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EP-4741187-A1 - METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OPERATING A VIRTUAL HVAC MODEL IMPLEMENTED AS A DIGITAL TWIN

EP4741187A1EP 4741187 A1EP4741187 A1EP 4741187A1EP-4741187-A1

Abstract

Method and an apparatus (100) for processing an operation of a virtual HVAC model (121) implemented as a digital twin, for performing temperature control of a cabin of a vehicle, wherein a refrigerant is included in the virtual HVAC model (121), and the refrigerant is configured to comprise at least one of a natural refrigerant, a hydrofluorocarbon (HFC)-based refrigerant, a hydrofluoroolefin (HFO)-based refrigerant, a hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC)-based refrigerant, a hydrocarbon-based refrigerant that is not a natural refrigerant, and a halon or a perfluorocarbon (PFC)-based refrigerant.

Inventors

  • NOH, JI SEONG
  • LEE, SU JIN

Assignees

  • SK Innovation Co., Ltd.
  • SK On Co., Ltd.

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20251110

Claims (15)

  1. A method for processing an operation of a virtual HVAC model (121) implemented as a digital twin, wherein the operation is processed by a processor (110), the method comprising: setting, based on a user input, a destination in a navigation system (123) of a vehicle and a target cabin environment for an HVAC system (140) of the vehicle; acquiring, upon initiating a simulated drive of a virtual vehicle based on a driving route to the set destination, driving environment information for a position of the virtual vehicle at each preset time interval or each preset driving distance; implementing, via the virtual HVAC model (121), a virtual cabin environment of the virtual vehicle, based on the acquired driving environment information; controlling a virtual HVAC system (200), included in the virtual HVAC model (121), to cause the virtual cabin environment to reach the target cabin environment; and determining, based on log data from the virtual HVAC system (200) related to the controlling, an operation for the HVAC system (140) of the vehicle that minimizes battery consumption of the vehicle, wherein the virtual HVAC model (121) is adapted to include a refrigerant that is configured to include at least one selected from the group consisting of: a natural refrigerant; a hydrofluorocarbon (HFC)-based refrigerant; a hydrofluoroolefin (HFO)-based refrigerant; a hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC)-based refrigerant; a hydrocarbon-based refrigerant that is not a natural refrigerant; and a halon or a perfluorocarbon (PFC)-based refrigerant.
  2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the natural refrigerant is configured to comprise at least one selected from the group consisting of methane (R-50), ammonia (R-717), carbon dioxide (R-744), ethane (R-170), and propane (R-290), and/or wherein the hydrofluorocarbon (HFC)-based refrigerant is configured to comprise at least one selected from the group consisting of difluoromethane (R-32), 1,1-difluoroethane (R-152a), pentafluoroethane (R-125), 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (R-134a), 1,1,1-trifluoroethane (R-143a), trifluoromethane (R-23), fluoroethane (R-161), 1,1,1,2,3,3,3-heptafluoropropane (R-227ea), 1,1,1,2,3,3-hexafluoropropane (R-236ea), 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoropropane (R-236fa), 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane (R-245fa), and 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluorobutane (R-365mfc), and/or wherein the hydrofluoroolefin (HFO)-based refrigerant is configured to comprise at least one selected from the group consisting of 1,1,2-trifluoroethylene (R-1123), 1-chloro-2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (R1224yd(Z)), 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (R-1234yf), 1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (R-1234ze), 1,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (R-1234ye), 3,3,3-trifluoropropene (R-1243zf), 1,1-difluoroethylene (R-1132a), and 1,2,3,3,3-pentafluoropropene (R-1225ye), and/or wherein the hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC)-based refrigerant is configured to comprise at least one selected from the group consisting of chlorodifluoromethane (R-22), chlorotetrafluoroethane (R-124), and 1-chloro-1,1-difluoroethane (R-142b), and/or wherein the hydrocarbon-based refrigerant that is not a natural refrigerant is configured to comprise at least one selected from the group consisting of propylene (R-1270), isobutane (R-600a), dimethyl ether, isopentane, and pentane, and/or wherein the halon or the perfluorocarbon (PFC)-based refrigerant is configured to comprise at least one selected from the group consisting of trifluoroiodomethane (R-13I1), octafluoropropane (R-218), and octafluorocyclobutane (RC318).
  3. The method according claim 1 or 2, wherein the processor (110) is adapted to acquire the user input that sets the target cabin environment for the cabin (11) through the HVAC system (140) of the vehicle, preferably wherein the processor (110) is adapted to acquire the user input that sets a target temperature and/or humidity through a control panel of the HVAC system (140) located in the cabin (11) of the vehicle.
  4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the acquiring of the driving environment information for the position of the virtual vehicle at each preset time interval or each preset driving distance is performed through a preset server that is configured to include at least one of a server that provides information related to an atmosphere and/or a ground for a specific location or area, preferably a weather station, a weather providing API, and/or a global weather data providing service.
  5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the controlling of the virtual HVAC system (200) is performed based on information or data stored in a memory (120).
