Vehicle Side Duct Layout for Radiator Airflow Confinement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hybrid vehicles face issues with air flow from the front radiator heating the air supplied through intake mouths, affecting the operation of the heat exchanger and heating/conditioning system due to inadequate airflow management.
Innovation Solution
The vehicle design incorporates a central duct with side ducts that divert air flows, ensuring lower temperature air bypasses the radiator and intake mouths, maintaining system efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If air flows through the front radiator and supply duct, then the electric motor is cooled effectively, but the air supplied through the intake mouths becomes overheated
Solution Approach 1:
The air flow management system is segmented into separate pathways: a central supply duct for the radiator and two side ducts for the intake mouths. This segmentation allows independent control of air flows, enabling the radiator to receive cool air while the intake mouths are protected from overheated air by the thermal barrier effect of the side ducts
Solution Approach 2:
The side ducts act as intermediary thermal barriers between the hot radiator air flow and the intake mouths. These ducts confine the hot air flow in the central region, preventing direct thermal interaction with the intake mouths located in the side regions, thus mediating the thermal environment for the heat exchanger and heating/conditioning system
2Strength
If the front bottom is closed to support vertical load, then structural strength is improved, but air flow management becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The front bottom is segmented into a closed structural portion for load bearing and integrated air flow channels for thermal management. This segmentation allows the front bottom to simultaneously fulfill mechanical support functions and fluid management functions without requiring separate complex systems
Solution Approach 2:
The air flow management system is merged with the front bottom structure itself. The supply duct and side ducts are integrated into the front bottom assembly, combining the structural support function with the air guidance function, thereby reducing overall system complexity despite the closed design requirement
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 effectively prevents overheating of the intake mouths and ensures optimal operation of the heat exchanger and heating/conditioning system, enhancing vehicle performance.
Implementation Method 1
a front radiator (11) to cool the air flow (F1) passing through it
Implementation Method 2
two side ducts (13) arranged on opposite sides of the duct (12) to confine the air flow (F1) coming from the duct (12)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A vehicle has a front compartment (6) obtained within an outer body (5) and delimited by a front bumper (8) and by a front hood (9), a central duct (12), which extends between the front bumper (8) and the front hood (9) and opens outwards both through the front bumper (8) and through the front hood (9), a front radiator (11) mounted along the central duct (12) and two side ducts (13), which are arranged on opposite sides of the central duct (12), extend between the front bumper (8) and the front hood (9) and open outwards both through the front bumper (8) and through the front hood (9) so as to confine a central air flow (F1) supplied along the central duct (12) between two side air flows (F2) supplied along the side ducts (13).