Vehicle Air Conditioning Condenser Side-Mounted Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional air conditioning systems in public transport vehicles with rear lateral engine cooling face challenges due to long refrigerant transport pipes, increased weight, pressure drop, and heat losses, which are exacerbated by the complex layout and energy consumption of electric fans.
Innovation Solution
The air conditioning condenser is arranged alongside the radiator on the vehicle's side, with a control system that modifies fan speed to manage condenser pressure and reduce energy consumption, using a PWM control mechanism to adjust fan speed based on condenser pressure, ensuring efficient cooling without disturbing engine cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the condenser is arranged separately from the radiator in traditional locations (bunkers or roof), then the air conditioning system can operate independently, but the refrigerant transport pipes become long and complex, increasing weight, pressure drop, and heat losses
Solution Approach 1:
The condenser is merged with the radiator by arranging it alongside the radiator on the vehicle side, allowing both components to share the same air flow path and physical space, thereby reducing refrigerant pipe length while maintaining independent operation
Solution Approach 2:
The air flow path serving the radiator is made multi-functional by positioning the condenser alongside it, so that the same air stream cools both the radiator and condenser, eliminating the need for separate air intake paths and reducing overall system complexity
2Reliability
If electric fans are used to cool the condenser separately, then the condenser can be cooled independently, but the energy consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The condenser cooling function is merged with the radiator cooling function by positioning both components alongside the same air intake, allowing a single fan to serve both cooling needs simultaneously and reducing total energy consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The fan is made multi-functional by positioning it to draw air that simultaneously cools both the radiator and condenser, allowing one fan to perform the work of what would traditionally require separate cooling systems
3Stress or pressure
If the fan speed is increased to cool the condenser, then the condenser pressure decreases, but the engine cooling performance may be disturbed
Solution Approach 1:
The condenser and radiator are merged into a side-by-side arrangement that shares the same air intake and fan, allowing them to cooperate in the same air flow path rather than compete for separate air supplies
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback control to monitor condenser pressure and adjust fan speed accordingly, increasing fan speed only when condenser pressure exceeds thresholds while maintaining engine cooling requirements through coordinated air flow management
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 reduces the length and weight of refrigerant pipes, minimizes pressure drop and heat losses, and optimizes fan energy use, resulting in a more efficient and lightweight air conditioning system that maintains engine cooling performance.
Implementation Method 1
a fan whose rotation speed is generally controlled as a function of the engine temperature... The fan of the type drawing air through the radiator
Implementation Method 2
an air conditioning condenser arranged along the radiator on the opening side in the bodywork so that the air drawn in by the fan and passing through the radiator first passes through the condenser
Implementation Method 3
with hydraulically controlled fans and flow control valve with power modulation by a pulse width modulation signal (known as PWM)
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 2
AI summary
The invention concerns an air-conditioning system for public transport vehicles, having rear side engine cooling, and comprising a radiator (3) disposed within an opening built into the bodywork of the vehicle on one side of the vehicle in the rear portion of the vehicle, characterised in that it comprises an air conditioning condenser (7) disposed along the radiator (3) on the side that is open in the bodywork.