Integrated Vehicle Air Conditioner Layout for Engine Room Space
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle air conditioners have a large size due to separate installation and connection of air conditioning and cooling modules, leading to reduced space utilization in the engine room and compromised cooling performance, especially with the condenser's low condensing performance.
Innovation Solution
The air conditioner integrates an air conditioning module and a cooling module, with the cooling module positioned in the entire width direction of the outer case, including a radiator and fan shroud, and an exterior heat exchanger adjacent to the radiator, allowing for controlled airflow through the air conditioning and cooling modules.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the air conditioning module and cooling module are installed separately and connected through refrigerant pipes, then the air conditioning system can function properly, but the overall size increases and space utilization in the engine room decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the air conditioning module and cooling module into a single integrated module, combining the evaporator, condenser, and other components into one unified structure. This merging eliminates the need for separate installation and refrigerant pipe connections, thereby reducing overall size while maintaining proper air conditioning function.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the air conditioning module and cooling module are installed separately, then each module can be optimized independently, but manufacturability decreases and production complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
By combining the air conditioning module and cooling module into a single integrated module, the patent simplifies the manufacturing process. The integrated structure allows for unified production and assembly, reducing production complexity while maintaining the ability to optimize individual components within the integrated design.
3Volume of moving object
If the condenser is installed in the air conditioning case with limited space, then the system fits in the available space, but condensing performance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the cooling module in the entire width direction of the outer case and places the exterior heat exchanger adjacent to the radiator in the width direction. This dimensional arrangement maximizes heat exchange surface area within the limited space, improving condensing performance without increasing overall volume.
4Ease of operation
If separate blowers are installed in the cold air passage and hot air passage, then air flow control is achieved, but the number of components increases and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a single blower that can operate in different modes to serve both the cold air passage and hot air passage. This multi-functional approach maintains air flow control capability while reducing the number of components compared to having separate blowers for each passage.
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 integration results in a smaller, more manufacturable air conditioner with improved space utilization, enhanced cooling and heating efficiency, and optimized heat exchange performance, while minimizing refrigerant pipes.
Implementation Method 1
an evaporator evaporating the low-pressure liquid refrigerant throttled by the expansion means by exchanging heat with air blown to a vehicle interior, to cool air discharged into the vehicle interior by using heat absorption by latent heat released when the refrigerant is evaporated
Implementation Method 2
a condenser condensing the high-pressure refrigerant delivered from the compressor... the condenser may be installed at a front portion of a vehicle to dissipate heat while exchanging heat with air
Implementation Method 3
The cooling module may include a radiator, a condenser and a fan shroud, and heat may be exchanged between the radiator and the condenser through wind blown from the front portion of the vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to an air conditioner for a vehicle and, more particularly, to an air conditioner for a vehicle which is capable of miniaturization by integrally forming an air conditioning module and a cooling module so as to increase space utilization in an engine room and further enhance manufacturability.