Abstract:
An automotive air conditioning system comprising: an air cooling circuit including a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve and an evaporator, fluidically connected to be flowed, during operation, by a heat transfer fluid, and a blower fan associated with the evaporator and operable to generate an airflow through the evaporator; an air heating circuit including a liquid/air heater configured to be flowed, during operation, by a heat transfer fluid and arranged close to the evaporator to be flowed also by the airflow generated by the blower fan associated with the evaporator, and a flow rate regulation solenoid valve arranged to regulate the flow rate of the heat transfer fluid through the heater; and an electronic control unit configured to receive a measured evaporator air temperature and a set cabin air temperature and to switch an operating condition of the compressor when the measured evaporator air temperature exhibits a given relation with at least one on/off threshold temperature computed, in at least certain operating conditions, based on the set cabin air temperature.
Abstract:
A system for feeding air to an engine of a vehicle includes a heat exchanger arranged along a duct for feeding air, downstream of a supercharging compressor, to cool a flow of air fed by the air compressor, by a fluid that circulates in an engine cooling circuit. The system also includes an evaporator, interposed in the duct downstream of the heat exchanger, to further cool the air flow by a coolant that circulates in an air conditioning circuit of the vehicle. The air conditioning circuit includes a coolant compressor and a controller for controlling activation of the coolant compressor, depending on a request for air conditioning of a passenger compartment of the vehicle, and a request for cooling the air fed to the engine. The electronic controller is configured to enable the coolant compressor to be activated only when the engine load is below a certain threshold.
Abstract:
In a vehicle cooling system, a quantity of warm coolant stored within a thermally insulated tank is used to heat engine lubricating oil in an engine warm-up phase following a cold start. A conduit feeding coolant leaving the engine is connected to an inlet of the tank via a reduced cross-section or a labyrinth pathway. The conduit is connected to an inlet of an electronically controlled distribution valve having three outlets connected to the oil cooler, a passenger compartment heater, and a radiator. In an initial part of the warm-up phase, the valve is closed, and the entire flow of coolant leaving the engine flows into the tank, moving the quantity of warm coolant previously stored in the tank to the oil cooler, where it contributes to more rapid heating of the lubricating oil. When the engine is switched-off, the tank is again filled with warm coolant from the engine.
Abstract:
An automotive air conditioning system comprising: an air cooling circuit including a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve and an evaporator; an air heating circuit, including a flow rate regulation solenoid valve arranged to regulate the flow rate of a heat transfer fluid through the heater; and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to receive a measured evaporator air temperature and a set cabin air temperature and to switch the operating condition of the compressor when the measured evaporator air temperature is higher or lower than at least one on/off threshold temperature computed based on the set cabin air temperature.