Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60H—ARRANGEMENTS OF HEATING, COOLING, VENTILATING OR OTHER AIR-TREATING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PASSENGER OR GOODS SPACES OF VEHICLES
  • B60H3/00—Other air-treating devices
  • B60H3/0085—Smell or pollution preventing arrangements
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60H—ARRANGEMENTS OF HEATING, COOLING, VENTILATING OR OTHER AIR-TREATING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PASSENGER OR GOODS SPACES OF VEHICLES
  • B60H1/00—Heating, cooling or ventilating devices
  • B60H1/00642—Control systems or circuits; Control members or indication devices for heating, cooling or ventilating devices
  • B60H1/00814—Control systems or circuits characterised by their output, for controlling particular components of the heating, cooling or ventilating installation
  • B60H1/00821—Control systems or circuits characterised by their output, for controlling particular components of the heating, cooling or ventilating installation the components being ventilating, air admitting or air distributing devices
  • B60H1/00828—Ventilators, e.g. speed control
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60H—ARRANGEMENTS OF HEATING, COOLING, VENTILATING OR OTHER AIR-TREATING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PASSENGER OR GOODS SPACES OF VEHICLES
  • B60H3/00—Other air-treating devices
  • B60H3/0071—Electrically conditioning the air, e.g. by ionizing
  • B60H3/0078—Electrically conditioning the air, e.g. by ionizing comprising electric purifying means

Definitions

• the present invention relates to the field of supplying and purifying air taken outside a motor vehicle and entering the passenger compartment.
• the invention relates to air supply devices comprising an air conditioning system.
• the air conditioning systems consist of a condenser in which the heat transfer fluid in the gaseous state condenses on contact with the outside air, and an evaporator in which the coolant in the liquid state evaporates in contact with the air. air to cool. Between the condenser and the evaporator are placed a compressor and a regulator that allow to change the temperature of the heat transfer fluid by changing its pressure.
• the evaporator is a heat exchanger between the heat transfer fluid which is the cold source and the air to be cooled which is the hot source.
• the air to be cooled is conveyed along the evaporator to promote heat exchange.
• part of the water vapor that it contains condenses in the form of droplets are formed mainly on the walls of the evaporator, where the temperature is lowest, and create a state of near constant humidity near the evaporator.
• the formation of such droplets has several disadvantages, including the appearance and proliferation of microorganisms that find a moist environment favorable to their development. These microorganisms are responsible for the generation of bad odors that can inconvenience the users of the air conditioning system, especially in a small space such as the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle.
• the patent application US 2005 0058582 describes an air conditioning system for a motor vehicle.
• the air conditioning system comprises a fan, an evaporator, at least one electrostatic filtration system and a catalytic plasma system comprising a plasma reactor.
• the plasma reactor operates continuously to destroy microorganisms and gaseous pollutants from outside air. Such a process therefore requires a high permanent electrical consumption and generates moreover, via the plasma reactor, toxic byproducts diffused inside the passenger compartment.
• the patent application US 2005 0169821 describes an air treatment system for a motor vehicle, comprising a fan, an evaporator and an oxidation device capable of decomposing the odors and / or pollutants contained in the air supplied.
• the oxidation device is an ozone generator used to sterilize the evaporator.
• the effectiveness, at temperatures of the order of 1 -2 0 C, of ozone to sterilize an evaporator is limited.
• the patent FR 2 848 500 describes a device for supplying air to the passenger compartment comprising a gas filter, a heater and a controlled valve adapted to allow a flow of gases from the passenger compartment through the heater and then through the filter. gas to regenerate said filter from the heated gases from the heater.
• the gases are heated to regenerate the gas filter and do not always pass through the evaporator which is likely to reduce their temperature.
• the invention proposes to remedy these disadvantages.
• the object of the invention is to improve the quality of the air in the passenger compartment, to limit the power consumption and / or to extend the period of effectiveness of the purification.
• the invention thus proposes a device for supplying air to a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, comprising at least one evaporator and a sterilization system.
• the feeding device air also comprises a set of controlled valves capable of authorizing:
• the flow of gases allows a renewal of the air present in the cabin of the vehicle from air taken at least partly outside, and passing through different organs, such as the evaporator. .
• the flow of gases from the passenger compartment to the outside it allows to treat the impurities contained in the evaporator with appropriate gases and then to evacuate these gases outside the vehicle.
