Vehicle Air Conditioner Heater Output Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
In vehicle air conditioners, the existing control systems for heating using engine cooling water often lead to excessive output from heat pumps, resulting in inefficient fuel consumption, especially when factors like cooling water temperature or engine load change.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a cooling water circuit, temperature sensors, and an output controller that adjusts the heater's output based on detected cooling water temperatures, preventing excessive heat pump output and optimizing fuel consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the heat pump output is increased to ensure sufficient heating, then the heating reliability is improved, but the fuel consumption deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback control by detecting the actual heat amount used by the engine to heat the cooling water (based on cooling water temperature, flow rate, and specific heat capacity) and using this information to adjust the heat pump output. The controller reduces heat pump output when engine heat contribution is sufficient, and increases it when additional heating is needed, ensuring reliable heating while optimizing fuel consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat pump output is made dynamic rather than fixed, allowing it to adjust in real-time based on varying engine heat contribution. The system continuously monitors cooling water temperature and calculates the engine's heat transfer amount, then dynamically adjusts the heat pump compressor output accordingly, balancing heating reliability with fuel efficiency under different operating conditions.
2Ease of operation
If the heat pump output is fixed based on engine load, then the control simplicity is improved, but the heating efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from temperature sensors and flow rate measurements to calculate the actual heat amount contributed by the engine. This feedback information is fed back to the controller, which adjusts the heat pump output accordingly. This maintains relative control simplicity while dramatically improving heating efficiency by avoiding both excessive and insufficient heating scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the control parameter from fixed engine load-based output to dynamic output based on calculated actual heat usage. By monitoring cooling water temperature differential and flow rate, the system calculates real-time heat transfer parameters and adjusts heat pump output based on these changing parameters, optimizing heating efficiency without excessive complexity.
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 ensures that the heat pump output is adjusted according to the actual heat required, reducing power consumption and improving fuel efficiency by accurately reflecting the cooling water heating amount, thereby enhancing vehicle fuel economy.
Implementation Method 1
The heater includes a heat pump and an exhaust-heat recovery device. The heater includes a heat pump and an exhaust-gas recovery device.
Implementation Method 2
The temperature sensors are connectable to the cooling water circuit and are configured to detect a temperature of the cooling water.
Implementation Method 3
The amount of heat used to heat the engine varies when a factor such as a water temperature of the cooling water for the engine inlet or an inside temperature of the engine changes. The amount of heat used to heat the cooling water is, in other words, an amount of heat transferring from the engine to the cooling water.
Data Source
AI summary
An air conditioner for a vehicle including an engine, which serves as a power source and is configured to allow a cooling water to flow therethrough, includes a cooling water circuit, a heater, temperature sensors, and an output controller. The cooling water circuit allows the cooling water to circulate therein in a heating operation. The heater serves as a heat source, other than the engine, configured to heat the cooling water circulating in the cooling water circuit. The temperature sensors are connectable to the cooling water circuit and are configured to detect a temperature of the cooling water. The temperature sensors are positioned upstream and downstream of at least one of the engine and the heater. The output controller is configured to adjust at least an output of the heater based on the temperatures of the cooling water detected by the temperature sensors.