Vehicular ventilation module for use with a vehicular HVAC system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current HVAC systems in tractor-trailers face inefficiencies due to varying thermal and humidity demands, requiring dynamic heat and energy recovery systems that can adjust in real-time to changing conditions for optimal comfort and reduced energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle ventilation module with a heat exchanger and controllable doors between fresh air and return air ducts, controlled by a sensor system to manage air flow and temperature, allowing for real-time adjustment to environmental conditions and user preferences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a heat exchanger is added to the ventilation module to enable heat recovery between fresh air and return air, then energy efficiency is improved by reducing thermal load on HVAC system, but device complexity increases due to additional components and ductwork
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the heat exchanger, fresh air duct, return air duct, and control doors into an integrated ventilation module that is part of the HVAC system. This merging of components allows heat recovery functionality to be added without requiring completely separate systems, thereby improving energy efficiency while limiting the increase in overall device complexity through systematic integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat exchanger acts as an intermediary device between the fresh air duct and return air duct, enabling thermal energy transfer without direct mixing of air streams. This intermediary component facilitates heat recovery that reduces the thermal load on the HVAC system while maintaining functional separation between fresh and recirculated air paths.
2Adaptability or versatility
If controllable doors are installed to selectively mix fresh air and recirculated air, then adaptability to varying thermal and humidity demands is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements controllable doors that can dynamically adjust their position to vary the mixture of fresh air and recirculated air based on real-time thermal and humidity demands. These doors transition from static to dynamic control, allowing the system to adapt to changing conditions while the control logic manages the complexity of having multiple movable components.
Solution Approach 2:
The controllable doors enable changes in air flow parameters (volume, temperature, humidity composition) by adjusting the mixing ratio of fresh and recirculated air. By varying these parameters dynamically, the system achieves high adaptability to different operating conditions without requiring multiple complete ventilation systems.
3Ease of operation
If real-time sensor control is implemented to adjust air flow and temperature, then user comfort is improved by optimizing air conditioning, but device complexity increases due to sensor systems and control logic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs sensor systems that continuously monitor thermal and humidity conditions and provide feedback to the control logic. This feedback mechanism enables automatic adjustment of the controllable doors and heat exchanger operation to maintain optimal user comfort conditions, transforming a manually operated system into an automated one that responds dynamically to environmental changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system with sensors and logic enables the ventilation module to self-regulate air flow and temperature mixing based on measured conditions. The system serves itself by automatically adjusting operations without requiring manual intervention, thereby improving user comfort while the automated control manages the complexity of multiple sensors and actuators.
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 solution reduces the thermal load on HVAC systems, enhancing energy efficiency and user comfort by optimizing air conditioning and heating processes, regardless of external or internal conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a heat exchanger thermally coupled to the return air duct and the fresh air duct, wherein the heat exchanger is upstream of the return air outlet and the fresh air outlet, and downstream of the return air inlet and the fresh air inlet
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosed embodiments include a vehicular ventilation module having control circuitry, a return air duct, a fresh air duct, a heat exchanger, and a door joining an upstream portion of the return air duct upstream of the heat exchanger and an upstream portion of the fresh air duct upstream of the heat exchanger. The fresh air duct has an air inlet and an air outlet downstream of the air inlet. The heat exchanger is thermally coupled to the return air duct upstream of the return air outlet and to the fresh air duct downstream of the return air inlet. The door selectively opens to enable air to pass between the fresh air duct and the return air duct. The control circuitry is configured to operate in a first mode of operation, including having the door open. The return air outlet is configured to provide air to the HVAC system.