Vehicle Heat Pump Airflow Partition for Compact HVAC Packaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle air conditioning systems are bulky due to the need for separate air outlets for cooled and heated air, leading to inefficient use of space and reduced condensing performance of the condenser.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle air conditioning apparatus with a partitioned first and second area, where air is blown by a single blower, cooled or heated in the first area for vehicle intake, and discharged externally in the second area without additional doors, utilizing a heat exchanger and evaporator in the first area and a heat exchanger in the second area to optimize space and enhance heating and cooling performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate air outlet ports are formed for cooled and heated air in a heat pump system, then cooling and heating functions are achieved, but the overall size of the air conditioning case increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the air outlet ports for both cooled and heated air into a single location at the front of the air conditioning case. The partition wall divides the internal space into first and second areas, but both areas discharge air through the same front outlet port, merging the discharge function while maintaining separate cooling and heating zones internally.
Solution Approach 2:
The air conditioning case is segmented into a first area for cooling and a second area for heating by a partition wall. This segmentation allows independent temperature control in each zone while using a shared air outlet port, resolving the contradiction between functional versatility and compact size.
2Device complexity
If the condenser is installed in the air conditioning case with limited space, then the system structure is simplified, but the condensing performance and cooling performance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The partition wall creates localized zones with different thermal characteristics. The first area is optimized for cooling with the evaporator, while the second area is optimized for heating with the condenser. This local quality differentiation allows each component to operate at optimal performance within the constrained overall space.
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 apparatus is miniaturized, effectively utilizes engine room space, and enhances heating and cooling efficiency by using engine room air and auxiliary inside air to boost evaporation performance, with an auxiliary heating exchanger for faster heating.
Implementation Method 1
an evaporator evaporating the low-pressure liquid refrigerant throttled by the expansion member through heat-exchange with air blown to the inside of the vehicle, thereby cooling air discharged to the inside using heat absorption by evaporative latent heat of the refrigerant
Implementation Method 2
cooling air discharged to the inside using heat absorption by evaporative latent heat of the refrigerant
Implementation Method 3
a condenser condensing the high-pressure refrigerant delivered from the compressor
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to an air conditioning apparatus for a vehicle and, more specifically, to an air conditioning apparatus for a heat pump system, wherein while blown air passes through a first area and a second area which are partitioned from each other by a first separation wall, air passing through the first area is cooled or heated and then supplied to the inside of a vehicle, and air passing through the second area is discharged to the outside, so that the air conditioning apparatus can be miniaturized and can easily cool or heat the inside of the vehicle.