Vehicle Air-Conditioning Testing Under Simulated Solar Radiation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for testing air conditioners in vehicles do not effectively account for the influence of solar radiation during the development phase, leading to potential delays and changes in the system test or operation if the air conditioner does not meet requirements, as the impact of sunlight is often underestimated or not tested until downstream in a climate wind channel.
Innovation Solution
A procedure and test arrangement that simulate solar radiation using an artificial light source, such as an infrared spotlight, to test the air conditioner before the system test, allowing for adjustment based on known thermal properties and expected environmental conditions, enabling the evaluation of solar radiation's influence on the air conditioner's performance before installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If solar radiation testing is performed only in downstream system tests or during vehicle operation, then the testing process is simpler and less costly, but the air conditioning unit may not meet requirements leading to delays and modifications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing solar radiation testing during the development phase using an artificial light source before the unit is installed in the vehicle. This upstream testing allows identification and correction of performance issues before final system integration, preventing delays in the approval process while ensuring the unit meets required performance standards under solar radiation conditions.
2Productivity
If solar radiation influence is not tested during development phase, then the development process is faster and simpler, but the air conditioning unit may not meet operational requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs solar radiation testing during the development phase using an artificial light source before the unit is installed in the vehicle. This upstream testing allows identification and correction of performance issues before final system integration, preventing delays in the approval process while ensuring the unit meets required performance standards under solar radiation conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses an artificial light source to simulate solar radiation by changing the illumination parameters (intensity, spectrum, angle) to match real solar conditions. This allows controlled testing of the air conditioning unit's thermal response and performance under standardized solar radiation equivalents, ensuring reliable compliance assessment without requiring actual outdoor solar exposure.
3Loss of time
If artificial light source is used to simulate solar radiation, then early testing is enabled, but the complexity of the test arrangement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an artificial light source as an intermediary device to simulate solar radiation in a controlled indoor test environment. This mediator allows the testing of solar radiation effects without requiring actual sunlight or outdoor test facilities, enabling early performance validation during the development phase while maintaining manageable test arrangement complexity through standardized illumination equipment.
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
Enables early determination of an air conditioner's compliance with requirements, reducing the need for post-installation changes and delays by simulating sunlight exposure during a preliminary test, ensuring the air conditioner meets performance standards before vehicle operation.
Implementation Method 1
The artificial light source comprises, for example, a light source designed to emit infrared radiation. For example, the light source comprises an infrared radiator or an infrared lamp.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method and a test arrangement (1, 2, 3) for testing an air-conditioning unit (5) which is intended to provide conditioned room air for a vehicle (14) and which is exposed to solar radiation during the operation of the vehicle (14). In the method, the solar radiation is simulated by means of an artificial light source (30) during the test. The artificial light source (30) is set on the basis of a preliminary test (C), during which there is a test exposure of a representative location (10) of the air-conditioning unit (5) to light (21), with thermal-technical properties (K) of the air-conditioning unit (5) at the representative location (10) being known in advance.