Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Other

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Limited

Daimlerchrysler Corporation

Xin Zeng

Gregory A Major

Toyotaka Hirao

Makoto Fujitani

Barry J Lake

Harry E Eustice

Lawrence Ziehr

Christopher C Nyeholt

Kenji Matsuda

Stefan Schwarz

Kazuki Niwa

Ryosaku Akimoto

The present invention concerns a method for controlling the operation of an automotive HVAC system. The HVAC system includes at least a refrigerant compressor and a refrigerant evaporator. The method includes the steps of calculating an ambient air enthalpy value; comparing the calculated ambient air enthalpy value to at least one predetermined enthalpy value; and selectively changing the operation of the refrigerant compressor based on the comparison.

Automotive HVAC system and method of operating same utilizing enthalpy-based control

An energy-saving method for operating a climate control system includes reporting an ambient outside temperature from a first temperature sensor to a controller unit and reporting a climate control air temperature from a second temperature sensor to the controller unit. The control unit performs an algorithm to define a control criterion value in response to the ambient outside temperature. A non-refrigeration cycle based heating element is activated to provide heated air to an interior surface of a windshield if the climate control air temperature is above the control criterion value. Moreover, a refrigeration cycle based cooling element and the non-refrigeration cycle based heating element are activated to provide the heated air to the interior surface of the windshield if the climate control air temperature is at or below the control criterion.

Energy saving defog/device operation strategy and control scheme for vehicles

An apparatus for heating the interior compartment of a vehicle, the apparatus has a primary heating system, a secondary heating system and an operating system. The primary heating system receives and circulates an engine coolant through a heater core. The secondary heating system receives and circulates a gas, the secondary heating system heats the gas and circulates the heated gas through a heat exchanger. The operating system for operating the heating systems, the operating system receives a plurality of inputs and in response to the inputs the operating system determines which of the heating systems is to be activated in response to a heating request. The operating system also determines whether or not to deactivate one or both of the heating systems.

Hybrid heating system and method for vehicles

An apparatus and system for manipulating the air temperature within an interior compartment of a vehicle, the apparatus and system includes a HVAC system and an operating system. A compressor receives and circulates a gas through a heat exchanger in order to regulate the air within the vehicle. The compressor has a capacity control valve that is manipulated by the control system in response to a user setting.

Compressor capacity control system and method

An air conditioner for a vehicle having an engine that serves as a drive source for a compressor arranged in a rear part of the vehicle. The air conditioner includes the compressor, and further includes an air intake unit having an inside air intake, an outside air intake, an inside air/outside air changeover damper, and a blower disposed on a downstream side of the inside air/outside air changeover damper. The air conditioner includes an air conditioning unit into which air is introduced from the air intake unit, provided along an introduced air distribution path with a cooling apparatus heat exchanger fluidly connected to the compressor and configured to exchange heat between the introduced air and air outside the cabin interior, where the cooling apparatus heat exchanger is located in the rear part of the vehicle. The air conditioning unit also include an engine heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between the introduced air and an engine of the vehicle. The air conditioner further includes a duct configured to distribute air from the air conditioning unit to a front part of the vehicle, where the duct is provided with air outlets configured to discharge the air into the cabin interior.

Vehicular air conditioner

Vehicular air conditioner using heat pump

A vehicular air conditioner which is not influenced by fluctuations in engine RPM and which provides air conditioning with low energy consumption includes a variable demand capacity compressor where the suction pressure is self-controlled and can be set using an external signal. The vehicular air conditioner includes a demand capacity change compressor which self-controls at a target suction pressure set using an external signal and based on a discharge temperature set according to an air conditioning load. The external signal sets the target suction pressure to thereby affect a refrigerating cycle operation.

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.

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Auburn Hills, MI, United States of America

Xin Zeng