Patent ID: 12240612

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Although exemplary embodiment is described as using a plurality of units to perform the exemplary process, it is understood that the exemplary processes may also be performed by one or plurality of modules. Additionally, it is understood that the term controller/control unit refers to a hardware device that includes a memory and a processor and is specifically programmed to execute the processes described herein. The memory is configured to store the modules and the processor is specifically configured to execute said modules to perform one or more processes which are described further below.

Furthermore, control logic of the present invention may be embodied as non-transitory computer readable media on a computer readable medium containing executable program instructions executed by a processor, controller/control unit or the like. Examples of the computer readable mediums include, but are not limited to, ROM, RAM, compact disc (CD)-ROMs, magnetic tapes, floppy disks, flash drives, smart cards and optical data storage devices. The computer readable recording medium can also be distributed in network coupled computer systems so that the computer readable media is stored and executed in a distributed fashion, e.g., by a telematics server or a Controller Area Network (CAN).

Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

Hereinafter, a system for increasing the indoor pressure of an air mobility according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG.1is a view illustrating a system for increasing the indoor pressure of an air mobility according to an embodiment of the present invention.FIG.2is a view illustrating the construction of the system for increasing the indoor pressure of the air mobility shown inFIG.1.FIG.3is a view illustrating an operation of increasing the indoor pressure of the air mobility shown inFIG.1.FIG.4is a view illustrating an operation of cooling the indoor space of the air mobility shown inFIG.1.FIG.5is a view illustrating a system for increasing the indoor pressure of an air mobility according to another embodiment of the present invention.FIG.6is a view illustrating an operation of heating the indoor space of the air mobility shown inFIG.5.FIG.7is a view illustrating an operation of cooling the indoor space of the air mobility shown inFIG.5.FIG.8is a view illustrating an operation of increasing the indoor pressure of the air mobility shown inFIG.5.

As illustrated inFIGS.1and2, the system for increasing the indoor pressure of an air mobility according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a refrigerant line10, through which refrigerant is circulated and which includes a compressor11, a condenser12, an expander13, and an evaporator14, a first air line20, which is connected to the refrigerant line10upstream of the compressor11via a first valve V1and is branched therefrom and which is connected to the outside, a second air line30, which is connected to the refrigerant line10downstream of the compressor11via a second valve V2and is branched therefrom and which is connected to an indoor space, a third valve V3, which is provided at the second air line30to allow the refrigerant or air, which flows in the second air line30, to selectively flow to the outside or the indoor space, and a controller100, which, in response to receiving information that the condition of the air mobility M is abnormal, is configured to operate the first valve V1and the second valve V2to allow outdoor air to flow into the first air line20, the refrigerant line10, and the second air line30by virtue of activation of the compressor11, and operate the third valve V3to allow discharging of the refrigerant to the outside and then to allow the air to flow into the indoor space after completion of the discharging of the refrigerant.

In particular, the compressor11and the individual valves are operated by the controller100. The controller100may be configured to operate the individual valves to supply conditioned air to the indoor space or to maintain the indoor pressure based on the desired temperature of the indoor space or on whether the condition of the air mobility M is abnormal. The refrigerant line10is constructed such that the refrigerant cools air while circulating through the compressor11, the condenser12, the expander13, and the evaporator14, and the cooled air is supplied to the indoor space.

The first air line20is connected at a first end thereof to the refrigerant line10upstream of the compressor11via the first valve V1and at a second end thereof to the outside. Consequently, in a normal environment, the refrigerant is normally circulated in the refrigerant line10, and outdoor air is supplied to the refrigerant line10through the first air line20by virtue of activation of the compressor11when the first valve V1is opened by the controller100.

Meanwhile, the second air line30is connected at a first end thereof to the refrigerant line10downstream of the compressor11via the second valve V2and at a second end thereof to the indoor space in the air mobility M. Consequently, in a normal environment, the refrigerant is normally circulated in the refrigerant line10, and the air, which is supplied to the first air line20and the refrigerant line10, flows to the indoor space by virtue of activation of the compressor11when the second valve V2is opened by the controller100.