• the sterilization system is arranged upstream of the evaporator during sterilization operation of the evaporator, that is to say that the active species produced by the sterilization system are driven, in sterilization operation of the evaporator, to said evaporator by the flow of gases from the passenger compartment, and can then be evacuated outside the vehicle. This results in better air quality in the passenger compartment.
• the sterilization system comprises a first electrode and a second electrode separated by a dielectric material.
• the sterilization system can thus be a cold plasma reactor.
• sterilization system is meant here an apparatus for producing active species, and in particular free radicals, capable of destroying microorganisms.
• active species are ozone, or even air particles ionized by a discharge created between the electrodes.
• These active species can destroy the microorganisms present downstream of the sterilization system.
• the evaporator is mounted downstream of the sterilization system and the active species produced by the discharges can therefore destroy the microorganisms present in the evaporator.
• the air supply device thus makes it possible to sterilize the evaporator by eliminating the microorganisms that are present there, and to evacuate to the outside the gases comprising the residues of microorganisms and possibly toxic discharge products. .
• the purpose of the evaporator sterilization system is not to destroy bad odors but to destroy the cause of these unpleasant odors, namely microorganisms.
• the sterilization system comprises a photocatalytic material.
• the photocatalytic material can be activated by the radiation produced by the discharges. It is thus possible to generate active species by plasma-photocatalytic coupling.
• the air supply device may also include a filter system mounted upstream of the evaporator, in normal operation.
• the filter systems are designed to retain either solid particles or gaseous pollutants, or both.
• Gas filters, especially activated carbon are rapidly losing their effectiveness and need to be replaced frequently.
• the retention capacity of activated carbons depends strongly on their temperature and is reversible.
• a gas filter saturated at room temperature has the ability to be regenerated by subjecting it to a temperature higher than that of its normal operation.
• the filter system may comprise a particulate filter and / or a gas filter.
• the flow of gases from the passenger compartment to the outside can allow particles to be extracted and discharged to the outside by the filtering system. It can also be used to convey compounds produced by the sterilization system and which have a temperature above ambient temperature, to the filtering system in order to regenerate it, and allow the evacuation to the outside. regeneration residues.
• the invention can thus allow, at the same time as the sterilization of the evaporator, the regeneration of the filtering system.
• the device also comprises a heater mounted upstream of the evaporator, in sterilization operation of the evaporator.
• the term "heater” means a heat exchanger for heating a gas passing through it and for cooling a fluid, in particular the liquid of the cooling circuit of the internal combustion engine. It is thus possible to heat air which is taken from the passenger compartment and which is sent, after reheating, through the evaporator and, where appropriate, the filtering system, in order to allow, on the one hand, to increase the temperature of the evaporator and other to desorb gas stored in the filter system.
• the generally high temperature of the internal combustion engine coolant is used during operation of the internal combustion engine or, preferably, during a shutdown, to transfer heat energy to the gas, thereby regenerating a gas filter. and the temperature increase of the evaporator, energy which, without this use, would gradually dissipate after the engine has been stopped.
• the invention therefore makes it possible to use, in order to raise the temperature of the gas filter and of the evaporator, an energy which, in conventional systems, is today lost.
• the increase in temperature of the evaporator makes it possible in particular to increase the efficiency of the sterilization by the active species produced by the sterilization system.
• the heater can belong to a circulation circuit of a coolant of an internal combustion engine fitted to the motor vehicle.
• the circulation circuit can be equipped with a water pump, for example electric, able to circulate the coolant in the heater, including when stopping the internal combustion engine.
• the device may comprise an electronic control unit capable, upon stopping the internal combustion engine, of triggering the operation of the sterilization system and of controlling the controlled valves so as to allow a flow of gases from the passenger compartment. through the evaporator.
• the sterilization system has only effect in sterilization operation of the evaporator, and this mode of operation may take place, for example, at stopping the vehicle. This limits the power consumption of the evaporator sterilization system, and the accumulation of reactive species in the evaporator wet residue prolongs the sterilizing effect even after stopping the sterilization system.
• the device also comprises a system for regenerating the filtering system, the regeneration system being mounted upstream of the filtering system and downstream of the evaporator, in sterilization operation of the evaporator.
• the regeneration system may be a cold plasma reactor similar to that of the sterilization system.
• the use in the air supply device of a second cold plasma reactor makes it possible to increase the regeneration of the filtering system.
• the active species produced by the sterilization system have a limited life and are used primarily to sterilize the evaporator.
