Hybrid vehicle temperature control systems and methods
First Claim
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;
transferring thermal energy between at least a first heat exchanger disposed in the air stream and the second fluid circuit; and
selecting between the first circuit and the second circuit to transfer thermal energy between the first heat transfer surface of the first thermoelectric device and the first circuit or the second 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.
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
35 Claims
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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:
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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; transferring thermal energy between at least a first heat exchanger disposed in the air stream and the second fluid circuit; and selecting between the first circuit and the second circuit to transfer thermal energy between the first heat transfer surface of the first thermoelectric device and the first circuit or the second 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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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10. A method for providing conditioned air to a compartment of a vehicle, the method comprising:
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conveying a first fluid in a first conduit forming a first circuit in thermal communication with an electric side of the vehicle; conveying the first fluid in a second conduit forming a second circuit in thermal communication with a fuel fed side of the vehicle; 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; transferring thermal energy between a second heat exchanger disposed in the air stream downstream of the first heat exchanger and the third conduit; and selecting between the first circuit and the second circuit to transfer thermal energy between the first heat transfer surface of the first thermoelectric device and the first circuit or the second circuit; 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. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 32, 33)
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18. A method for providing conditioned air to a compartment of a vehicle, the method comprising:
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conveying a first fluid in a first conduit forming a first circuit in thermal communications with an electric side of the vehicle; conveying the first fluid in a second conduit forming a second circuit in thermal communication with a fuel fed side of the vehicle; 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; 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; selecting between the first circuit and the second circuit to transfer thermal energy between the first heat transfer surface of the first thermoelectric device and the first circuit or the second circuit; and 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. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 34, 35)
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Specification