As a result, the present invention is capable of maintaining the indoor pressure by supplying air to the indoor space through the first air line20and the second air line30using the refrigerant line10configured to supply conditioned air. However, because the refrigerant circulating in the refrigerant line10is harmful gas, filtering, which is configured to discharge the refrigerant to the outside while air flows to the indoor space through the refrigerant line10, is necessarily required. Accordingly, since the system according to the embodiment of the present invention provides the second air line30with the third valve V3, the refrigerant or the air that flows in the second air line30selectively flows to the outside or the indoor space based on the opening or closing action of the third valve V3.

Consequently, when the controller100receives information that the condition of the air mobility M is abnormal, the controller100may be configured to operate the first valve V1, the second valve V2, and the third valve V3to allow the air to flow to the indoor space in the air mobility M through the first air line20, the refrigerant line10, and the second air line30. Specifically, the controller100may be configured to determine whether the condition of the air mobility M is abnormal by various sensors. In particular, the abnormal condition of the air mobility M may be considered to be the occurrence of a fire in the air mobility M.

When the controller100determines that the condition of the air mobility is abnormal, the controller100may be configured to determine the first valve V1and the second valve V2to allow outdoor air to flow to the first air line20, the refrigerant line10, and the second air line30by virtue of activation of the compressor11. Particularly, because the refrigerant circulating in the refrigerant line10, may flow to the indoor space while the air flows into the indoor space through the first air line20, the refrigerant line10, and the second air line30under the control of the controller100when the condition of the air mobility M is abnormal, the controller100allows the refrigerant to be discharged to the outside through the third valve V3in the initial stage. Thereafter, when the discharge of the refrigerant is completed, the controller100may be configured to operate the third valve V3to allow the air flowing in the second air line30to flow into the indoor space. At this point, the air, from which the refrigerant is removed, flows into the indoor space, the indoor pressure is maintained, and higher safety of a passenger is ensured by virtue of removal of the harmful refrigerant.

The system according to the embodiment of the present invention will now be described in more detail. The first air line20is connected at a first end thereof to the refrigerant line10via the first valve V1and at a second end thereof to an air inlet21, through which air is selectively introduced under the control of the controller100. In particular, the air inlet21may be configured to allow air to be selectively introduced under the control of the controller100, and may be provided at the front of the air mobility M such that outdoor air is easily introduced into the first air line20through the air inlet21.

Accordingly, the air inlet21is maintained in the closed state when the air mobility M is in the normal state, and is opened to allow air to be introduced into the first air line20therethrough when a signal indicating an abnormal state of the air mobility M is input to the controller100. In other words, when the first valve V1is opened toward the refrigerant line10from the first air line20and the air inlet21is open, the air flows into the refrigerant line10through the first air line20.

Meanwhile, the second air line30is connected at a first end thereof to the refrigerant line10downstream of the condenser12via the second valve BV2and is connected at a second end thereof to the indoor space. In other words, since the first end of the second air line30is connected to the refrigerant line10downstream of the condenser12, the high-temperature air that has passed through the compressor11is cooled while passing through the condenser12. Accordingly, there is no case in which a passenger in the indoor space otherwise feels an unpleasant sensation caused by the high-temperature air that has passed through the compressor11.

Therefore, when the second valve V2is opened toward the second air line30, the air that has passed through the first air line20and the refrigerant line10by virtue of activation of the compressor11flows into the indoor space in the air mobility M through the second air line30. At this point, since the first end of the second air line30is connected to the refrigerant line10downstream of the condenser12, the high-temperature air that has passed through the compressor11is cooled, thereby preventing discomfort to a passenger that would otherwise be caused by the heat of the air.

The second air line30is provided with a gas-liquid separator31, which is configured to separate air from refrigerant. In other words, since the air, which is raised in pressure in the compressor11, needs to be separated from the residual refrigerant in the refrigerant line10, the second air line30is provided with the gas-liquid separator31. The gas-liquid separator31may employ cyclone centrifugal separation using the difference in density between air and refrigerant and high-speed/high-pressure energy, and may additionally separate foreign substances from the introduced air. Accordingly, since the air that flows in the second air line30is filtered to remove refrigerant and foreign substances from the air, it is possible to supply safe air, from which the refrigerant and the foreign substances have been removed, to the indoor space.

