Vehicle Temperature Controller Heat Medium Flow Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In vehicle-mounted temperature controllers, the heating function temporarily stops when the internal combustion engine is shut off, and the refrigeration cycle is not efficiently operated due to low temperature cooling water flowing to the heater core, affecting passenger compartment heating and refrigeration performance.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle-mounted temperature controller with a first heat circuit, refrigeration circuit, and internal combustion engine heat medium flow path, featuring a circulation mode control device that adjusts based on heating demand, engine operation, and refrigerant circulation, ensuring continuous heating and efficient refrigeration cycle operation by managing the flow of heat medium between the heat exchanger and heater core.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cooling water is circulated from the internal combustion engine to the heater core for heating, then heating function is maintained, but cooling water temperature in the circuit between heat exchanger and heater core drops when engine stops
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling water circuit is segmented into multiple paths: one path from the internal combustion engine to the heater core, and another path from the heat exchanger to the heater core. A circulation control valve selectively opens/closes these paths based on whether the engine is running, ensuring continuous heating while maintaining proper temperatures in each segment.
Solution Approach 2:
A circulation control valve acts as an intermediary device that mediates between the engine cooling water source and the heat exchanger cooling water source, directing flow to maintain heating function while preventing temperature drops in the circuit.
2Reliability
If warm cooling water is circulated to the heat exchanger to maintain heating, then heating function is sustained, but refrigeration cycle efficiency decreases due to insufficient heat discharge
Solution Approach 1:
The circulation control valve dynamically adjusts the cooling water flow path based on real-time conditions (engine operation state, heating demand, refrigeration demand). When refrigeration is needed, the valve directs cooler cooling water to the heat exchanger, enabling efficient heat discharge and maintaining high refrigeration cycle productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the temperature parameter of cooling water supplied to the heat exchanger based on operational mode: cooler water is supplied during refrigeration operation to maximize heat discharge efficiency, while warmer water from the engine can be supplied during heating-only mode.
3Device complexity
If a single heat exchanger is shared by both refrigeration circuit and high temperature circuit, then device complexity is reduced, but heating function temporarily stops when engine stops and refrigeration needs to operate
Solution Approach 1:
The single shared heat exchanger is functionally segmented through the circulation control valve, which creates separate operational pathways: one for engine-driven heating and another for heat exchanger-driven heating/refrigeration. This allows the single physical heat exchanger to serve multiple functions without conflict.
Solution Approach 2:
The circulation control valve dynamically switches between different operational modes of the shared heat exchanger, enabling it to function as a condenser for refrigeration or as a heat source for heating, depending on system demands and engine operation state.
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 solution maintains a continuous heating function and efficiently operates the refrigeration cycle by controlling the circulation mode of the heat medium, preventing low temperature cooling water from reaching the heater core and ensuring effective heat exchange, even when the internal combustion engine is off.
Implementation Method 1
a refrigeration circuit having the first heat exchanger discharging heat from a refrigerant to the first heat medium to make the refrigerant condense
Implementation Method 2
an evaporator making the refrigerant absorb heat to make the refrigerant evaporate
Implementation Method 3
a first heat circuit having a heater core used for heating an inside of a passenger compartment
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle-mounted temperature controller, including: a first heat circuit having a heater core used for heating and a first heat exchanger and configured so that a first heat medium is circulated through the first heat exchanger; a refrigeration circuit having the first heat exchanger condensing the refrigerant and an evaporator evaporating the refrigerant, and configured to operate a refrigeration cycle; and a heat medium flow path of an internal combustion engine configured to communicate with the first heat circuit so that the first heat medium circulates through the heat medium flow path. The first heat circuit is configured so that an outlet of the heat medium flow path is communicated with a core downstream side part positioned downstream of the heater core and upstream of the first heat exchanger and a core upstream side part positioned downstream of the first heat exchanger and upstream of the heater core.