Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Mark D Nemesh

Lawrence P Ziehr

George M Claypole

Bryan M Styles

Wissam Ibri

Gregory A Major

Paul S Lombardo

Matthew J Martinchick

Franz Bohlender

Nathan D Ampunan

Todd M Tumas

Krishnaraj Inbarajan

Mark R Willey

Harry E Eustice

Jeffrey M Pleune

Kulwinder Singh

John T Guerin

Mukund S Wankhede

Michael J Miller

Brian P Lemon

Werner Filsinger

Kai Becker

Sowmyalatha Jayaraman

An engine assembly with an air intake system and a turbocharger device in fluid communication with the air intake system includes an electronic control unit in communication with the air intake system and turbocharger device. A CAC system is in downstream fluid communication with the turbocharger device and in upstream fluid communication with the air intake system and includes at least one flow adjustment mechanism in communication with the electronic control unit and selectively positionable between a first position and one or more second positions to adjust velocity of air from the turbocharger device flowing through the CAC system and to manage condensation buildup in the CAC system and/or to open a bypass duct in order for some or all of the turbo airflow to bypass the CAC system to reduce or eliminate condensation buildup in the CAC system at warm ambient conditions and ice buildup at cold ambient conditions.

Condensation control system for internal combustion engine

A thermal management system for a vehicle and a method for controlling the same are provided. The thermal management system comprises a first coolant circuit, a second coolant circuit, a refrigerant circuit, and a controller. The first coolant circuit includes at least a first coolant circuit heat exchanger, a Coolant Heater Control Module (CHCM), a CHCM mixing valve, and a bypass valve. The CHCM mixing valve is configured to modulate flow of a coolant between the first coolant circuit heat exchanger and the CHCM. The bypass valve is configured to link the first coolant circuit with the engine. The controller directs the thermal management system to operate in one of a high efficiency mode, a heat pump assist mode, a maximum performance mode, and a propulsion system energy improvement mode, effectuating the selected mode of operation via the actuation of the CHCM valve and the bypass valve to predetermined positions.

Thermal management system for a vehicle

A heating system for a vehicle having a power plant with a power plant coolant loop, and a method of operation, is disclosed. The heating system may include a HVAC module and a heater core coolant loop. The HVAC module includes a heater core. The heater core coolant loop includes a three-way valve having an inlet engaging the heater core for receiving a coolant, a first outlet that directs the coolant back into the heater core coolant loop, and a second outlet that directs the coolant into the power plant; a coolant pump for pumping the coolant through the heater core coolant loop; and a coolant heater located upstream of the heater core that selectively heats coolant flowing therethrough. Also, a coolant line receives the coolant from a heater core outlet of the power plant and directs the coolant into the heater core coolant loop.

Heating system for an automotive vehicle

A thermal management system for a battery pack having a conductive cooling plate and battery cells includes a compressor, flow control valves, temperature sensor(s), and a controller. The compressor circulates refrigerant through the plate to cool the cells. The temperature sensor measures a temperature of the battery pack. The controller is programmed to receive the temperature from the temperature sensors and selectively transmit switching control signals to the valves to command a change in direction or flow of the refrigerant through the cooling plate. This limits a temperature variance between the battery cells over time. A vehicle includes a transmission, an electric traction motor, a battery pack, and the thermal management system noted above. A method includes receiving the temperature, transmitting switching control signals to the valves, and controlling a flow of refrigerant through the plate via the valves in response to the switching control signals.

Actively-switched direct refrigerant battery cooling

A thermal management system having a first heating device, such as a rechargeable energy storage system (RESS), and a second heating device, such as an internal combustion engine (ICE), for a vehicle is provided. The system may allow waste heat within an ICE to be stored in a RESS, and may cool the RESS by depositing heat in the ICE. The RESS and the ICE are located in a first coolant circuit and a second coolant circuit, respectively. The system also includes a third coolant circuit interconnected with the first coolant circuit, and in thermal communication with the second coolant circuit via a first heat exchanger. The first and third coolant circuits are configured to circulate a first coolant, and the second coolant circuit is configured to circulate a second coolant. The RESS and the ICE are each configured to selectively operate as a heat source or a heat sink.

Multi-circuited vehicular thermal management system and method

A vehicular heat pump system may have two inside heat exchangers within an HVAC module, and may operate in mild cooling and mild heating modes. In mild cooling mode, a first isolation valve and a second isolation valve are fully open and closed, respectively, to direct the refrigerant flow to the first inside heat exchanger only. In mild heating mode, the first isolation valve and the second isolation valve are fully closed and fully open, respectively, to direct the refrigerant flow to the second inside heat exchanger only. In both modes, a first metering device is partially open to control the flow and expansion of the refrigerant, and a second metering device is fully closed to prevent the refrigerant from flowing between the inside heat exchangers. This staged operation of the heat pump system may reduce the risk of flash fog as well as reduce discharge air temperature spreads.

Vehicular heat pump system and control method

A vehicular heat pump system utilizing intermediate gas recompression is provided. The heat pump system is for use in a vehicle having a battery and a passenger compartment. The heat pump system may include a heating circuit and a cooling circuit each including a compressor having a first inlet and a second inlet and a vapor-liquid separator configured to separate intermediate pressure refrigerant supplied by a first expansion device into refrigerant in a gaseous state flowing therethrough and refrigerant in a liquid state flowing therethrough. The vapor-liquid separator may be configured to selectively inject refrigerant in a gaseous state into the compressor at the second inlet to increase the mass flow rate of the refrigerant. This allows the heat pump system to operate effectively in cold ambient temperatures. A method of operating a heat pump system utilizing intermediate gas recompression is also provided.

