Vehicle Air Conditioner Independent Zone Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional integrated type air conditioners for vehicles cannot achieve independent right-and-left air-conditioning, leading to uneven temperature distribution, complex structure, high manufacturing costs, and reduced passenger space due to the partitioned air passageways.
Innovation Solution
An air conditioner with a simple structure featuring a first air passageway and a second air passageway, where a heating heat exchanger and a cooling heat exchanger are independently discharged to different zones within the vehicle, allowing for automatic control of air volume and temperature on both sides.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the air conditioner uses partitioned air passageways for cooling and heating, then cooling and heating functions are integrated, but independent right-and-left air-conditioning cannot be achieved and temperature distribution becomes uneven
Solution Approach 1:
The air conditioner divides the air handling system into separate right and left zones, with independent air inlets, passageways, and discharge outlets for each side. This segmentation enables independent temperature control and uniform temperature distribution on both sides of the vehicle simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
Each side of the air conditioner is equipped with its own air inlet, passageway, and discharge outlet, allowing localized air conditioning control. The right and left sides can be adjusted independently to achieve optimal temperature distribution across different zones of the vehicle interior.
2Adaptability or versatility
If partitioned air passageways are used for integrated cooling and heating, then both functions are achieved, but the structure becomes complex and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The air conditioner uses a single integrated unit that performs both cooling and heating functions through shared components such as the compressor, condenser, evaporator, and expansion valve. The system switches between cooling and heating modes using mode switching doors, eliminating the need for separate cooling and heating systems and reducing overall structural complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If partitioned air passageways are used for integrated cooling and heating, then both functions are achieved, but passenger space is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The air conditioner merges the cooling and heating systems into a single integrated unit with shared components including the compressor, condenser, evaporator, and expansion valve. This consolidation reduces the overall space required compared to having separate cooling and heating systems, thereby increasing passenger space 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
Enables independent air-conditioning control for both sides of the vehicle, improves air mixing, maintains constant air volume on one side when the other is turned off, and increases passenger space by simplifying the internal layout.
Implementation Method 1
an evaporator for exchanging heat between the liquefied refrigerant of low pressure throttled by the expansion valve and air blown to the interior of the vehicle and evaporating the refrigerant to cool the air discharged to the interior of the vehicle due to heat absorption by evaporative latent heat
Implementation Method 2
a condenser for condensing the refrigerant of high pressure discharged from the compressor
Implementation Method 3
a heating heat exchanger disposed in one among the first air passageway and the second air passageway
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a vehicle air conditioning device, which is an air conditioning device using an integrated heat pump system, and in which left and right independent air conditionings can be implemented in a simple structure such that the left and right air volumes may be automatically controlled, the ability to mix hot and cold air is improved, and sufficient space can be secured inside a vehicle.