Vehicle HVAC Intake Layout for Uniform Evaporator Airflow
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Solution Overview
Problem
In vehicle air-conditioning units, uneven velocity distribution across the cooling heat exchanger can lead to inadequate cooling and potential freezing, deteriorating air-conditioning performance due to the positional relationship between the blower and the cooling heat exchanger.
Innovation Solution
The air-conditioning unit design includes multiple introducing openings positioned outside a projected region of the air-conditioning case, ensuring air flows evenly across both the facing and non-facing portions of the cooling heat exchanger, reducing velocity differences by strategically locating these openings to restrict biased airflow towards the suction opening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the blower and cooling heat exchanger are positioned with the suction opening facing the heat exchanger, then the air-conditioning unit achieves a compact structure, but uneven velocity distribution occurs across the cooling heat exchanger leading to inadequate cooling and potential freezing
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the introducing openings into multiple separate openings (first introducing opening and second introducing opening) positioned at different locations. This segmentation allows air to be introduced from multiple directions, creating a more uniform velocity distribution across the cooling heat exchanger surface while maintaining the compact blower-heat exchanger configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies local quality by positioning introducing openings at specific locations (above and below the cooling heat exchanger) to create targeted airflow patterns. This localized air introduction ensures that different regions of the heat exchanger receive appropriate airflow, preventing both inadequate cooling and freezing while preserving the compact unit design.
2Productivity
If introducing openings are positioned to maximize airflow to the cooling heat exchanger, then cooling efficiency improves, but velocity distribution becomes uneven causing biased airflow towards the suction opening
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs asymmetric positioning of introducing openings relative to the cooling heat exchanger, with openings located both above and below the heat exchanger at strategic positions. This asymmetric arrangement balances the airflow distribution across the heat exchanger surface, ensuring uniform velocity distribution while maintaining high cooling efficiency through optimized air intake paths.
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 configuration equalizes air velocity distribution through the cooling heat exchanger, preventing inadequate cooling and freezing, thereby enhancing air-conditioning performance without additional components that could increase pressure loss or complexity.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling heat exchanger disposed in the air-conditioning case at a position upstream of the blower in an airflow direction and configured to cool the air to be blown into the vehicle cabin
Implementation Method 2
a blower housed in the air-conditioning case... configured to blow the air into the vehicle cabin along the air passage
Data Source
AI summary
An air-conditioning unit includes an air-conditioning case, a blower, and a cooling heat exchanger disposed at a position upstream of the blower. The blower includes a rotational shaft and a suction opening. The cooling heat exchanger includes a facing portion that overlaps with the suction opening in the axial direction and a non-facing portion that does not overlap with the suction opening in the axial direction. The air-conditioning case includes a projected region that is virtually formed by projecting the facing portion toward an upstream side of the air-conditioning case along the axial direction. The air-conditioning case defines introducing openings at positions outside of the projected region. At least a first one of the introducing openings is located on a side of the projected region opposite to at least a second one of the introducing openings.