Vehicle Under-Seat Duct Intersection for Battery Cooling and Cabin Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
In vehicles, particularly hybrid and electric vehicles, there is a challenge in efficiently utilizing the space under seats for both battery cooling and heating systems without interference, while maintaining accessibility for maintenance and inspection.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an exhaust duct that extends in the vehicle width direction and intersects with a heater duct, which extends in the front-rear direction, allows for the efficient discharge of cooled air from the battery module and hot air from the air conditioner, respectively, while avoiding interference and enabling maintenance access without dismounting the ducts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the exhaust duct and heater duct are both disposed under the seat using the same space, then space utilization is improved, but the ducts interfere with each other and maintenance access becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The exhaust duct is configured to extend in the vehicle width direction while the heater duct extends in the front-rear direction, creating a three-dimensional spatial arrangement that allows both ducts to coexist under the seat without interfering with each other's maintenance access. The exhaust duct passes above the heater duct, utilizing the vertical dimension to resolve spatial conflict.
Solution Approach 2:
The heater duct is divided into a first heater duct section and a second heater duct section, with the exhaust duct passing above the first section. This segmentation allows the maintenance and inspection plug to be positioned at the branch portion between the two sections, enabling easy access without dismounting the entire duct system.
2Area of stationary object
If the exhaust duct extends in the vehicle width direction and intersects the heater duct, then space efficiency is improved, but heat transfer between ducts may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The exhaust duct is extracted from the conventional configuration and repositioned to extend in the vehicle width direction above the heater duct. This separation in vertical space allows the exhaust air to be discharged more effectively while reducing unwanted heat transfer to the heater duct, maintaining better temperature control.
3Volume of moving object
If the battery module is disposed under the seat, then vehicle interior space is optimized, but cooling and heating duct routing becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The duct configuration is designed to serve multiple functions: the exhaust duct not only discharges cooled air from the battery module but also routes above the heater duct to facilitate heater air discharge. This multi-functional arrangement optimizes the use of the limited space under the seat while managing both cooling and heating requirements.
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 optimizes space usage under the seats, allows for efficient heat transfer between the exhaust and heater ducts, and facilitates maintenance by positioning the maintenance and inspection plug between branched heater duct sections, ensuring unobstructed access and reduced exhaust air temperature.
Implementation Method 1
an exhaust duct (9) that discharges air that has cooled the battery module
Implementation Method 2
air that has cooled the battery module
Implementation Method 3
a heater duct (12, 13) that discharges hot air from an air conditioner
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle includes a floor panel, a battery module, a heater duct, and an exhaust duct. The battery module is disposed on the floor panel under a seat. The heater duct is disposed on the floor panel to discharge air output from an air conditioner through the heater duct. The exhaust duct is provided on the floor panel to discharge air output from the battery module through the exhaust duct. The exhaust duct intersects the heater duct viewed in a height direction of the vehicle.