AIR-CONDITIONING SYSTEM FOR AN AUTOMOBILE AND METHOD FOR OPERATING AN AIR-CONDITIONING SYSTEM OF AN AUTOMOBILE

• US 20120090806A1
• Filed: 10/19/2011
• Published: 04/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: LAZARIDIS, Ioannis, BESCHIERU, Vladimir
• Granted Patent: US 9,233,593 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 165/41
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00278 for the battery arrangement of batteries B60R16/04
• 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 2001/00307 Component temperature regulation using a liquid flow
• 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: B60L 1/003 to auxiliary motors, e.g. for pumps, compressors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/34 Cabin temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/36 Temperature of vehicle components or parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/545 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/26 by cooling
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

An air-conditioning system is provided for an automobile comprising an interior air-conditioning module, which can be connected in a heat-transporting manner to at least two coolant-carrying cooling circuits of the automobile via valves (e.g., controllable or adjustable valves). A controller is also provided that is configured to control the valves in such a manner that those cooling circuits having the higher coolant temperature can be connected in a heat-transporting manner to the interior air-conditioning module. A method is also provided for operating an air-conditioning system.

Claims

1. An air-conditioning system for an automobile, comprising:

at least two cooling circuits;

an interior air-conditioning module configured to connect in a heat-transporting manner to the at least two cooling circuits of the automobile via valves a controller configured to control the valves in such a manner that the at least two cooling circuits having a higher coolant temperature is connectable in the heat-transporting manner to the interior air-conditioning module.

2. The air-conditioning system according to claim 1, further comprising temperature sensors in each of the at least two cooling circuits, wherein the temperature sensors are connected to the controller in a signal-conducting manner.

3. The air-conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein the at least two cooling circuits serve as cooling circuits of a hybrid vehicle.

4. The air-conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein the at least two cooling circuits serve as cooling circuits of an electric vehicle.

5. The air-conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least two cooling circuits is a drive cooling circuit, a power electronics cooling circuit, a charger cooling circuit, a battery cooling circuit, and/or an air-conditioning system cooling circuit.

6. The air-conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least two cooling circuits is an air-conditioning system cooling circuit.

7. The air-conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein the at least two cooling circuits have a common cooler.

8. The air-conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein the at least two cooling circuits have separate coolers.

9. The air-conditioning system according to claim 1, further comprising a cooling circuit for interior cooling.

10. The air-conditioning system according to claim 9, wherein the cooling circuit is configured as a cooling unit of the automobile.

11. The air-conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein the at least two cooling circuits comprise bypasses for the cooling units.

12. The air-conditioning system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one bypass for the at least two cooling circuits around the interior air-conditioning module.

13. The air-conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein the valves are configured at least in part as three-way valves.

14. A method for operating an air-conditioning system of an automobile that comprises at least two coolant-carrying cooling circuits, valves configured to control a coolant flow, a controller, and an interior air-conditioning module, comprising:

controlling the valves in such a manner that one of the cooling circuits having a higher coolant temperature is connected in a heat-transporting manner to the interior air-conditioning module if a heat output to an interior air-conditioning system is required.