HVAC SYSTEM FOR A HYBRID VEHICLE

• US 20100155018A1
• Filed: 10/30/2009
• Published: 06/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Gentherm Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Gentherm Incorporated
• Inventors: Bell, Lon Edward, Goenka, Lakhi Nandlal
• Application Number:
  US12/609,499
• Publication Number:
  US 20100155018A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 165/59
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00278 for the battery arrangement of batteries B60R16/04
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00478 Air-conditioning devices using the Peltier effect for air-conditioning in general F24F5/0042; for refrigeration F25B21/02; electric devices exhibiting the Peltier effect H10N10/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/00307 Component temperature regulation using a liquid flow
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 21/04 reversible

Abstract

A heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system for a hybrid vehicle is disclosed, the HVAC system including at least one thermoelectric device for providing supplemental heating and cooling for air supplied to a passenger compartment of the vehicle to maximize an efficiency of operation of the hybrid vehicle during operation of the HVAC system.

Claims

1. A heating, ventilating, and air conditional system for a hybrid vehicle comprising:

a first fluid circuit including a first conduit for conveying a first fluid therein, said first circuit in thermal communication with an electric side of the hybrid vehicle;

a second fluid circuit including a second conduit for conveying the first fluid therein, said second circuit in thermal communication with a fuel fed side of the hybrid vehicle;

a first thermoelectric device having a first heat transfer surface and a second heat transfer surface, the first heat transfer surface in thermal communication with at least one of said first circuit and said second circuit, the second heat transfer surface adapted to be in thermal communication with an air stream; and

a first heat exchanger disposed in the air stream and in thermal communication with said second fluid circuit, wherein said first circuit, said second circuit, said first thermoelectric device, and said first heat exchanger cooperate to heat, cool, and demist the air stream.

2. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a second heat exchanger disposed in the air stream, said second heat exchanger in thermal communication with a third conduit for conveying a second fluid therein, wherein the second heat transfer surface of said first thermoelectric device is in thermal communication with the third conduit.

3. The system according to claim 2, further comprising a third heat exchanger disposed in the air stream, said third heat exchanger in thermal communication with said second fluid circuit.

4. The system according to claim 2, further comprising a second thermoelectric device having a first heat transfer surface and a second heat transfer surface, the first heat transfer surface in thermal communication with at least one of said first circuit and said second circuit, the second heat transfer surface adapted to be in thermal communication with the air stream.

5. The system according to claim 4, further comprising a third heat exchanger disposed in the air stream, said third heat exchanger in thermal communication with a fourth conduit for conveying a third fluid therein, wherein the second heat transfer surface of said second thermoelectric device is in thermal communication with the fourth conduit.

6. The system according to claim 4, further comprising a third heat exchanger disposed in the air stream, said third heat exchanger in thermal communication with the third conduit.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the second heat transfer surface of said second thermoelectric device is in thermal communication with the third conduit.

8. The system according to claim 1, further comprising an air conduit in communication with a passenger compartment of the vehicle and a source of air for supplying the air stream.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein said first thermoelectric device is in direct thermal communication with said air conduit.

10. A heating, ventilating, and air conditional system for a hybrid vehicle comprising:

a first conduit forming a first circuit for conveying a first fluid therein;

a second conduit forming a second circuit for conveying the first fluid therein;

a third conduit for conveying a second fluid therein;

a first thermoelectric device having a first heat transfer surface and a second heat transfer surface, the first heat transfer surface in thermal communication with one of said first conduit and said second conduit, the second heat transfer surface in thermal communication with said third conduit;

a first heat exchanger disposed in an air stream and in thermal communication with said second conduit, said first heat exchanger providing a selective heating of the air stream;

a second heat exchanger disposed in the air stream downstream of said first heat exchanger and in thermal communication with said third conduit, said second heat exchanger providing selective heating and cooling of the air stream; and

a third heat exchanger disposed in the air stream downstream of said second heat exchanger and in thermal communication with a source of heat to provide selective heating of the air stream, wherein said first conduit, said second conduit, said third conduit, said first thermoelectric device, said first heat exchanger, said second heat exchanger, and said third heat exchanger cooperate to heat, cool, and demist the air stream.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the source of heat is said second conduit.

12. The system according to claim 10, wherein said source of heat is said third conduit.

13. The system according to claim 10, further comprising a second thermoelectric device having a first heat transfer surface and a second heat transfer surface, the first heat transfer surface in thermal communication with at least one of said first conduit and said second conduit, the second heat transfer surface adapted to be in thermal communication with the air stream.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the second heat transfer surface of said second thermoelectric device is in thermal communication with said third conduit.

15. The system according to claim 13, further comprising a fourth conduit for conveying a third fluid therein.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the second heat transfer surface of said second thermoelectric device is in thermal communication with said fourth conduit.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein said source of heat is said fourth conduit.

18. A heating, ventilating, and air conditional system for a hybrid vehicle comprising:

a first conduit for conveying a first fluid;

a second conduit for conveying the first fluid;

a third conduit for conveying a second fluid;

a first thermoelectric device having a first heat transfer surface and a second heat transfer surface, the first heat transfer surface of said first thermoelectric device in thermal communication with one of said first conduit and said second conduit, the second heat transfer surface of said first thermoelectric device in thermal communication with said third conduit;

a second thermoelectric device having a first heat transfer surface and a second heat transfer surface, the first heat transfer surface of said second thermoelectric device in thermal communication with at least one of said first conduit and said second conduit;

a first heat exchanger disposed in an air stream and in thermal communication with said second conduit, said first heat exchanger providing a selective heating of the air stream;

a second heat exchanger disposed in the air stream downstream of said first heat exchanger and in thermal communication with said third conduit, said second heat exchanger providing selective heating and cooling of the air stream; and

a third heat exchanger disposed in the air stream downstream of said second heat exchanger adapted to be in thermal communication with the second heat transfer surface of said second thermoelectric device to provide selective heating of the air stream, wherein said first conduit, said second conduit, said third conduit, said first thermoelectric device, said second thermoelectric device, said first heat exchanger, said second heat exchanger, and said third heat exchanger cooperate to heat, cool, and demist the air stream.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein the second heat transfer surface of said second thermoelectric device and said third heat exchanger are in thermal communication with said third conduit.

20. The system according to claim 18, further comprising a fourth conduit for conveying a third fluid therein, wherein the second heat transfer surface of said second thermoelectric device and said third heat exchanger are in thermal communication with said fourth conduit.