Vehicle Air Conditioner Intermediary Coolant Loop
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle air conditioners face issues with refrigerant leakage into the vehicle interior, increased repair costs due to exterior heat exchanger damage, and temperature control challenges that affect air conditioning performance and occupant comfort.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle air conditioner system that uses a heat exchanger with a coolant circulation system to prevent refrigerant leakage and employs a temperature regulation mechanism to control the temperature of air-cooling and air-heating heat exchangers, ensuring proper ventilation air temperature and preventing frost formation and humidity issues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the evaporator and condenser exchange heat directly with ventilation air, then air conditioning function is achieved, but refrigerant leakage into vehicle interior occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a first heat medium (coolant) as an intermediary substance between the refrigerant and the ventilation air. The evaporator and condenser exchange heat with this heat medium instead of directly with the ventilation air. This intermediary heat medium circulation system prevents refrigerant from leaking into the vehicle interior while maintaining the air conditioning function.
2Productivity
If exterior heat exchanger is disposed in the forefront of vehicle, then heat exchange efficiency is improved, but heat exchanger is destroyed in slight collision
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional exterior heat exchanger with a heat medium circulation system using a first heat medium (coolant). This intermediary fluid-based heat exchange system eliminates the need for a physical exterior heat exchanger that could be damaged in collisions, while maintaining heat exchange efficiency through the coolant circulation between the evaporator/condenser and the air-cooling/heating heat exchangers.
3Productivity
If air-cooling heat exchanger surface temperature is below freezing point, then cooling performance is improved, but frost formation blocks air passage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a temperature regulator that monitors and controls the surface temperature of the air-cooling heat exchanger. By providing feedback control, the system maintains the heat exchanger surface temperature above the freezing point, preventing frost formation that would block air passages, while still achieving effective cooling through the heat medium circulation system.
4Productivity
If air-heating heat exchanger temperature exceeds predetermined temperature, then heating performance is improved, but condensate evaporation increases humidity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a temperature regulator to monitor and control the temperature of the air-heating heat exchanger. Through feedback control, the system maintains the heat exchanger temperature below a predetermined threshold, preventing excessive condensate evaporation that would increase humidity and cause window fogging or odors, while still providing adequate heating performance.
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
The system effectively prevents refrigerant leakage, reduces repair costs, and maintains optimal temperature control within the vehicle, enhancing both performance and occupant comfort by regulating the heat exchanger temperatures.
Implementation Method 1
a first heat medium/air heat exchanger that regulates a temperature of ventilation air blown into a vehicle interior by conducting sensible-heat exchange between the ventilation air and the heat medium
Implementation Method 2
a first heat transfer device having a passage through which the heat medium flows and configured to conduct heat transfer with the heat medium
Data Source
AI summary
An air conditioner for a vehicle including a pump that takes in and discharges a heat medium, a heat medium/air heat exchanger which regulates a temperature of ventilation air by conducting sensible-heat exchange between the ventilation air and the heat medium circulated by the pump, a heat transfer device having a passage through which the heat medium flows and conducts heat transfer with the heat medium, a compressor, a heat medium/refrigerant heat exchanger which regulates the temperature of the heat medium, and a controller which regulates a heat transfer amount with the heat medium in the heat transfer device or heat exchange capability of the heat medium/air heat exchanger such that a temperature of the ventilation air regulated by the heat medium/air heat exchanger approaches a target temperature.