  6. The method according to claim 5, wherein at least one program for controlling the operation of the virtual HVAC model (121) and/or the navigation system (123) is stored in the memory (120).
  7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the log data for the operation of the virtual HVAC system (200) include at least some information on: a temperature change of the refrigerant; a rotational speed of a blower (250); a temperature and humidity of air flowing into the cabin (11); and a change in air volume and direction, preferably wherein the log data further include at least one of: environmental data related to weather, atmospheric temperature, humidity, and ground temperature for a specific location of the virtual vehicle on the driving route, acquired during operation of the virtual HVAC system (200).
  8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the virtual HVAC model (121) is trained using artificial intelligence to predict and implement the virtual cabin environment of the virtual vehicle based on the driving environment information.
  9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the step of acquiring the driving environment information further comprises controlling a speed of the virtual vehicle such that a position of the virtual vehicle is ahead of a position of the vehicle by a preset time or a preset distance.
  10. An apparatus (100) for processing an operation of a virtual HVAC model (121) implemented as a digital twin, the apparatus (100) comprising: an HVAC system (140) configured to perform heating control of a cabin (11) of a vehicle; a refrigerant adapted to circulate through the HVAC system (140); and a virtual HVAC model (121) configured to operate as a digital twin of the HVAC system (140), wherein the refrigerant comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of: a natural refrigerant; a hydrofluorocarbon (HFC)-based refrigerant; a hydrofluoroolefin (HFO)-based refrigerant; a hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC)-based refrigerant; a hydrocarbon-based refrigerant that is not a natural refrigerant; and a halon or a perfluorocarbon (PFC)-based refrigerant.
  11. The apparatus (100) according to claim 10, wherein the natural refrigerant comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of: methane (R-50), ammonia (R-717), carbon dioxide (R-744), ethane (R-170), and propane (R-290), wherein the hydrofluorocarbon (HFC)-based refrigerant comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of: difluoromethane (R-32), 1,1-difluoroethane (R-152a), pentafluoroethane (R-125), 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (R-134a), 1,1,1-trifluoroethane (R-143a), trifluoromethane (R-23), fluoroethane (R-161), 1,1,1,2,3,3,3-heptafluoropropane (R-227ea), 1,1,1,2,3,3-hexafluoropropane (R-236ea), 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoropropane (R-236fa), 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane (R-245fa), and 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluorobutane (R-365mfc), wherein the hydrofluoroolefin (HFO)-based refrigerant comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of: 1,1,2-trifluoroethylene (R-1123), 1-chloro-2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (R1224yd(Z)), 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (R-1234yf), 1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (R-1234ze), 1,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (R-1234ye), 3,3,3-trifluoropropene (R-1243zf), 1,1-difluoroethylene (R-1132a), and 1,2,3,3,3-pentafluoropropene (R-1225ye), wherein the hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC)-based refrigerant comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of: chlorodifluoromethane (R-22), chlorotetrafluoroethane (R-124), and 1-chloro-1,1-difluoroethane (R-142b), wherein the hydrocarbon-based refrigerant that is not a natural refrigerant comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of: propylene (R-1270), isobutane (R-600a), dimethyl ether, isopentane, and pentane, and wherein the halon or the perfluorocarbon (PFC)-based refrigerant comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of: trifluoroiodomethane (R-13I1), octafluoropropane (R-218), and octafluorocyclobutane (RC318).
  12. The apparatus (100) according to claim 10 or 11, further comprising: a navigation system (123) configured to guide a drive of the vehicle or a virtual vehicle implemented in the virtual HVAC model (121); and a processor (110) configured to: set, based on a user input, a destination in the navigation system (123) and a target cabin environment for an HVAC system (140) of the vehicle; acquire, upon initiating a simulated drive of the virtual vehicle based on a driving route to the set destination, driving environment information for a position of the virtual vehicle at each preset time interval or each preset driving distance; implement, via the virtual HVAC model (121), a virtual cabin environment of the virtual vehicle, based on the acquired driving environment information; control a virtual HVAC system (200), included in the virtual HVAC model (121), to cause the virtual cabin environment to reach the target cabin environment; and determine, based on log data from the virtual HVAC system (200) related to the controlling, an operation for the HVAC system (140) of the vehicle that minimizes battery consumption of the vehicle.
  13. The apparatus (100) according to claim 12, wherein the virtual HVAC model (121) is trainable based on artificial intelligence to predict and implement the virtual cabin environment for the cabin of the virtual HVAC system (121), based on the driving environment information.
  14. The apparatus (100) according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the processor (110) is further configured to control a speed of the virtual vehicle such that a position of the virtual vehicle is ahead of a position of the vehicle by a preset time or a preset distance.
  15. Use of a virtual HVAC model (121) implemented as a digital twin for minimizing battery consumption of a vehicle.

