Vehicle Window Infrared Heating System for Battery Range
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Solution Overview
Problem
Battery-operated electric vehicles face challenges in efficiently heating and defrosting windows due to limited battery power at low temperatures, as they lack excess heat from internal combustion engines, leading to reduced vehicle range and heating efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A heating system comprising an outer and inner transparent pane with an intermediate space, where a controllable infrared source irradiates infrared radiation to heat the outer pane, with some radiation being reflected between the panes to enhance heating efficiency, reducing the need for air heating and minimizing heat loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional windshield heating system using warm air stream is used, then the windshield can be defrosted, but the required heating power is very high (10-12 kW) which reduces vehicle range
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical convection-based warm air stream heating system with an infrared radiation-based heating system. The infrared heater directly radiates thermal energy to the windshield and window panes, eliminating the need for complex air circulation mechanisms and reducing energy consumption while maintaining effective defrosting capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the heating parameter from convective heat transfer (warm air stream) to radiative heat transfer (infrared radiation). This parameter change allows direct heating of the glass surfaces without heating the air in between, significantly reducing the power required from 10-12 kW to a much lower level suitable for battery electric vehicles.
2Temperature
If PTC elements or fuel-operated heaters are used for supplementary heating, then the passenger compartment can be heated, but the maximum heating power available is comparatively low making effective defrosting difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces low-power supplementary heating devices (PTC elements, fuel-operated heaters) with a dedicated infrared radiation heating system designed specifically for window pane and windshield defrosting. This provides targeted high-power heating exactly where needed, rather than attempting to heat the entire passenger compartment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies heating locally and directly to the windshield and window panes that require defrosting, rather than distributing heat throughout the entire passenger compartment. The infrared heater is positioned to concentrate thermal energy on the glass surfaces, providing effective defrosting with minimal power consumption.
3Temperature
If battery power is used for heating at low temperatures, then the vehicle can be heated, but the battery capacity decreases at low temperatures reducing heating efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the inefficient battery-powered resistive heating system with an infrared radiation heating system that delivers thermal energy directly to the windshield and window panes. This substitution reduces the overall heating power requirement, thereby reducing the load on the battery and improving heating efficiency at low temperatures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the problem of low battery capacity at cold temperatures into an opportunity to implement a more efficient heating system. By using infrared radiation heating, the system minimizes energy consumption from the battery, effectively turning the limitation into a design advantage where the heating system is optimized for low-power operation.
4Loss of energy
If efficient internal combustion engines are used, then fuel consumption is reduced, but heating capacity is still insufficient requiring supplementary heating devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the insufficient heating capacity of efficient internal combustion engines with a dedicated infrared radiation heating system. This substitution provides adequate heating and defrosting power without compromising the fuel efficiency benefits of modern engines, as the infrared system operates independently with minimal power draw.
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 system provides efficient window heating and defrosting with reduced power consumption, maintaining a higher temperature in the vehicle while minimizing heat loss, thus improving vehicle range and comfort in cold conditions.
Implementation Method 1
at least one controllable infrared source configured to irradiate infrared radiation into the intermediate space so that the infrared radiation at least partially irradiates the outer pane
Implementation Method 2
the heating system is configured such that at least part of the infrared radiation is reflected from at least one of the outer and inner panes to the other of the outer and inner panes
Data Source
AI summary
A heating system for a vehicle is provided. In order to permit provision of efficient heating of a vehicle window pane of an electric vehicle, the system has two at least mainly transparent panes, wherein an outer pane is arranged on the outside of the vehicle and an inner pane is arranged on the inside of the outer pane to form an intermediate space, and at least one controllable infrared source is configured to irradiate infrared radiation into the intermediate space so that the infrared radiation at least partially irradiates the outer pane.