Daimlerchrysler Corporation

Lawrence Ziehr

Barry J Lake

Lance C Tagliapietra

Christopher A Tuckfield

Xin Zeng

Richard Harris

Gerald P Spezia

Bruce T Siekkinen

Stefan Schwarz

The invention provides a battery cooling system to cool an electric vehicle battery pack and extend the operating range of an automotive heat pump system. Waste heat from the battery pack is transferred to a secondary coolant system thereby cooling the battery pack. A secondary heat exchanger is coupled between the secondary cooling system and a reversible HVAC system. The secondary heat exchanger transfers the secondary coolant system heat energy to the reversible HVAC system. The heat energy transferred to the reversible HVAC system supplements the existing stored energy thereby extending the heating mode operating range of the HVAC system. The requirement for supplemental electric heating is reduced, further increasing the electric vehicle energy efficiency.

System for cooling electric vehicle batteries

A reversible HVAC system for heating a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle is disclosed. The HVAC system includes a heat pump and an electric heater for supplying heat directly to air blown into the passenger compartment. A controller initially selects the heat pump to provide the heat that is directed into the passenger compartment. The heat pump attempts for a predetermined period of time to heat the passenger compartment to a target temperature. The controller stores a heat pump gain value representing the heating capacity of the heat pump before switching the heating operation to the electric heater. During operation of the electric heater, the controller calculates a system heat gain value representing the required heating capacity to maintain the passenger compartment at the target temperature. While the electric heater is operating, the controller continuously modifies the heat pump gain value to reflect changes in the ambient temperature. When the heat pump gain value approximately equals or exceeds the system gain value the controller selects the heat pump to provide heating.

Controller for heating in reversible air conditioning and heat pump HVAC

A flow management device is provided for managing refrigerant flow in a reversible HVAC system. Refrigerant lines from the system heat exchangers connect to bi-directional ports on the flow management device which converts the high pressure refrigerant flowing in one bi-directional port into pressure reduced refrigerant that flows out of the other bi-directional port. The flow management device has multiple bi-directional ports and a flow path for refrigerant extending between the ports. Flow sensitive valves are positioned within the flow path to prevent high pressure refrigerant from flowing between the ports. A pressure reducing device is arranged so that high pressure refrigerant flowing into one of the ports flows through one of the flow sensitive valves and then into the pressure reducing device. Pressure reduced refrigerant emitted from the pressure reducing device flows through a multi-function valve and out the other port. The invention can further integrate the receiver/drier function into the flow management device providing a centralized device for filtering refrigerant flow and ensuring a continuous supply of liquid refrigerant to the pressure reducing device. Also, outlets can be added to the receiver portion of the flow management center to provide a source of high pressure liquid refrigerant for secondary heat exchangers.

Refrigerant flow management center for automobiles

An air-flow management system for controlling the supply air to a motor vehicle passenger compartment is disclosed. The air-flow management system includes a reversible heat pump system for transferring heat energy between an outside environment and a refrigerant. Air from the outside environment, fresh air, and from the passenger compartment, recirculated air, is forced through the air-flow structure by a blower resulting in the transfer of heat energy between the refrigerant and the passenger compartment. A recirculation door provides a means for controlling the mixture of fresh air to recirculated air that flows through the air-flow structure. The position of the recirculation door is selectable by a controller to prevent fogging during the transition from cooling mode to heating mode, minimize the energy expended conditioning the passenger compartment air, and prevent the backflow of unconditioned outside air from the fresh air duct into the recirculation duct.

Air handling controller for HVAC system for electric vehicles

A method of controlling fogging in vehicles having a reversible HVAC system. First, the method detects if conditions for fogging exist such as moisture or localized coldspots on the inside heat exchanger. Then, the speed of the compressor is gradually increased, causing the discharge temperature of the refrigerant to increase at a controlled rate. As the temperature of the refrigerant increases, the temperature of the inside heat exchanger increases. Moisture that exists on the inside heat exchanger slowly begins to evaporate into the air passing through the heat exchanger into the passenger compartment. The moisture laden air flows through the passenger compartment and exits through door seal cracks and outlet vents to the outside environment. After a predetermined period of time, the moisture on the inside heat exchanger has evaporated, so the compressor speed is increased to its steady-state speed.

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Holland, OH, United States of America

Lawrence Ziehr