Self powered motor vehicle air conditioner

Abstract

A motor vehicle with a self-powered air conditioner system. An absorption type air conditioning unit is configured to air condition at least a portion of cab space of the motor vehicle. The unit has at least one electric powered component. There is a generator located outside the cab space for vaporizing a refrigerant. There is a condenser for condensing the refrigerant to produce a condensate, and an evaporator configured to remove heat from the cab space by a process of evaporation of the condensate. There is a combustion unit configured to burn fuel from the fuel tank. The combustion unit provides heat to a hot surface. A plurality of thermoelectric modules is mounted in thermal contact with the hot surface. A heat sink is cooled by the cooling water system. The heat sink is positioned so that it is in thermal contact with said plurality of thermoelectric modules. A temperature difference is produce across the modules to permit them to generate electrical power, and an electric control circuit is configured to utilize electric power generated by the modules to power the at least one electric powered component. In a preferred embodiment, excess electric power is used to keep batteries of the motor vehicle charged up. In a preferred embodiment provision is made for hot water to be circulated from the combustion unit to the cab space to provide heat for the cab space when desired.