Vehicle Climate Control Unit with Suction Side Heat Exchangers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle climate control units with heat exchangers on the suction side of the blower struggle to achieve thermal stratification at air outlets due to mixing of cold and warm air, leading to uniform temperature distribution, which contradicts manufacturer requirements and increases complexity and costs.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle climate control unit design with the evaporator and heating heat exchanger disposed upstream of the blower on the suction side, and an additional heating heat exchanger downstream on the pressure side, allowing for selective reheat and thermal stratification through parallel or series connections of heat exchangers and temperature louvers for precise air flow control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of stationary object
If heat exchangers are disposed on the suction side of the blower, then installation volume is reduced, but thermal stratification at air outlets cannot be achieved due to mixing of cold and warm air
Solution Approach 1:
The heating heat exchanger is divided into two functionally independent zones: a preheat zone upstream of the blower and a reheat zone downstream of the blower. This segmentation allows different air streams to be heated at different stages, enabling thermal stratification at air outlets while maintaining the space-saving suction-side configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
Different zones of the heating heat exchanger are assigned different functions: the preheat zone heats air before the blower, while the reheat zone heats air after the blower. This local differentiation of function allows thermal stratification to be achieved at specific air outlets without requiring additional complete heat exchanger units.
2Temperature
If heat exchangers are disposed on the pressure side of the blower, then thermal stratification can be achieved, but installation volume increases and power requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The heating heat exchanger serves multiple functions by operating in two modes: preheating air upstream of the blower and reheating air downstream of the blower. This multi-functionality allows a single heat exchanger component to achieve thermal stratification without requiring separate preheat and reheat units, thereby reducing installation volume.
3Temperature
If additional heating heat exchangers are added for reheat, then thermal stratification is enabled, but device complexity and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The heating heat exchanger is segmented into preheat and reheat zones that can be controlled independently through a single electronic expansion valve. This segmentation allows thermal stratification to be achieved without adding multiple complete heat exchanger units, reducing device complexity while maintaining functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The preheat and reheat functions are merged into a single heating heat exchanger component rather than using separate units. This consolidation reduces the number of components, simplifies the system structure, and lowers costs while still enabling thermal stratification through zone-controlled operation.
4Volume of stationary object
If suction-side disposition is used, then installation space is saved, but all air outlets are tempered alike due to thorough mixing in the blower
Solution Approach 1:
Air is preheated in the preheat zone before entering the blower, and then selectively reheated in the reheat zone after the blower. This preliminary heating action, combined with selective reheat, enables different air outlets to receive air at different temperatures despite the mixing that occurs in the blower, thereby achieving adaptability in temperature control.
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 adjustable thermal stratification at air outlets with reduced installation volume, lower power requirements, and lower noise, while reducing the need for additional components and resources, thus lowering costs and maintenance complexity.
Implementation Method 1
evaporator (2) and a heating heat exchanger (3, 9) with a preheat zone (3) and a reheat zone (9), as well as a blower (4). The heat exchangers (2, 3, 9) are disposed upstream of the blower (4) in the direction of the air flow
Implementation Method 2
heating heat exchanger (3, 9) with a preheat zone (3) and a reheat zone (9)
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle climate control unit with an evaporator, a heating heat exchanger as well as a blower, characterized in that, in the direction of the air flow, are disposed, upstream of the blower on the suction side, the evaporator and the heating heat exchanger, and that an additional heating heat exchanger is disposed downstream of the blower on the pressure side.