Vehicle Body Cooling Layout for Instrument Panel Control Units
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge of efficiently cooling high-performance control devices in automobiles, which generate heat and are exposed to thermally severe environments, while minimizing energy consumption and avoiding damage from passenger movements.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle-body structure with a heat exchanger positioned close to the control device, a supply pipe for cooling liquid, and a compact cooling system using air-conditioned air, along with a center frame and connecting members to enhance stiffness and protect the cooling components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the heat exchanger is positioned far from the control device (near the powertrain), then the cooling system can be simpler, but the pressure loss and heat cooling loss increase, reducing cooling efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent repositions the heat exchanger from the conventional location near the powertrain to a new spatial dimension close to the control device in the instrument panel. This dimensional relocation optimizes the cooling efficiency by minimizing the distance and volume of cooling liquid transport, thereby reducing pressure loss and thermal losses while maintaining system simplicity.
2Ease of operation
If the control device is disposed in the instrument panel, then it is easily accessible, but it is exposed to thermally severe environments from the engine and hot sun, requiring effective heat measures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a dedicated cooling system with a heat exchanger as an intermediary component positioned between the control device and the thermal environment. The cooling liquid circulates through this intermediary heat exchanger to actively remove heat from the control device, protecting it from the severe thermal environment while maintaining its accessible location in the instrument panel.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the supply pipe is long and complex to reach the control device from a distant heat exchanger, then the heat exchanger can be positioned away from the control device, but the pressure loss increases and cooling efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by positioning the heat exchanger close to the control device before the cooling liquid supply is established. This pre-positioning minimizes the supply pipe length and complexity from the outset, ensuring low pressure loss and high cooling efficiency while maintaining flexibility in heat exchanger placement within the instrument panel area.
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
The solution effectively suppresses temperature increase of the control device, reduces pressure loss, and minimizes damage to cooling pipes, while maintaining a compact and efficient cooling system.
Implementation Method 1
a heat exchanger disposed on a vehicle front side of the dash panel... subjected to heat exchange at the heat exchanger
Implementation Method 2
a supply pipe through which a cooling liquid used as a heat exchange medium subjected to heat exchange at the heat exchanger is supplied to the control device
Data Source
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AI summary
A vehicle-body structure includes a floor panel 41, a dash panel 50 extending upward from a vehicle front portion of the floor panel 41 and partitioning a vehicle front portion of an occupant space, a cooler 121 disposed on a vehicle front side of the dash panel 50, a control device 130 disposed in the occupant space, and a supply pipe 131 through which a heat exchange medium subjected to heat exchange at a heat exchanger 121 is supplied to the control device 130. The heat exchanger 121 is closer to the control device 130 than a powertrain PT mounted on an automobile. Problem: to enable efficient cooling of a control device of a vehicle.