Auxiliary heater pump control
First Claim
1. A method of auxiliary heater pump control in a vehicle including a heater core and an auxiliary pump in a heater core branch of a vehicle coolant system when the power plant is not on, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) calculating, with a controller, an estimated heating power required to provide heat to a passenger compartment that is a function of a mass air flow, a specific heat, and a change in temperature in the passenger compartment, the change in temperature in the passenger compartment being a function of a coolant temperature in the coolant system and an outside air temperature;
(b) determining, with the controller, if the calculated estimated heating power required is greater than a minimum required heating power that will be able to maintain a thermal range in the passenger compartment;
(c) if the calculated estimated heating power required is greater than the minimum required heating power, activating the auxiliary pump to pump the coolant through the heater core; and
(d) when the auxiliary pump is activated, setting a minimum blower power for a blower forcing air through the heater core, whereby noise from the auxiliary pump is masked by noise from the blower.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of auxiliary heater pump control in a vehicle including a heater core and an auxiliary pump in a heater core branch of a vehicle coolant system is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of: determining if a power plant is on, the power plant being connected to the coolant system; calculating an estimated heating power required to meet HVAC system heating requirements that is a function of mass air flow, specific heat, and a change in temperature in a passenger compartment; determining if the calculated estimated heating power required is greater than a minimum required heating power that will be able to maintain thermal comfort in the passenger compartment of the vehicle; and if the calculated estimated heating power required is greater than the minimum required heating power and the power plant is not on, activating the auxiliary pump to pump a coolant through the heater core.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A method of auxiliary heater pump control in a vehicle including a heater core and an auxiliary pump in a heater core branch of a vehicle coolant system when the power plant is not on, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) calculating, with a controller, an estimated heating power required to provide heat to a passenger compartment that is a function of a mass air flow, a specific heat, and a change in temperature in the passenger compartment, the change in temperature in the passenger compartment being a function of a coolant temperature in the coolant system and an outside air temperature; (b) determining, with the controller, if the calculated estimated heating power required is greater than a minimum required heating power that will be able to maintain a thermal range in the passenger compartment; (c) if the calculated estimated heating power required is greater than the minimum required heating power, activating the auxiliary pump to pump the coolant through the heater core; and (d) when the auxiliary pump is activated, setting a minimum blower power for a blower forcing air through the heater core, whereby noise from the auxiliary pump is masked by noise from the blower. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of auxiliary heater pump control in a vehicle including a heater core and an auxiliary pump in a heater core branch of a vehicle coolant system when the power plant is not on, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) calculating, with a controller, an estimated heating power required to provide heat to a passenger compartment that is a function of a mass air flow, and a specific heat; (b) determining, with a controller, if the calculated estimated heating power required is greater than a minimum required heating power that will be able to maintain a thermal range in the passenger compartment; (c) if the calculated estimated heating power required is greater than the minimum required heating power, activating the auxiliary pump to pump the coolant through the heater core and activating an auxiliary coolant heater in the heater core branch to warm the coolant flowing through the auxiliary pump; (d) initializing a predetermined minimum auxiliary pump on-time when activating the auxiliary pump and maintaining the auxiliary pump on for at least the predetermined minimum auxiliary pump on-time; and (e) when the auxiliary pump is activated, setting a minimum blower power for a blower forcing air through the heater core, whereby noise from the auxiliary pump is masked by noise from the blower. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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Specification