Odor reproducing apparatus of HVAC system for vehicle

• US 10,322,618 B2
• Filed: 12/13/2016
• Issued: 06/18/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Inventors: Seong, Kwang Mo
• Primary Examiner(s): Rojohn, III, Claire E
• Application Number:
  US15/376,832
• Publication Number:
  US 20170368904A1
• Time in Patent Office: 917 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00585 Means for monitoring, testing or servicing the air-conditioning
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/008 the input being air quality
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 3/022 for only humidifying the air
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 3/06 Filtering B60H3/0078 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/34 by measuring pressure or differential pressure
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0001 by organoleptic means

Abstract

An odor reproducing apparatus of a HVAC system for the vehicle may include an odor reproducing device configured to reproduce and evaluate odor by applying a HVAC system module, a heat exchange outdoor device mounted at one side of the odor reproducing device to control a temperature and humidity of an experimental space, and a control device mounted at one side of the odor reproducing device and the heat exchange outdoor device to control an operation of the odor reproducing device and an operation of the heat exchange outdoor device to implement a field environment and vehicle conditions for evaluating an odor improvement effect of the HVAC system reflecting an odor reduction technology.

Claims

1. An odor reproducing apparatus of a heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system for a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

an odor reproducing device configured to reproduce and evaluate odor by applying a HVAC system module;

a heat exchange outdoor device mounted at a first side of the odor reproducing device to control a temperature and humidity of an experimental space; and

a control device mounted at a second side of the odor reproducing device and the heat exchange outdoor device to control an operation of the odor reproducing device and an operation of the heat exchange outdoor device,

wherein the odor reproducing device includes;

a temperature/humidity control chamber controlling a temperature and humidity of an introduced air;

an external air simulation chamber receiving dust, malodorous microbes, and pollution gas;

an internal air simulation chamber reproducing HVAC odor by applying the HVAC system module; and

an odor evaluating device evaluating the reproduced HVAC odor, and

wherein the odor evaluating device includes;

a first damper reproducing an external air mode;

a second damper reproducing an internal air mode; and

an odor evaluating vent connected with a sensuality evaluation line to evaluate sensuality.

2. The odor reproducing apparatus of the HVAC system for the vehicle of claim 1, wherein the temperature/humidity control chamber includes:

an external air inlet introducing external air;

a pre-filter removing dust from the introduced external air;

an air fan circulating the introduced external air;

a heater core portion heating the circulated air;

an evaporator core portion cooling the circulated air; and

a humidifier controlling humidity of the circulated air.

3. The odor reproducing apparatus of the HVAC system for the vehicle of claim 1, wherein the external air simulation chamber includes:

an air inlet introducing air having controlled temperature/humidity;

a flap door of a rubber material blocking movement of air from the external air simulation chamber to the temperature/humidity control chamber while allowing a movement of air from the temperature/humidity control chamber to the external air simulation chamber; and

a pollution material supply portion injecting a pollution material in the pollution material supply portion.

4. The odor reproducing apparatus of the HVAC system for the vehicle of claim 2, wherein the internal air simulation chamber includes:

a pollution air inlet introducing air having controlled temperature/humidity mixed with a pollution material into the temperature/humidity control chamber;

an outdoor device supplying or recovering coolant to or from the evaporator core portion; and

a hot water supply portion supplying and recovering hot water to and from the heater core portion.

5. The odor reproducing apparatus of the HVAC system for the vehicle of claim 1, wherein the control device includes:

a switch selectively turning on to supply power to an entire device; and

a controller configured to control operations of the odor reproducing device and a heat exchange outdoor device.

6. The odor reproducing apparatus of the HVAC system for the vehicle of claim 5, wherein the control device includes:

a voltmeter indicating a voltage of power applied to an evaluating device;

an ammeter indicating a current;

a differential pressure gauge confirming a flow rate of air exhausted from the internal air simulation chamber;

a timer indicating an operation time of equipment; and

a temperature/humidity monitoring device storing measurement data while indicating temperature and humidity changes of each space as a graph.

7. The odor reproducing apparatus of the HVAC system for the vehicle of claim 5, wherein the controller includes:

a monitoring screen indicating an operation state of entire equipment; and

a pattern setting screen setting an operation condition.