The first air line20may include a first oxygen sensor22, and the second air line30may include a second oxygen sensor32upstream of the third valve V3. The controller100may be configured to compare the oxygen concentrations input from the first oxygen sensor22and a second oxygen sensor32with each other, and control opening and closing actions of the third valve V3depending on the oxygen concentrations. The first oxygen sensor22and the second oxygen sensor32may be configured to check for the presence of refrigerant in the air flowing into the indoor space through the second air line30.

In other words, since the air that does not pass through the refrigerant line10flows into the first air line20, it may be possible to check the reference oxygen concentration, which is necessary to check for the presence of refrigerant, by means of the first oxygen sensor22. Furthermore, since air that contains therein refrigerant while passing through the refrigerant line10flows into the second air line30, it may be possible to check the oxygen concentration, which is necessary to check for the presence of refrigerant, by the second oxygen sensor32.

Consequently, the controller100may be configured to compare the oxygen concentrations input from the first oxygen sensor22and the second oxygen sensor32, with each other, and determine that refrigerant is contained in the air when the oxygen concentration measured at the second oxygen sensor32is less than the oxygen concentration measured at the first oxygen sensor22. Furthermore, the controller100may be configured to determine that the air that has passed through the refrigerant line10does not contain refrigerant when the oxygen concentration measured at the second oxygen sensor32is almost equal to the oxygen concentration measured at the first oxygen sensor22.

Accordingly, when the oxygen concentration measured at the second oxygen sensor32is less than the oxygen concentration measured at the first oxygen sensor22by a predetermined value or more, the controller100may be configured to operate the third valve V3to discharge the refrigerant and the air flowing in the second air line30to the outside. In particular, the reference concentration, which is previously stored in the controller100, may be set through experimentation to determine a range of content of refrigerant contained in the air that is considered a harmful.

Consequently, when the state of the air mobility M is abnormal, the controller100may be configured to operate the first valve V1and the second valve V2to allow outdoor air to flow into the first air line20, the refrigerant line10, and the second air line30by virtue of activation of the compressor11. When the oxygen concentration measured at the second oxygen sensor32is less than the oxygen concentration measured at the first oxygen sensor22by the predetermined value, the controller100may be configured to operate the third valve V3to allow the refrigerant and air flowing in the second air line30to be discharged to the outside, thereby preventing the air containing therein the refrigerant from flowing into the indoor space.

Subsequently, when the difference between the oxygen concentration measured at the second oxygen sensor32and the oxygen concentration measured at the first oxygen sensor22is within a predetermined range, the controller100may be configured to determine that the air flowing in the second air line30does not contain refrigerant therein, and operate the third valve V3to allow the air flowing in the second air line30to flow into the indoor space. As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, when the condition of the air mobility M is abnormal, it may be possible to allow outdoor air to flow into the indoor space to thus maintain the indoor pressure, as illustrated inFIG.3.

Specifically, the controller100may be configured to operate the first valve V1and the second valve V2to allow outdoor air to flow into the first air line20, the refrigerant line10, and the second air line30by virtue of activation of the compressor11and operate the third valve V3to allow discharging of the refrigerant to the outside and then to allow the air to flow into the indoor space after completion of discharge of the refrigerant, thereby making it possible to maintain the indoor pressure. This is the control according to an abnormal condition of the air mobility, and the control is not performed when the air mobility is in the normal condition.

Meanwhile, when the condition of the air mobility M is normal and indoor cooling is required, the conditioned air, which will be supplied to the indoor space, is cooled using the refrigerant circulating in the refrigerant line10, and outdoor air does not flow into the indoor space through the refrigerant line10, as illustrated inFIG.4. In other words, when the condition of the air mobility M is normal and indoor cooling is required, the controller100may be configured to operate the first valve V1to interrupt the connection between the first air line20and the refrigerant line10and operate the second valve V2to interrupt the connection between the refrigerant line10and the second air line30. Consequently, the refrigerant is circulated along the refrigerant line10through the compressor11, the condenser12, the expander13, and the evaporator10, and cool air is generated at the condenser14and is supplied to the indoor space through an HVAC and a duct.

