HVAC Systems for Electrically-Powered Vehicles
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Accused Products
Abstract
A heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system for an electrically-powered vehicle (EV) having an electric motor powered by at least one battery is described. The HVAC system may comprise a blower, a conduit configured to carry air from the blower to vents leading to a passenger cabin of the EV, and an electric heater positioned in the conduit and configured to heat the air. The HVAC system may further comprise a thermal reservoir heater positioned in the conduit and including a thermal storage component configured to heat the air without using power from the battery.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1-20. -20. (canceled)
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21. A method for heating a passenger cabin of an electrically-powered vehicle (EV) with a heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system, the HVAC system including a conduit configured to carry air to the passenger cabin, a barrier that divides the conduit into a first channel leading to a first heating zone and a second channel leading to a second heating zone, and a single airflow regulating device configured to regulate a flow of the air to the first channel and the second channel, the first heating zone including an electric heater, and the second zone including a second electric heater and a phase change material (PCM) at least partially surrounding the second electric heater, the method comprising:
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storing heat to the second heating zone while the EV is coupled to an external energy source by causing the PCM to undergo a heat-absorbing phase change; and heating the passenger cabin using the second heating zone while the EV is operational by causing the PCM to undergo a heat-releasing phase change. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method for heating a passenger cabin of an electrically-powered vehicle (EV) with a heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system, the HVAC system including a conduit configured to carry air to the passenger cabin, a barrier that divides the conduit into a first channel leading to a first heating zone and a second channel leading to a second heating zone, and an airflow regulating device upstream of the first and second heating zones and configured to regulate a flow of air to the first channel and the second channel, the first heating zone including an electric heater, and the second heating zone including a second electric heater at least partially surrounded by a phase change material (PCM), the method comprising:
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positioning the airflow regulating device in a first position in which more of the air is directed to the first channel than the second channel while the EV is coupled to an external energy source; storing heat to the second heating zone while the EV is coupled to an external energy source by allowing the PCM to undergo a heat-absorbing phase change; positioning the airflow regulating device in a second position in which more of the air is directed to the second channel than the first channel; while the EV is operational, heating the air in the second channel using the second heating zone by allowing the PCM to undergo a heat-releasing phase change; and heating the passenger cabin with the heated air from the second channel. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A method for heating a passenger cabin of a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) with a heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system, the HVAC system including a conduit configured to carry air to the passenger cabin, a barrier that divides the conduit into a first channel leading to a first heating zone and a second channel leading to a second heating zone, and an airflow regulating device configured to regulate a flow of the air to the first channel and the second channel, the first heating zone including an electric heater, and the second heating zone including a second electric heater and a phase change material at least partially surrounding the second electric heater, the method comprising:
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storing heat to the second heating zone while the PHEV is coupled to an external energy source by allowing the PCM to undergo a heat-absorbing phase change, the airflow regulating device being in a first position in which more of the air is directed to the first channel than the second channel while the heat is stored to the second heating zone; heating the passenger cabin using the second heating zone while the PHEV is operational by allowing the PCM to undergo a heat-releasing phase change, the airflow regulating device being in a second position in which more of the air is directed to the second channel than the first channel while the passenger cabin is heated using the second heating zone; and while the PHEV is operational, heating the passenger cabin using one of the first heating zone or a coolant-based heating system when the PCM has completed the heat-releasing phase change. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40)
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Specification