HVAC System

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023391161-A1
Application number	US-202318236510-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 22, 2023
Priority date	Feb 25, 2022
Publication date	Dec 7, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

An HVAC system including an evaporator, a condenser, an expansion valve, and a compressor. An HVAC case includes a first heat exchanger having a first height, a second heat exchanger having a second height that is greater than the first height, and an air mix door movable to direct airflow from the second heat exchanger to the first heat exchanger or around the first heat exchanger. In a maximum hot mode, a valve system directs the coolant through the condenser, the first heat exchanger, and the second heat exchanger, and the air mix door directs airflow from the second heat exchanger to the first heat exchanger. In a maximum cold mode, the valve system directs the coolant through the evaporator, the first heat exchanger, and the second heat exchanger.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A secondary loop heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system comprising:
an evaporator, a condenser, an expansion valve, and a compressor; a refrigerant loop in fluid communication with each of the evaporator, the condenser, and the expansion valve for circulating refrigerant therethrough; an HVAC case including a first heat exchanger having a first height, a second heat exchanger having a second height that is greater than the first height, and an air mix door between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger movable to direct airflow from the second heat exchanger to the first heat exchanger or around the first heat exchanger; a first coolant loop in fluid communication with the first heat exchanger, the second heat exchanger, and either the evaporator or the condenser for circulating coolant therethrough; and a valve system configured to control flow of the coolant through the first coolant loop; wherein in a maximum hot heating mode the valve system is configured to direct the coolant through the condenser, the first heat exchanger, and the second heat exchanger, and the air mix door is positioned to direct all airflow from the second heat exchanger to the first heat exchanger; and wherein in a maximum cold cooling mode the valve system is configured to direct the coolant through the evaporator, the first heat exchanger, and the second heat exchanger.

2 . The HVAC system of claim 1 , wherein the first height is half the second height.

3 . The HVAC system of claim 1 , wherein in the maximum cold cooling mode the air mix door is positioned to direct all airflow from the second heat exchanger to the first heat exchanger.

4 . The HVAC system of claim 1 , wherein in the maximum cold cooling mode the air mix door is positioned to direct all airflow from the second heat exchanger around the first heat exchanger.

5 . The HVAC system of claim 1 , further comprising a flow control device along a coolant line running from a first valve of the valve system to the first heat exchanger, the flow control device configured to control a rate of flow of coolant to the first heat exchanger from the first valve.

6 . The HVAC system of claim 1 , wherein in the maximum cold cooling mode the valve system is configured to direct the coolant through the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger in series.

7 . The HVAC system of claim 1 , wherein in the maximum hot heating mode the valve system is configured to direct the coolant through the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger in series.

8 . The HVAC system of claim 1 , wherein in a cooling mode:
the valve system is configured to direct cooled coolant from the evaporator to and across both the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger in parallel, and then back to the evaporator, to cool airflow directed to a vehicle passenger cabin through a face outlet of the HVAC case; and the valve system is configured to direct coolant between the condenser and a radiator.

9 . The HVAC system of claim 1 , further comprising a heater within the HVAC case downstream of the first heat exchanger.

10 . The HVAC system of claim 1 , wherein the valve system includes a first valve along the first coolant loop upstream of the first heat exchanger, the first valve configured to direct the coolant to the first heat exchanger from the condenser in the maximum hot heating mode, and the first valve configured to direct the coolant to the first heat exchanger from the evaporator in the maximum cold cooling mode.

11 . The HVAC system of claim 10 , wherein the valve system further includes a second valve along the first coolant loop downstream of the second heat exchanger, the second valve configured to direct the coolant from the second heat exchanger back to the condenser in the maximum hot heating mode, and the second valve configured to direct the coolant from the second heat exchanger back to the evaporator in the maximum cold cooling mode.

12 . The HVAC system of claim 11 , wherein the valve system further includes a third valve along the first coolant loop between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger, the third valve configured to direct coolant from the first heat exchanger to the second heat exchanger in both the maximum hot heating mode and the maximum cold cooling mode.

13 . The HVAC system of claim 1 , wherein:
in a heating, dehumidify, and defog mode, the valve system is configured to direct coolant from the condenser through the first heat exchanger and back to the condenser, and from the evaporator through the second heat exchanger and back to the evaporator; and the air mix door is positioned to direct airflow from the second heat exchanger both to and around the first heat exchanger.

14 . The HVAC system of claim 13 , wherein:
in a cooling, dehumidify, and temperature control mode the valve system is configured to direct coolant from the condenser through the first heat exchanger and back to the condenser, and from the evaporator through the second heat exchanger and back to the evaporator; and the air mix door is positioned to direct airflow from the second heat exchanger both to and around the first heat exchanger.

15 . A secondary loop heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system comprising:
an evaporator, a condenser, an expansion valve, and a compressor; a refrigerant loop in fluid communication with each of the evaporator, the condenser, and the expansion valve for circulating refrigerant therethrough; an HVAC case including a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, and a heater downstream of both the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger; a first coolant loop in fluid communication with the first heat exchanger, the second heat exchanger, and either the evaporator or the condenser for circulating coolant therethrough; and a valve system configured to control flow of the coolant through the first coolant loop; wherein:
in a heating, dehumidify, and defog mode, the valve system is configured to direct coolant from the condenser through the first heat exchanger and back to the condenser, and from the evaporator through the second heat exchanger and back to the evaporator;
in a cooling, dehumidify, and temperature control mode the valve system is configured to direct coolant from the condenser through first heat exchanger and back to the condenser, and from the evaporator through the second heat exchanger and back to the evaporator; and
the heater is configured to heat airflow from the first heat exchanger to provide temperature control.

16 . The HVAC system of claim 15 , wherein in a maximum hot heating mode the valve system is configured to direct the coolant through the condenser, the first heat exchanger, and the second heat exchanger; and
wherein in a maximum cold cooling mode the valve system is configured to direct the coolant through the evaporator, the first heat exchanger, and the second heat exchanger.

17 . The HVAC system of claim 15 , wherein the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger are the same size.

18 . A secondary loop heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system comprising:
an evaporator, a condenser, an expansion valve, and a compressor; a refrigerant loop in fluid communication with each of the evaporator, the condenser, and the expansion valve for circulating refrigerant therethrough; an HVAC case including a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger, the HVAC case defining a face outlet, a

Assignees

• Denso Int America Inc

Inventors

• Taylor Dwayne
• FILIPKOWSKI Matt
• Gocho Mika
• Compton Aaron
• Belanger Brian
• Noah-Navarro Jonathan

Classifications

• B60H1/00485 Primary

  Valves for air-conditioning devices, e.g. thermostatic valves · CPC title

• B60H1/00028

  Constructional lay-out of the devices in the vehicle · CPC title

• B60H1/3228

  characterised by refrigerant circuit configurations · CPC title

• B60H1/32284 Primary

  comprising two or more secondary circuits, e.g. at evaporator and condenser side · CPC title

• B60H1/00328

  of the liquid-air type · CPC title