• the gases passing through the filter system, in sterilization operation can therefore have a proportion of weak active species and a temperature reduced by the evaporator.
• the cold plasma reactor of the regeneration system makes it possible to produce active species to specifically regenerate the filtering system. This gives a better regeneration of the filter system.
• the invention also relates to a method for sterilizing an evaporator of a vehicle cabin air supply device. According to the method, gases are passed from the passenger compartment of the vehicle into a sterilization system capable of forming active species, and then said gases containing the active species through the evaporator, and said gases are discharged to the outside.
• the gases from the passenger compartment of the vehicle are passed through a heater capable of increasing the temperature of said gases before passing them through the sterilization system.
• the motor vehicle comprises an internal combustion engine, and is expected to stop the internal combustion engine to pass the gas from the passenger compartment of the vehicle in the sterilization system.
• the air supply device 1 comprises an evaporator 2 forming part of an air conditioning system whose other elements have not been represented. , an air blower 3, a filter system 4, a sterilization system 5 and aeration outlets 6, 7, 8 to bring the gases to the passenger compartment.
• the blower 3 draws outside air into the air supply device 1, this air being intended to renew the air of the passenger compartment.
• the outside air thus enters the air supply device 1 through the opening 9 of an inlet duct 10 and then passes through the air blower 3.
• the blower 3 comprises, for example, a blower and a drive motor, and is chosen so as to allow a flow of gases from outside to the passenger compartment, but also from the passenger compartment to the outside. The gases leave the blower 3 and are conveyed by the pipe
• the filter system 4 comprises for example a particle filter and a gas filter used to retain certain particles or toxic gases contained in the outside air.
• the evaporator 2 consists, for example, of a metal structure allowing the passage of gases and having a large contact surface with the gases.
• the purpose of the evaporator 2 is to promote heat exchange between a coolant circulating in the evaporator and acting as a cold source, and the gases flowing outside the evaporator 2. During this heat exchange, the coolant can evaporate on heating, while the gases cool down. It is during this cooling of the gases that water is likely to condense on the surface of the evaporator, thus favoring the appearance of microorganisms.
• the gases from the evaporator 2 then pass through a sterilization system 5.
• the sterilization system 5 is capable of creating discharges in the gases passing through it, the products of the discharges allowing the destruction of microorganisms.
• the sterilization system 5 is more precisely a cold plasma reactor whose discharges are produced by two electrodes separated by a dielectric material.
• the sterilization system may comprise, for example, several electrodes surrounded by a dielectric material, placed near the evaporator 2. It is also possible to deposit a photocatalytic material inside the cold plasma reactor in order to generate active species by plasma-photocatalytic coupling.
• the high-voltage power supply (not shown) of the sterilization system 5 can be obtained for example by a sinusoidal alternating generator or by a symmetrical high-voltage pulsed generator which is less expensive and well suited for dielectric barrier discharges.
• the sterilization system 5 is not controlled to create discharges in the gases leaving the evaporator 2. Indeed, in normal operation, the sterilization system 5 is positioned downstream of the evaporator 2 in the direction of circulation of the gases, and the Discharge products capable of destroying microorganisms are therefore not carried to the evaporator 2.
• the pipe 10 opens onto a chamber January 1 comprising, for example, three openings to the first pipes 12, 13, 14 opening into the passenger compartment of the vehicle.
• the gases which have passed through the filter system 4, the evaporator 2 and the sterilization system 5 are then distributed in the chamber 11 between the different first pipes 12, 13, 14, in particular by three controlled valves 15, 16, 17 respectively determining the proportion of the gases flowing in the first three pipes 12, 13, 14.
• the air supply device 1 thus makes it possible to renew the air of the passenger compartment with gases coming from the outside air but purified by the filtering system and possibly cooled by the evaporator 2.
• the air blower 3 is also capable, particularly in sterilization operation of the evaporator, of circulating the gases in the air supply device 1 of the passenger compartment to the outside, as shown by the arrow shown in the attached figure.
• the chamber 1 1 thus comprises an opening towards a pipe
• the unit heater 19 can be used to heat the gases coming from the outside air and renewing the air of the cabin. It can also be used, as shown in the attached figure, to heat the gases from the passenger compartment and intended to purify the air supply device 1.
• an electronic control unit controls the valve 22 in the partial or full open position and the valves 15, 16 and 17 in the closed position.
• the air blower 3 circulates the gases in the device supply air 1 from the passenger compartment to the outside.
