/or a trunk zone.