Vehicle Heat Management Valve Switching for Stable Cabin Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heat management systems in vehicles face inefficiencies when using an electric heater for heating, as the heating capacity can temporarily decrease due to low-temperature cooling liquid bypassing the internal combustion engine, which is not effectively warmed by the engine's heat.
Innovation Solution
A heat management device with multiple flow paths that includes a bypass flow path for the internal combustion engine, allowing the cooling liquid to be warmed by either the engine or an electric heater before reaching the heater core, and a control device to switch between these paths based on vehicle mode and heating needs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a bypass flow path is provided to circulate cooling liquid heated by the electric heater in the heater core, then heating efficiency is improved, but heating capacity temporarily decreases due to low-temperature cooling liquid flowing into the heater core
Solution Approach 1:
The control device activates the electric heater before switching to the second flow path, pre-heating the cooling liquid in the bypass flow path. This preliminary heating action ensures that when the bypass flow path is activated, the cooling liquid already has sufficient temperature, preventing temporary decrease in heating capacity while maintaining high heating efficiency.
2Use of energy by stationary object
If the cooling liquid circulates through the internal combustion engine and heater core, then heating is provided using engine heat, but when the engine is stopped the heating function cannot be utilized
Solution Approach 1:
The heat management device provides multiple flow paths: the first flow path utilizes heat from the internal combustion engine when operating, while the second flow path enables heating using the electric heater when the engine is stopped. This multi-functional design ensures the heating function is available in both engine-on and engine-off conditions, significantly improving adaptability while maintaining efficient energy utilization.
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 device maintains consistent heating capacity by ensuring the cooling liquid is warmed before entering the heater core, regardless of engine operation, thereby preventing temporary decreases in heating performance.
Implementation Method 1
a first flow path that circulates a cooling liquid in the internal combustion engine and the heater core
Implementation Method 2
a second flow path that includes a bypass flow path that bypasses the internal combustion engine, the second flow path circulates the cooling liquid in a heat source different from the internal combustion engine and the heater core
Implementation Method 3
an air conditioning device that includes a heater core for heating a vehicle cabin of the vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
When heating is requested during HV traveling, the four-way valve of the first circuit is switched to mode 1 (connecting P2 and P3), and the cooling liquid is circulated to the internal combustion engine and the heater core. When heating is requested during EV traveling, the four-way valve is switched to mode 2 (connecting P1 and P3), and heating is performed by using the heat of the electric heater. When switching from mode 1 to mode 2, after switching from mode 1 to mode 3 (connecting P1 and P4 and connecting P2 and P3), switching from mode 3 to mode 2 is performed. The low-temperature cooling liquid that has stayed in the flow path in mode 1 flows into the heater core in mode 2 after being heated by the internal combustion engine in mode 3, so that it is possible to suppress the heating capacity from being temporarily lowered.