Abstract:
A thermoelectric heat exchanger includes a tube, a fin, and a thermoelectric assembly. The tube is configured to contain coolant flowing therethrough and thermally couple the coolant to a surface of the tube. The fin is configured to transfer heat from the fin to air passing across the fin. The thermoelectric assembly is thermally coupled to the tube and the fin. The assembly is configured to heat the fin relative to the tube in response to a voltage source applied to the assembly. The assembly includes a plurality of thermoelectric modules. Each of the thermoelectric modules is electrically interconnected into a group of series connected modules. The number of modules in each group that are electrically connected in series is determined based on a voltage value of the voltage source and a local temperature difference between the tube and the fin proximate to the group.
Abstract:
A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system for a vehicle includes an evaporator and a diffuser. The evaporator is configured to cool air passing through the evaporator. The diffuser is configured to direct a first portion of the air entering the diffuser through a first section of the evaporator, and direct a second portion of the air entering the diffuser through a second section of the evaporator. The evaporator and the diffuser are configured to cooperate such that air exits the first section at a first temperature and air exits the second section at a second temperature less than the first temperature.
Abstract:
A thermoelectric heat exchanger and a thermoelectric heating, ventilation and air conditioning system (HVAC) configured to provide a cooled fluid or air stream and a heated fluid or air stream. The thermoelectric heat exchanger may include a plurality thermoelectric devices (TEDs), also known as thermoelectric coolers (TECs) or Peltier coolers, in thermal communication. The thermoelectric devices may be arranged in a three dimensional array to provide compact packaging for the thermoelectric heat exchanger assembly. The thermoelectric heat exchanger may be configured to transfer thermal energy between a first thermoelectric device and a second thermoelectric device via evaporation and condensation of a working fluid or refrigerant contained within the thermoelectric heat exchanger.
Abstract:
An automotive HVAC system includes upper and lower mode cases configured to discharge separate streams of temperature-conditioned air into front and rear passenger zones. The system separates the inlet air into separate mixing chambers, and a third stream through a heater core. Blend doors control hot and cold air streams entering their respective mixing chambers. Operation is controlled by reading requested temperature, blower rate and mode for system zone outlet, converting requests to a flowrate, calculating total flowrate as a summation of all requests, employing a math model to calculate total zonal flowrate as a summation of all zonal flowrates, calculating a blower control error as a function of the difference between total blower request and total zonal flowrate, modifying the operating state using the calculated control error, positioning and resetting the mode valves into defrost, heater and vent openings, and resetting the mode valves.
Abstract:
A heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system includes a blower, a fresh-air valve, a bypass duct, and a bypass valve. The blower is configured to urge air to flow from an inlet to an outlet of the blower. The fresh-air valve is operable to provide a mixture of air drawn from an outside-air duct and a recirculated-air duct to the inlet. The fresh-air valve is operable to a recirculate position where the outside-air duct is substantially blocked from communicating with the inlet. The bypass duct is configured to couple the outlet to the outside-air duct. The bypass valve is located in the bypass duct and is operable to a closed position and an open position. The cabin is ventilated when the fresh-air valve is in the recirculate position, the bypass valve is in the open position, and the blower is operated to blow air out of the outside-air duct.
Abstract:
A method of controlling an air conditioning compressor in a heating ventilation and air conditioning system having a evaporator including a phase change material is presented. The method includes the steps of measuring an evaporator output air temperature, determining a state of charge value by calculating a difference between an estimated refrigerant temperature based on the evaporator output air temperature and a phase change material freeze temperature and integrating this difference over time and operating the air conditioning compressor to maintain the state of charge value between an upper and lower limit. A method of recovering braking energy in a vehicle containing a heating ventilation and air conditioning system having the evaporator including the phase change material is also presented.
Abstract:
An evaporator has a manifold and a plurality of refrigerant tubes extending downward in the direction of gravity from the manifold. The evaporator includes at least one PCM housing engaging the upper portion of the refrigerant tube for storing a phase change material. When operating in a first operating mode, heat is transferred from the phase change material to the refrigerant to freeze and cool the phase change material. When operating in a second operating mode, heat is transferred from the refrigerant to the frozen phase change material to condense the refrigerant. The condensed refrigerant falls downwardly through the tubes and receives heat from a flow of air to cool the air and evaporate the refrigerant. The evaporated refrigerant rises upwardly back to the low pressure of the cold manifold.