• a second air blower may be used, for example in line 20, so as to take air from the passenger compartment.
• the air taken from the passenger compartment is conveyed via the pipe 21 and then through the pipe 18 in which it passes through the heater unit.
• the heater unit 19 makes it possible to heat the gases coming from the passenger compartment, in particular in order to increase the Evaporator temperature 2 and increase the efficiency of sterilization.
• the heated gases then enter the chamber 1 1 and exit through the inlet line 10 which allows, in sterilization operation of the evaporator, to evacuate to the outside of the vehicle, gases from the passenger compartment.
• the heated gases thus pass through the inlet duct 10, the sterilization system 5, then the evaporator 2 which is mounted downstream of the sterilization system 5 during the sterilization operation of the evaporator, and then the filtering system 4 beforehand. to be routed to the outside.
• the sterilization system 5 can remain inactive as long as the evaporator
• the idle time of the sterilization system 5 thus depends on the operation of the evaporator 2 before the engagement of the sterilization procedure, and the temperature of the heater 19.
• the electronic control unit actuates the sterilization system 5 which generates active species created by plasma and entrained by the gases coming from the heater unit 19, towards the evaporator 2.
• the active species can destroy the microorganisms present in the evaporator 2.
• the temperature of the evaporator 2, which has been heated by the gases from the heater 19, makes it possible to increase the effectiveness of active species.
• the position of the sterilization system 5 next to the evaporator 2 also allows a better efficiency sterilization, since the active species produced by the sterilization system 5 are directly routed in the evaporator 2: therefore the reduction of active species due to parasitic reactions is limited.
• the gases are then conveyed to the filtering system 4.
• the temperature of the gases conveyed to the filtering system 4, as well as the active species that they contain, also make it possible to regenerate the filtering system 4.
• the temperature of the heated gases by the air heater 19 makes it possible to increase the temperature of a gas filter present in the filtering system 4, until it allows desorption of its pollutant gas absorption sites.
• the active species created by the plasma can also contribute to the regeneration of the gas filter. It is also possible, in a different embodiment, to add a cold plasma reactor between the evaporator 2 and the filtering system 4 in order to reinforce the regenerative capacity of the gases passing through the filtering system 4.
• the sterilization operation mode of the evaporator is preferably carried out when the vehicle is stopped, the coolant of the internal combustion engine being sufficiently hot for the heater unit to be able to transfer a substantial thermal energy to the gas flow. which crosses it. It is therefore possible to provide a triggering of the sterilization operating mode when several conditions are met:
• This last condition can be replaced by a condition of exceeding an operating time threshold since the last sterilization of the evaporator and / or regeneration of the filter system.
• a punctual operation of the sterilization system for a time limited to a few minutes after stopping the vehicle, makes it possible to limit the power consumption, to accumulate the reactive species in the wet residue contained in the evaporator, and to extract air enriched with active species on the outside of the vehicle.
• the accumulation of reactive species in the wet residue of the evaporator makes it possible to prolong the sterilizing effect even after stopping the sterilization system.
• the invention makes it possible, after a predetermined number of kilometers, to switch off the hot engine contact, to carry out a sterilization of the evaporator 2 and possibly a regeneration of the filtering system 4.
• the ECU controls the valves 6, 7 , 8 in the closed position, and the return valve 22 in the open position.
• An electric water pump connected to the heater unit 19 is actuated, then the blower 3 is operated for a given air flow and duration.
• the invention makes it possible to increase the service life of the evaporator 2, of the filtering system 4 and thus to limit the problems of air conditioning malfunction related to clogging of the filter.
• the airflow to the aerators is thus maintained and improves the thermal comfort of the passengers and the visibility by the windows of the vehicle. Controlled desorptions of the gas filter and the discharge outside the sterilization residues of the evaporator make it possible to improve the quality of the air in the passenger compartment.
• thermal energy of the cooling circuit is used to heat the evaporator and the filter system, energy that otherwise would be lost.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Atmospheric Sciences (AREA)
• Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Thermal Sciences (AREA)
• Air-Conditioning For Vehicles (AREA)
• Apparatus For Disinfection Or Sterilisation (AREA)

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• 2007
  • 2007-02-01 FR FR0753013A patent/FR2912086B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2008
  • 2008-01-30 EP EP08762014A patent/EP2114708A2/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2008-01-30 WO PCT/FR2008/050154 patent/WO2008104664A2/fr not_active Ceased

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