Vehicle HVAC Discharge Air Ejector for Lower Energy Ventilation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air conditioning systems in vehicles consume significant energy due to the use of fans to remove discharge air, which negatively impacts the range of electric vehicles.
Innovation Solution
The system employs a jet pump powered by air streams generated by the vehicle's movement, eliminating the need for electric fans and reducing energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a fan is used to remove discharge air from the passenger compartment, then the air conditioning system can effectively ventilate the vehicle interior, but energy consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The air conditioning system utilizes the vehicle's own motion to generate air streams that power the jet pump for discharge air removal. The vehicle's forward movement creates pressure differentials and air flows that are harnessed to drive the jet pump, eliminating the need for separate electric fan power and reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining effective ventilation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs a jet pump that operates on pneumatic principles, using compressed air streams from the vehicle's motion to create vacuum and pressure differentials for moving discharge air. The jet pump converts the kinetic energy of the incoming air stream into pneumatic pressure to suction and discharge air from the passenger compartment without mechanical moving parts.
2Ease of operation
If an electric fan is installed in the discharge air passage, then air circulation is maintained, but the system becomes more complex and space-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional electric fan mechanism with a jet pump that has no moving parts. Instead of using an electric motor to drive blades, the system uses the vehicle's motion-generated air streams to power the jet pump through pneumatic pressure differentials. This substitution eliminates mechanical complexity while maintaining air circulation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and eliminates the electric motor and blade assembly from the discharge air passage, retaining only the essential air moving function. By removing the complex mechanical components and replacing them with a jet pump that uses fluid dynamics, the system achieves simpler construction and reduced space requirements while preserving air circulation.
3Reliability
If a traditional fan system is used for discharge air removal, then reliable air exchange is achieved, but the component requires more space and has limited durability
Solution Approach 1:
The jet pump system uses the vehicle's own motion as its power source, eliminating the need for separate electric motors and power transmission components. The air stream generated by vehicle movement directly powers the jet pump, reducing the space required for power components while maintaining reliable air exchange through the pneumatic drive mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
By replacing the electric fan's mechanical rotating components with a jet pump's pneumatic operation, the system achieves greater durability without moving parts that can wear or fail. The jet pump's simpler structure with no rotating elements reduces space requirements and improves reliability through elimination of mechanical wear points.
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
This design significantly reduces energy consumption by harnessing the vehicle's motion to power the jet pump, allowing for more efficient operation of the air conditioning system.
Implementation Method 1
these jet pumps have no moving parts, are typically durable, and relatively compact, thus requiring relatively little space. By using air streams to power the jet pump, energy obtained from the movement of the vehicle is exploited
Implementation Method 2
An embodiment in which the jet pump is a vacuum ejector that produces a vacuum by means of the Venturi effect is particularly advantageous
Implementation Method 3
a heat exchanger connected to the discharge air passage and fresh air intake, configured to exchange heat between the fresh air and the discharge air
Data Source
AI summary
An air conditioning system for heating and cooling intake air for a passenger compartment in a motor vehicle is provided, containing at least one cooler for cooling intake air, at least one heater for heating intake air, at least one fresh air intake for supplying fresh air from the environment to the cooler and/or heater, at least one discharge air passage for removing discharge air from the passenger compartment into the environment, and at least one heat exchanger, incorporated in the discharge air passage and the fresh air intake, which is configured to exchange heat between the fresh air and the discharge air.