HVAC system for hybrid vehicles using thermoelectric devices

• US 7,779,639 B2
• Filed: 08/02/2006
• Issued: 08/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentherm Incorporated
• Original Assignee: BSST LLC (Gentherm Incorporated)
• Inventors: Goenka, Lakhi Nandlal
• Primary Examiner(s): Tyler; Cheryl J
• Assistant Examiner(s): LOFFREDO, JUSTIN E
• Application Number:
  US11/497,700
• Publication Number:
  US 20080028768A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,483 Days
• Field of Search: 62/31, 62/32, 62/36.1, 62/33, 62/37, 622/39, 623/89, 136/204, 136/205, 165 41- 43, 165/202
• US Class Current: 62/3.61
• 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 remove heat from an electric side of a hybrid vehicle. The second circuit can be configured to remove heat from a fuel-fed side of a hybrid vehicle.

Claims

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

a first fluid circuit including a first conduit configured to convey 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 configured to convey 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 condition 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 configured to convey 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 third heat exchanger disposed in the air stream, said third heat exchanger in thermal communication with the third conduit.

5. 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 configured to supply the air stream.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein said first thermoelectric device is in direct thermal communication with said air conduit.

7. The system according to claim 1, 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.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first fluid is a coolant.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein said first thermoelectric device is in direct thermal communication with an air conduit, wherein said air conduit is in communication with a passenger compartment of the vehicle and a source of air configured to supply the air stream.

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

a first conduit forming a first circuit configured to convey a first fluid therein;

a second conduit forming a second circuit configured to convey the first fluid therein;

a third conduit configured to convey 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; and

a second heat exchanger disposed in the air stream downstream of said first heat exchanger and in thermal communication with said third conduit, wherein said first conduit, said second conduit, said third conduit, said first thermoelectric device, said first heat exchanger, and said second heat exchanger cooperate to condition the air stream.

11. The system according to claim 10, further comprising 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.

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

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

14. The system according to claim 11, wherein said source of heat is said third conduit.

15. The system according to claim 11, further comprising a fourth conduit configured to convey a third fluid therein, said fourth conduit in fluid communication with said third heat exchanger.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein said source of heat is said fourth conduit.

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

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

a first conduit configured to convey a first fluid;

a second conduit configured to convey the first fluid;

a third conduit configured to convey 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 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 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 condition the air stream.

19. The system according to claim 18, further comprising a fourth conduit configured to convey a third fluid therein, wherein said fourth conduit provides fluid communication between said third heat exchanger and the source of heat.

20. The system according to claim 18, 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.