Vehicle Air Conditioning Segmented Loop Reduces Refrigerant
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air conditioning systems in transport vehicles are ecologically unsatisfactory due to high refrigerant consumption and energy overuse, particularly in vehicles with route stops where efficient cooling is required.
Innovation Solution
An air conditioning system comprising a main cooling zone with a compressor, a main refrigerant loop, and an auxiliary loop using water-based glycol as refrigerant, which exchanges heat with the main loop and passenger compartment, reducing the length of the main refrigerant loop and extending the cooling duration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a tubular duct in the form of a loop extends along the entire length of the vehicle to air-condition various areas, then the air-conditioning coverage is improved, but the refrigerant consumption increases considerably
Solution Approach 1:
The air-conditioning system is divided into a main cooling zone with a compressor and condensation/evaporation stages, and multiple secondary loops that independently service different compartments of the vehicle. Each secondary loop has its own evaporator and distribution network, allowing localized cooling without requiring a continuous refrigerant loop throughout the entire vehicle length.
Solution Approach 2:
A secondary refrigerant or coolant is introduced as an intermediary substance in the secondary loops. This secondary refrigerant is cooled in the evaporation stage of the main loop and then circulates through heat exchangers in various vehicle compartments, providing cooling without requiring the primary refrigerant to travel the entire length of the vehicle.
2Area of stationary object
If a tubular duct in the form of a loop extends along the entire length of the vehicle, then the air-conditioning coverage is improved, but the energy consumption increases substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the cooling function into a centralized compression and condensation unit, with distributed secondary loops that can operate independently. This reduces the energy required to circulate refrigerant throughout the entire vehicle, as each secondary loop only needs to circulate coolant locally rather than maintaining pressure differentials over the full vehicle length.
Solution Approach 2:
The high-energy-consuming compression and condensation functions are extracted and centralized in the main cooling zone, while the secondary loops use passive or low-energy circulation methods. The secondary refrigerant is cooled once in the main evaporation stage and then distributed to multiple locations without requiring continuous high-energy compression throughout the vehicle.
3Area of stationary object
If a large amount of refrigerant is used to extend the tubular duct along the entire vehicle length, then the air-conditioning coverage is improved, but the ecological impact worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The refrigerant system is segmented into a small main loop containing the compressor and evaporation stage, with separate secondary loops using an environmentally friendly secondary refrigerant. This eliminates the need for large quantities of potentially harmful primary refrigerant throughout the vehicle, replacing it with a small amount of primary refrigerant in the main loop and benign secondary refrigerant in the distribution loops.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the refrigerant parameter by using different substances in different parts of the system. The main loop uses a controlled amount of primary refrigerant (such as R410A or R134a) at high pressure, while the secondary loops use an environmentally friendly secondary refrigerant (such as water-glycol mixture) at lower pressure, significantly reducing the total amount of potentially harmful refrigerant in the vehicle.
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 solution reduces refrigerant consumption, minimizes ecological impact, and improves energy efficiency by using a water-based auxiliary refrigerant with superior ecological properties and R410A in the main loop, allowing conditioned air to be maintained for longer durations with reduced fuel consumption.
Implementation Method 1
the auxiliary loop exchanges heat, on one side with the principle loop, and on the other side with the air in the passenger compartment of the vehicle being air-conditioned
Implementation Method 2
the auxiliary loop exchanges heat with the passenger compartment of the vehicle in at least one second heat exchanger, equipping at least one diffuser placed on the body of the vehicle
Implementation Method 3
an evaporation stage, in which it supplies the frigories, that 's the amount of refrigerant necessary to cool the air in the vehicle
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 1a
AI summary
This device includes a main cooling area (Z) which comprises a compressor (8), a main loop (10) conveying a main refrigerant, as well as a condensation stage (C) passed through by said main loop (14), at least one diffuser (221-224), and an auxiliary loop (16) conveying an auxiliary refrigerant. Said auxiliary loop (16) exchanges heat with the main loop (14) in a first heat exchanger (20) placed close to the main zone (Z), said auxiliary loop (16) also exchanging heat with the air to be conditioned in the vehicle's passenger compartment, through at least one second heat exchanger, equipping the or each diffuser (221-224).