Vehicle Air-Conditioning System with Predictive Temperature Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing air-conditioning systems for vehicles face challenges in efficiently controlling the temperature of both vehicle interiors and equipment, such as motors and batteries, while optimizing energy use and maintaining optimal operating conditions for electric vehicles.

Innovation Solution

An air-conditioning system that includes a temperature detection unit, a controller, a prediction unit, and a target temperature change unit, which predicts future temperatures based on vehicle driving states and travel plans to adjust the target temperatures of cooling media within the system, thereby optimizing cooling and heating operations across refrigeration and cooling circuits.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a single air-conditioning system is used to cool both equipment and air-condition the vehicle interior, then system complexity is reduced, but temperature control precision for both equipment and interior deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair-conditioning system structureVSAvoidtemperature control precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the temperature control system into separate equipment cooling circuit and air-conditioning circuit, each with independent temperature detection and control. The equipment cooling circuit includes temperature detection unit (63) and control for equipment temperature, while the air-conditioning circuit includes temperature detection unit (62) and control for vehicle interior temperature. This segmentation allows precise temperature control for both equipment and interior while maintaining a unified system architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If target temperature is adjusted based on predicted future temperature, then temperature control effectiveness is improved, but control system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature control effectivenessVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary temperature adjustment by predicting future equipment temperature and vehicle interior temperature, then proactively adjusting the target temperature before the actual temperature deviation occurs. The prediction unit forecasts temperature changes based on current conditions, and the target temperature change unit pre-adjusts the target temperature accordingly. This preliminary action ensures more effective temperature control while adding only moderate complexity through software-based prediction algorithms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If cooling medium target temperature is lowered to improve equipment cooling efficiency, then equipment cooling performance is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveequipment cooling efficiencyVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent dynamically adjusts the cooling medium target temperature based on predicted equipment temperature and actual temperature conditions. Instead of maintaining a constantly low target temperature, the system optimizes the target temperature parameter according to real-time needs. When equipment temperature approaches target temperature, the system adjusts the cooling medium target temperature to prevent excessive cooling, thereby improving cooling efficiency while reducing unnecessary energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 system enables efficient cooling and heating of vehicle interiors and equipment, optimizing energy use and extending the travel distance of electric vehicles by effectively managing temperature control, reducing equipment costs, and enhancing operational efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

a first heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the first cooling medium and external air

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 2

exchanges heat between the first cooling medium and external air

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 3

a second heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the first cooling medium and the second cooling medium

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 4

exchanges heat between the first cooling medium and the second cooling medium

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 5

a compressor that compresses a first cooling medium

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Implementation Method 6

a cooling circuit that circulates a second cooling medium to the temperature controlling object to perform cooling/air-heating of the temperature controlling object

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP2508373B1Air-conditioning system for vehicle
Publication Date: 2016.08.17 HITACHI LTD
  • EP2508373B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2508373B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2508373B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An air-conditioning system for a vehicle for performing cooling/air-heating of a temperature controlling object includes: a temperature detection unit 63 that detects a temperature of the temperature controlling object; a controller 61 that controls the air-conditioning system based on a temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 63; a prediction unit 61 that predicts a forward temperature of the temperature controlling object based on at least either one of a detected temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 63 and a current vehicle driving state; a target temperature change unit 61 that changes a target temperature of the temperature controlling object or a target temperature of a cooling medium in the air-conditioning system for a vehicle based on a result of prediction by the prediction unit 61; wherein the controller 61 controls cooling/air-heating of the temperature controlling object based on a target temperature changed by the target temperature change unit 61.