Vehicle heat pump system and method utilizing intermediate gas recompression

A system and method for controlling a combined heating and cooling vapor compression system are provided. The apparatus may be a vehicle and may include a cabin, a vehicle battery, a Rechargeable Energy Storage System (RESS), and a vapor-compression system, having at least one controller, operable in a variety of modes selectable to facilitate cooling, heating, and dehumidification of the vehicle cabin. The method may include steps to adjust evaporator air temperature to control comfort, fogging and smell in the cabin by adjusting the compressor speed; regulate heat pump performance by adjusting the output of an electric heater and adjusting the flow of coolant through the RESS chiller; and evaluating and optimizing the discharge pressure and suction pressure of the compressor by adjusting the compressor speed and adjusting the coolant flow through the RESS chiller.

Method and apparatus for controlling a combined heating and cooling vapor compression system

A heat pump system, including a thermal storage medium, for use in a vehicle having a passenger compartment, and a corresponding method for providing heat to a vehicle passenger compartment. The vehicle may have an electric only vehicle mode wherein the vehicle may occupy one of an active electric drive state and an inactive state. The heat pump system may include a thermal storage medium configured to store heat produced during the inactive state. The thermal storage medium may be a device which has a thermal capacity exchangeable with a fluid medium such as an Rechargeable Energy Storage System (RESS) or a phase change material. The heat stored by the thermal storage medium during the vehicle charge event may be transmitted from the thermal storage medium to the passenger compartment via the heat pump system during the active electric drive state.

Vehicle heat pump system and method utilizing thermal storage

A cooling arrangement is disclosed for a vehicle having a first component, a first duct, and a cooling fan configured to deliver air through the first duct to the first component when the cooling fan is operated. The cooling arrangement includes, but is not limited to, a second component, a port coupled to the second component, the port being accessible from a position external to the vehicle, and a second duct having a first end positioned proximate the port and a second end in fluid communication with the first duct. The second duct is configured to deliver air from outside of the vehicle to the second component when the cooling fan is operated while the vehicle is off.

Cooling arrangement for a component in a vehicle

A coolant system and method of operating the coolant system for a vehicle having a battery pack is disclosed. A method may include detecting a mountain grade descent condition; detecting a battery limit condition; and, if the mountain grade descent condition and the battery limit condition are detected, activating a coolant heater and a coolant pump to thereby accomplish an electric load shed. A method may include detecting a fuel cell stack warm up condition; and, if the fuel cell stack warm up condition is detected, activating a fuel cell coolant heater, a cabin coolant heater and a pump, and directing a coolant flowing through the cabin coolant heater through the fuel cell coolant heater and through a fuel cell stack to thereby warm the fuel cell stack.

Coolant systems for electric and hybrid-electric vehicles

A system and method for providing cool air to a passenger compartment of a hybrid vehicle in an engine off mode is disclosed. This may include operating a HVAC system to provide cold refrigerant flowing through an evaporator while an engine is operating, and forcing air through the evaporator to cool the air. A first portion of the cooled air from the evaporator is directed through a heater core and a second portion around the heater core, and an electric water pump is activated to pump coolant from a thermal storage tank, through the heater core and back to the thermal storage tank to cool the coolant. When the engine operation is ceased, the air flow is directed through the heater core, and the coolant is pumped from the thermal storage tank, through the heater core and back to the thermal storage tank to cool the air.

HVAC thermal storage for hybrid vehicle

A battery thermal system for use in a vehicle having a power plant, an air conditioning system and a battery pack, and a method of operation, is disclosed. The battery thermal system may include a refrigerant-to-coolant heat exchanger that selectively receives a refrigerant from the vehicle air conditioning system; a battery radiator located adjacent to a cooling fan; a valve that receives a liquid coolant from the battery pack and selectively redirects the liquid coolant to the refrigerant-to-coolant heat exchanger and the battery radiator; and an electric pump for pumping the liquid coolant through the battery pack, the valve, the refrigerant-to-coolant heat exchanger and the battery radiator. The battery thermal system may also include a battery coolant heater for selectively heating the coolant that flows into the battery pack.

Battery thermal system for vehicle

A heating circuit and an electronics assembly for use in a vehicle includes an external housing having outer walls and an internal wall dividing the external housing into an electronics cavity and a non-electronics cavity. A heat generating electronics assembly is located in the electronics cavity adjacent to the internal wall. A control electronics assembly is located in the electronics cavity adjacent to the heat generating electronics assembly, with the control electronics portion controlling the heat generating electronics assembly; and an internal heat shield extending between and shielding the control electronics assembly from the heat generating electronics assembly, with the internal heat shield being made of a thermally conductive material and having a contact portion attached to the internal wall, whereby heat absorbed by the internal heat shield transmitted to the internal wall.

Heating circuit and electronics assembly

A HVAC and RESS thermal management system and a method of operation for a vehicle having a passenger compartment, a power plant and a battery pack is disclosed. The system comprises a RESS coolant circuit and a power plant coolant circuit. The RESS coolant circuit directs a coolant through the battery pack and includes a pump, a coolant heating branch has a coolant-to-coolant heat exchanger, and a coolant routing valve that will selectively direct the coolant through the coolant heating branch. The power plant coolant circuit includes a heater core branch having a HVAC pump, a coolant heater, a heater core located in a HVAC module to provide heat to the passenger compartment, and the coolant-to-coolant heat exchanger, with the coolant-to-coolant heat exchanger providing heat transfer between the coolant in the coolant heating branch and the coolant in the heater core branch.

Growing community of inventors

Troy, MI, United States of America

Mark D Nemesh