Vehicle, method and system for drying evaporator of vehicle air conditioner

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for drying vehicle air conditioner evaporators are inefficient and often compromise indoor air quality, leading to user discomfort and poor user experience due to the discharge of hot air into the cabin during the drying process.

Innovation Solution

A method involving closing the air duct after cooling stops, using the heating core and fan to generate hot air that circulates over the evaporator core to evaporate condensed water, and directly venting the hot and humid air to the exterior, thereby accelerating drying while maintaining indoor air quality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the air outlet mode is set to foot blowing mode during evaporator drying, then the drying efficiency is improved, but the temperature in the vehicle cabin rapidly rises and air quality deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrying efficiencyVSAvoidcabin air quality and temperature
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The air outlet is segmented into two independent channels: one channel directs hot air to the evaporator for drying, while the other channel maintains normal cabin air supply. This segmentation allows the drying function to be performed without discharging hot air into the cabin, thus maintaining cabin comfort and air quality while achieving effective evaporator drying.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If hot air is discharged into the vehicle cabin during air circulation, then the evaporator drying is accelerated, but user comfort is reduced and user experience deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrying speedVSAvoiduser comfort and experience
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The harmful hot air that would normally be discharged into the cabin is extracted and redirected through a separate exhaust channel to the external environment. This extraction ensures that the hot air used for drying does not enter the cabin space, thereby maintaining user comfort while achieving the drying objective.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If existing drying methods are used, then the evaporator can be dried, but energy consumption increases and drying efficiency remains low

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrying effectivenessVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The heating function and drying function are merged into a single integrated process. The heating core generates hot air that is simultaneously used for both cabin heating (when needed) and evaporator drying, eliminating the need for separate drying operations and reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining drying effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 approach enhances drying efficiency with reduced energy consumption, prevents hot air from entering the cabin, and maintains indoor comfort, resulting in a high-efficiency, low-energy drying process for the evaporator.

Implementation Method 1

hot air capable of circulating is generated in the air duct by means of the heating core and the fan, and during circulation, the hot air passes by the surface of the evaporator core and carries away condensed water precipitated on a surface of the evaporator core for conversion into hot and humid air

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Implementation Method 2

hot air capable of circulating is generated in the air duct by means of the heating core and the fan

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectForced Convection: Forced Convection

Data Source

PatentEP4245583B1Vehicle, method and system for drying evaporator of vehicle air conditioner
Publication Date: 2024.09.25 NIO TECH ANHUI CO LTD
  • EP4245583B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4245583B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4245583B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The disclosure relates to the technical field of vehicles, and particularly provides a vehicle, a method and system for drying an evaporator of a vehicle air conditioner, aiming to solve the problems of low efficiency and poor effects of an existing method for drying an evaporator of a vehicle air conditioner. In the method for drying an evaporator of a vehicle air conditioner provided according to the disclosure, the vehicle air conditioner comprises an evaporator core (13), an air duct (100) for circulating air is constructed in an air conditioner box (1), and a fan (12), the evaporator core (13) and a heating core (14, 15) are arranged in the air duct (100), the method comprises: closing the air duct (100) after cooling of the vehicle air conditioner is stopped; operating the heating core (14, 15) and the fan (12), so as to generate, by means of the heating core (14, 15) and the fan (12), hot air which can circulate in the air duct (100), wherein during circulation, the hot air carries away condensed water precipitated on a surface of the evaporator core (13) for conversion into hot and humid air; and directly venting the hot and humid air from the air duct (100) to exterior environment, so that the evaporator core (13) is dried. The method provided according to the disclosure can implement the drying of the evaporator with high-efficiency and low energy consumption.