Target evaporator outlet temperature maps for vehicle air conditioning control

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10220674-B2
Application number	US-201615287762-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 7, 2016
Priority date	Oct 7, 2016
Publication date	Mar 5, 2019
Grant date	Mar 5, 2019

Abstract

A vehicle heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system can reduce a load applied to a vehicle powertrain during certain conditions. The system can include a compressor operable based on a first target evaporator outlet (TEO) temperature map. Systems and methods can determine if an HVAC system is activated, and whether an engine water temperature meets a forced HVAC recirculation intake threshold. Responsive to determining that the engine water temperature meets the forced HVAC recirculation intake threshold, it can be determined if the engine water temperature meets a first threshold. Responsive to the recirculation mode air source being selected, determining if at least one measured vehicle condition meets predetermined criteria. Responsive to determining that the engine water temperature meets the first threshold, the compressor can be operated based on a second TEO temperature map, the second TEO temperature map including higher TEO temperatures than the first TEO temperature map.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of operating a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system in a vehicle, the HVAC system including a compressor operable based on a first target evaporator outlet (TEO) temperature map, the method comprising:
determining whether an engine water temperature meets a forced HVAC recirculation intake threshold;
responsive to determining that the engine water temperature meets the forced HVAC recirculation intake threshold, determining if the engine water temperature meets a first threshold; and
responsive to determining that the engine water temperature meets the first threshold, operating the compressor based on a second TEO temperature map, the second TEO temperature map including higher TEO temperatures than the first TEO temperature map.

2. The method of claim 1 , further including the steps of:
determining if the engine water temperature meets a second threshold; and
responsive to determining that the engine water temperature meets the second threshold, operating the compressor based on a third TEO temperature map, the third TEO temperature map including higher TEO temperatures than the second TEO temperature map.

3. The method of claim 2 , further including the steps of:
determining if the engine water temperature meets a third threshold; and
responsive to determining that the engine water temperature meets the third threshold, operating the compressor based on a fourth TEO temperature map, the fourth TEO temperature map including higher TEO temperatures than the third TEO temperature map.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein each of the first, second, third, and fourth TEO temperature maps include TEO temperatures as a function of ambient temperature.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the first TEO temperature map includes a constant range of TEO temperatures above a first ambient temperature, the second TEO temperature map includes a constant range of TEO temperatures above a second ambient temperature, the third TEO temperature map includes a constant range of TEO temperatures above a third ambient temperature, and the fourth TEO temperature map includes a constant range of TEO temperatures above a fourth ambient temperature.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the first ambient temperature is greater than the second ambient temperature, the second ambient temperature is greater than the third ambient temperature, and the third ambient temperature is greater than the fourth ambient temperature.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the forced HVAC recirculation intake threshold is a fixed temperature value, the first threshold is a fixed temperature value, and the forced HVAC recirculation intake threshold is less than the first threshold.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the engine water temperature meets the first threshold when the engine water temperature is greater than the first threshold.

9. A vehicle heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system comprising:
a temperature sensor operable to measure an engine water temperature;
a compressor configured for operation based on a first target evaporator outlet (TEO) temperature map; and
a controller operatively connected to the sensor system and the compressor, the controller being programmed to:
determine whether an engine water temperature meets a forced HVAC recirculation intake threshold;
responsive to determining that the engine water temperature meets the forced HVAC recirculation intake threshold, determine if the engine water temperature meets a first threshold; and
responsive to determining that the engine water temperature meets the first threshold, operate the compressor based on a second TEO temperature map, the second TEO temperature map including higher TEO temperatures than the first TEO temperature map.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the controller is further programmed to:
determine if the engine water temperature meets a second threshold; and
responsive to determining that the engine water temperature meets the second threshold, operate the compressor based on a third TEO temperature map, the third TEO temperature map including higher TEO temperatures than the second TEO temperature map.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the controller is further programmed to:
determine if the engine water temperature meets a third threshold; and
responsive to determining that the engine water temperature meets the third threshold, operate the compressor based on a fourth TEO temperature map, the fourth TEO temperature map including higher TEO temperatures than the third TEO temperature map.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein each of the first, second, third, and fourth TEO temperature maps include TEO temperatures as a function of ambient temperature.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the first TEO temperature map includes a constant range of TEO temperatures above a first ambient temperature, the second TEO temperature map includes a constant range of TEO temperatures above a second ambient temperature, the third TEO temperature map includes a constant range of TEO temperatures above a third ambient temperature, and the fourth TEO temperature map includes a constant range of TEO temperatures above a fourth ambient temperature.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the first ambient temperature is greater than the second ambient temperature, the second ambient temperature is greater than the third ambient temperature, and the third ambient temperature is greater than the fourth ambient temperature.

15. The system of claim 9 , wherein the forced HVAC recirculation intake threshold is a fixed temperature value, the first threshold is a fixed temperature value, and the forced HVAC recirculation intake threshold is less than the first threshold.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the engine water temperature meets the first threshold when the engine water temperature is greater than the first threshold.

17. A method of operating a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system in a vehicle, the HVAC system including a compressor operable based a first target evaporator outlet (TEO) temperature map, the method comprising:
determining whether an engine water temperature meets a forced HVAC recirculation intake threshold;
responsive to determining that the engine water temperature meets the forced HVAC recirculation intake threshold:
determining if the engine water temperature meets a first threshold;
determining if the engine water temperature meets a second threshold; and
determining if the engine water temperature meets a third threshold;

responsive to determining that the engine water temperature meets the first threshold but not the second or third thresholds, operating the compressor based on a second TEO temperature map, the second TEO temperature map including higher TEO temperatures than the first TEO temperature map;
responsive to determining that the engine water temperature meets the first and second thresholds but not the third threshold, operating the compressor based on a third TEO temperature map, the third TEO temperature map including higher TEO temperatures than the second TEO temperature map; and
responsive to determining that the engine water temperature meets the first, second, and third thresholds, operating the compressor based on a fourth TEO temperature map, the fourth TEO temperature map including higher TEO temperatures than the third TEO temperature map.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein each of the first, second, third, and fourth TEO temperature maps include TEO temp

Assignees

• Toyota Eng & Mfg North America

Inventors

• Cosgrove David W
• Hirabayashi Hidekazu

Classifications

• G01K2201/02

  in vehicles · CPC title

• B60H2001/3261

  of the air at an evaporating unit · CPC title

• B60H2001/327

  related to a compressing unit · CPC title

• B60H2001/3266

  related to the operation of the vehicle · CPC title

• B60H1/3208

  Vehicle drive related control of the compressor drive means, e.g. for fuel saving purposes · CPC title