HYBRID VEHICLE TEMPERATURE CONTROL SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20100313576A1
• Filed: 08/24/2010
• Published: 12/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentherm Incorporated
• Original Assignee: BSST LLC (Gentherm Incorporated)
• Inventors: Goenka, Lakhi Nandlal
• Granted Patent: US 8,631,659 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/3.3
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/004 for vehicles having a combustion engine and electric drive means, e.g. hybrid electric vehicles
• 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 1/00885 Controlling the flow of heating or cooling liquid, e.g. valves or pumps B60H1/00899 takes precedence; constructions of valves B60H1/00485
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/00928 comprising a secondary circuit
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/00949 comprising additional heating/cooling sources, e.g. second evaporator
• 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. In some embodiments, the HVAC system has at least a first circuit and a second circuit. The first circuit can be configured to transfer heat to or from an electric side of the hybrid vehicle. The second circuit can be configured to transfer heat to or from a fuel-fed side of the hybrid vehicle.

Claims

1. A method for supplying conditioned air to a compartment of a vehicle having an electric side comprising components relating to an electric motor for powering the vehicle and a fuel fed side comprising components relating to a fuel fed engine for powering the vehicle, the method comprising:

circulating a first fluid in a first circuit in thermal communication with the electric side of the vehicle;

circulating a second fluid in a second circuit in thermal communication with the fuel fed side of the vehicle;

transferring thermal energy between at least a first heat transfer surface of at least a first thermoelectric device and at least one of the first circuit and the second circuit;

transferring thermal energy between at least a second heat transfer surface of the first thermoelectric device and an air stream; and

transferring thermal energy between at least a first heat exchanger disposed in the air stream and the second fluid circuit;

wherein at least the first circuit, the second circuit, the first thermoelectric device, and the first heat exchanger cooperate to condition the air stream.

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

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising providing a third heat exchanger disposed in the air stream, the third heat exchanger in thermal communication with the second fluid circuit.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising providing a third heat exchanger disposed in the air stream, the third heat exchanger in thermal communication with the third conduit.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing an air conduit in communication with the passenger compartment of the vehicle; and

supplying the air stream with a source of air.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first thermoelectric device is in direct thermal communication with the air conduit.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first circuit, the second circuit, the first thermoelectric device, and the first heat exchanger cooperate to heat, cool, and demist the air stream.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first fluid is a coolant.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first thermoelectric device is in direct thermal communication with the air conduit.

10. A method for providing conditioned air to a compartment of a vehicle, the method comprising:

conveying a first fluid in a first conduit forming a first circuit;

conveying the first fluid in a second conduit forming a second circuit;

conveying a second fluid in a third conduit;

transferring thermal energy between at least a first heat transfer surface of at least a first thermoelectric device and one of the first conduit and the second conduit;

transferring thermal energy between at least a second heat transfer surface of at least the first thermoelectric device and the third conduit;

transferring thermal energy between at least a first heat exchanger disposed in an air stream and the second conduit; and

transferring thermal energy between a second heat exchanger disposed in the air stream downstream of the first heat exchanger and the third conduit;

wherein the first conduit, the second conduit, the third conduit, the first thermoelectric device, the first heat exchanger, and the second heat exchanger cooperate to condition the air stream.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising selectively transferring thermal energy between a third heat exchanger disposed in the air stream downstream of the second heat exchanger and a source of heat to provide selective heating of the air stream.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first heat exchanger provides a selective heating of the air stream, and the second heat exchanger provides a selective heating and cooling of the air stream.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the source of heat is the second conduit.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the source of heat is the third conduit.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising conveying a third fluid in a fourth conduit, the fourth conduit in fluid communication with the third heat exchanger.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the source of heat is the fourth conduit.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the first conduit, the second conduit, the third conduit, the first thermoelectric device, the first heat exchanger, and the second heat exchanger cooperate to heat, cool, and demist the air stream.

18. A method for providing conditioned air to a compartment of a vehicle, the method comprising:

conveying a first fluid in a first conduit;

conveying the first fluid in a second conduit;

conveying a second fluid in a third conduit;

transferring thermal energy between at least a first heat transfer surface of at least a first thermoelectric device and one of the first conduit and the second conduit;

transferring thermal energy between at least a second heat transfer surface of at least the first thermoelectric device and the third conduit;

selectively transferring thermal energy between at least a first heat exchanger disposed in an air stream and the second conduit, wherein the first heat exchanger provides a selective heating of the air stream;

selectively transferring thermal energy between at least a second heat exchanger disposed in the air stream downstream of the first heat exchanger and the third conduit, wherein the second heat exchanger provides selective heating and cooling of the air stream; and

selectively transferring thermal energy between at least a third heat exchanger disposed in the air stream downstream of the second heat exchanger and a source of heat to provide selective heating of the air stream;

wherein the first conduit, the second conduit, the third conduit, the first thermoelectric device, the first heat exchanger, the second heat exchanger, and the third heat exchanger cooperate to condition the air stream.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising conveying a third fluid in a fourth conduit, wherein the fourth conduit provides fluid communication between the third heat exchanger and the source of heat.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the first conduit, the second conduit, the third conduit, the first thermoelectric device, the first heat exchanger, the second heat exchanger, and the third heat exchanger cooperate to heat, cool, and demist the air stream.