Description

BACKGROUND Technical Field The present disclosure relates generally to digital twin-based system control technology, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for operating a virtual HVAC model implemented as a digital twin. Technical Considerations An automotive heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system is generally configured to heat and cool the air within a passenger cabin to ensure occupant comfort. Such systems may be configured to selectively switch between air sources, such as fresh outside air and recirculated cabin air. Some systems draw in a mixture of this outside and inside air, condition it, and then supply the conditioned air into the cabin. Conventionally, designing and testing the performance of these HVAC systems involves physical validation. For instance, engineers typically install a prototype HVAC system into an actual vehicle for laboratory testing, or they operate the system during real-world test drives to evaluate its function. While these methods allow for the fine-tuning of heating and cooling components to maintain a desired temperature based on user settings, they have a significant drawback. Specifically, when attempting to optimize operations to reduce electricity consumption, these conventional testing processes fail to sufficiently reflect the diverse and dynamic driving environments actually encountered by an electric vehicle (EV). This inadequacy presents a challenge in designing truly energy-efficient HVAC systems for EVs. SUMMARY Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method and an apparatus for simulating control of an HVAC system of an electric vehicle to improve battery efficiency based on a digital twin. Problems to be solved through various embodiments are not limited to the above-described problems, and other problems not described above will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description. According to a general aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method for processing an operation of a virtual HVAC model implemented as a digital twin, wherein the operation is processed by a controller, the method comprising: setting, based on a user input, a destination in a navigation system of a vehicle and a target cabin environment for an HVAC system of the vehicle; acquiring, upon initiating a simulated drive of a virtual vehicle based on a driving route to the set destination, driving environment information for a position of the virtual vehicle at each preset time interval or each preset driving distance; implementing, via the virtual HVAC model configured as a digital twin of the HVAC system of the vehicle, a virtual cabin environment of the virtual vehicle, based on the acquired driving environment information; controlling a virtual HVAC system, included in the virtual HVAC model, to cause the virtual cabin environment to reach the target cabin environment; and determining, based on log data from the virtual HVAC system related to the controlling, an operation for the HVAC system of the vehicle that minimizes battery consumption of the vehicle. The virtual HVAC model is adapted to include a refrigerant that is configured to include at least one selected from the group consisting of: a natural refrigerant; a hydrofluorocarbon (HFC)-based refrigerant; a hydrofluoroolefin (HFO)-based refrigerant; a hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC)-based refrigerant; a hydrocarbon-based refrigerant that is not a natural refrigerant; and a halon or a perfluorocarbon (PFC)-based refrigerant. In some embodiments, the natural refrigerant may include at least one selected from the group consisting of: methane (R-50), ammonia (R-717), carbon dioxide (R-744), ethane (R-170), and propane (R-290). The hydrofluorocarbon (HFC)-based refrigerant may include at least one selected from the group consisting of: difluoromethane (R-32), 1,1-difluoroethane (R-152a), pentafluoroethane (R-125), 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (R-134a), 1,1,1-trifluoroethane (R-143a), trifluoromethane (R-23), fluoroethane (R-161), 1,1,1,2,3,3,3-heptafluoropropane (R-227ea), 1,1,1,2,3,3-hexafluoropropane (R-236ea), 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoropropane (R-236fa), 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane (R-245fa), and 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluorobutane (R-365mfc). The hydrofluoroolefin (HFO)-based refrigerant may include at least one selected from the group consisting of: 1,1,2-trifluoroethylene (R-1123), 1-chloro-2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (R1224yd(Z)), 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (R-1234yf), 1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (R-1234ze), 1,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (R-1234ye), 3,3,3-trifluoropropene (R-1243zf), 1,1-difluoroethylene (R-1132a), and 1,2,3,3,3-pentafluoropropene (R-1225ye). The hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC)-based refrigerant may include at least one selected from the group consisting of: chlorodifluoromethane (R-22), chlorotetrafluoroethane (R-124), and 1-chloro-1,1-difluoroethane (R-142b). The hydrocarbon-based refrigerant that is not a natural refrigerant may include at least