As illustrated inFIG.5, the system according to the embodiment of the present invention may further include a heat pump line40, which is connected to the refrigerant line10downstream of the compressor11via a fourth valve V4and includes an internal heat exchanger41, and a heat pump expander15provided at the refrigerant line10between the internal heat exchanger41and the condenser12.

The heat pump line40, the fourth valve V4, the internal heat exchanger41, and the heat pump expander15are components configured to constitute a heat pump to improve the efficiency of air conditioning. In particular, the internal heat exchanger41, which is provided to supply heat to the indoor space, heats the air using the high-temperature refrigerant that has passed through the compressor11to create heated air. The heating air, which is created by the internal heat exchanger41, is supplied to the indoor space through the HVAC and the duct.

In other words, when the condition of the air mobility M is normal and heating of the indoor space is required, the controller100may be configured to operate the first valve V1to interrupt the connection between the first air line20and the refrigerant line10and operate the second valve V2to interrupt the connection between the refrigerant line10and the second air line30, as illustrated inFIG.7. Furthermore, the controller100may be configured to operate the fourth valve V4to connect the refrigerant line10to the heat pump line40to thus allow the refrigerant to circulate along the refrigerant line10and the heat pump line40, whereby the high-temperature refrigerant that has passed through the compressor11exchanges heat with air, thereby creating heating air.

Subsequently, the refrigerant that has passed through the internal heat exchanger41is expanded by the heat pump expander15, and flows through the condenser12, the expander13, and the evaporator14while performing heat exchange, thereby improving thermal efficiency. When the state of the controller100is normal and cooling of the indoor space is required, the controller100may be configured to operate the first valve V1to interrupt the connection between the first air line20and the refrigerant line10and controls the second valve V2to interrupt the connection between the refrigerant line10and the second air line30, as illustrated inFIG.7. Furthermore, the controller100may be configured to operate the fourth valve V4to interrupt the connection between the refrigerant line10and the heat pump line40and open the heat pump expander15.

Consequently, the refrigerant in the refrigerant line10is circulated through the compressor11, the condenser12, the expander13, and the evaporator14, thereby creating cooled air at the evaporator14, and the cooled air is supplied to the indoor space through the HVAC and the duct. Meanwhile, when the condition of the air mobility M is abnormal, the controller100may be configured to operate the first valve V1, the second valve V2, and the fourth valve V4to allow outdoor air to flow into the first air line20, the refrigerant line10, and the second air line11by virtue of activation of the compressor11and operate the third valve V3to allow discharging of the refrigerant to the outside and then to allow the air to flow into indoor space after completion of discharge of the refrigerant, as illustrated inFIG.8.

In other words, the controller100may be configured to operate the first valve V1, the second valve V2, and the fourth valve V4to allow outdoor air to flow into the first air line20, the refrigerant line10, and the second air line30by virtue of activation of the compressor11, and operate the third valve V3to allow discharging of the refrigerant to the outside and then to allow the air to flow into the indoor space after completion of the discharging of the refrigerant, thereby maintaining the indoor pressure.

When the controller100receives information that the indoor pressure is reduced, the controller100may be configured to increase the driving capacity of the compressor11. In other words, the controller100may be configured to receive information about the indoor pressure from the sensor provided in the indoor space. When the controller100receives information that the indoor pressure is reduced due to an abnormal state of the air mobility M, the controller100may be configured to increase the driving amount of the compressor11to thus increase the amount of air flowing into the indoor space. Consequently, the indoor pressure is maintained, thereby preventing external harmful gases from being introduced into the indoor space.

As is apparent from the above description, the system for increasing the indoor pressure of an air mobility according to the present invention is configured to maintain the indoor pressure of the air mobility using an air conditioner provided in the air mobility without additional equipment and without increasing the weight of an airframe, thereby preventing external harmful gas from being introduced into the indoor space and thus ensuring the safety of a passenger.

Although the exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.