Abstract: A thermal management system having a first heating device, such as a rechargeable energy storage system (RESS), and a second heating device, such as an internal combustion engine (ICE), for a vehicle is provided. The system may allow waste heat within an ICE to be stored in a RESS, and may cool the RESS by depositing heat in the ICE. The RESS and the ICE are located in a first coolant circuit and a second coolant circuit, respectively. The system also includes a third coolant circuit interconnected with the first coolant circuit, and in thermal communication with the second coolant circuit via a first heat exchanger. The first and third coolant circuits are configured to circulate a first coolant, and the second coolant circuit is configured to circulate a second coolant. The RESS and the ICE are each configured to selectively operate as a heat source or a heat sink.

Abstract: A vehicular heat pump system utilizing intermediate gas recompression is provided. The heat pump system is for use in a vehicle having a battery and a passenger compartment. The heat pump system may include a heating circuit and a cooling circuit each including a compressor having a first inlet and a second inlet and a vapor-liquid separator configured to separate intermediate pressure refrigerant supplied by a first expansion device into refrigerant in a gaseous state flowing therethrough and refrigerant in a liquid state flowing therethrough. The vapor-liquid separator may be configured to selectively inject refrigerant in a gaseous state into the compressor at the second inlet to increase the mass flow rate of the refrigerant. This allows the heat pump system to operate effectively in cold ambient temperatures. A method of operating a heat pump system utilizing intermediate gas recompression is also provided.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling a combined heating and cooling vapor compression system are provided. The apparatus may be a vehicle and may include a cabin, a vehicle battery, a Rechargeable Energy Storage System (RESS), and a vapor-compression system, having at least one controller, operable in a variety of modes selectable to facilitate cooling, heating, and dehumidification of the vehicle cabin. The method may include steps to adjust evaporator air temperature to control comfort, fogging and smell in the cabin by adjusting the compressor speed; regulate heat pump performance by adjusting the output of an electric heater and adjusting the flow of coolant through the RESS chiller; and evaluating and optimizing the discharge pressure and suction pressure of the compressor by adjusting the compressor speed and adjusting the coolant flow through the RESS chiller.

Abstract: A heat pump system, including a thermal storage medium, for use in a vehicle having a passenger compartment, and a corresponding method for providing heat to a vehicle passenger compartment. The vehicle may have an electric only vehicle mode wherein the vehicle may occupy one of an active electric drive state and an inactive state. The heat pump system may include a thermal storage medium configured to store heat produced during the inactive state. The thermal storage medium may be a device which has a thermal capacity exchangeable with a fluid medium such as an Rechargeable Energy Storage System (RESS) or a phase change material. The heat stored by the thermal storage medium during the vehicle charge event may be transmitted from the thermal storage medium to the passenger compartment via the heat pump system during the active electric drive state.

Abstract: A number of variations of the invention may include a product including a cabin exhaust air heat recovery system including a heat pump system having a non-freezing evaporator.

Abstract: A thermal management system having a first heating device, such as a rechargeable energy storage system (RESS), and a second heating device, such as an internal combustion engine (ICE), for a vehicle is provided. The system may allow waste heat within an ICE to be stored in a RESS, and may cool the RESS by depositing heat in the ICE. The RESS and the ICE are located in a first coolant circuit and a second coolant circuit, respectively. The system also includes a third coolant circuit interconnected with the first coolant circuit, and in thermal communication with the second coolant circuit via a first heat exchanger. The first and third coolant circuits are configured to circulate a first coolant, and the second coolant circuit is configured to circulate a second coolant. The RESS and the ICE are each configured to selectively operate as a heat source or a heat sink.

Abstract: A vehicular heat pump system utilizing intermediate gas recompression is provided. The heat pump system is for use in a vehicle having a battery and a passenger compartment. The heat pump system may include a heating circuit and a cooling circuit each including a compressor having a first inlet and a second inlet and a vapour-liquid separator configured to separate intermediate pressure refrigerant supplied by a first expansion device into refrigerant in a gaseous state flowing therethrough and refrigerant in a liquid state flowing therethrough. The vapor-liquid separator may be configured to selectively inject refrigerant in a gaseous state into the compressor at the second inlet to increase the mass flow rate of the refrigerant. This allows the heat pump system to operate effectively in cold ambient temperatures. A method of operating a heat pump system utilizing intermediate gas recompression is also provided.

Abstract: A heat pump system for use in a vehicle having a passenger compartment, and a thermal storage medium is provided. A method for providing heat to a vehicle passenger compartment is also provided. The vehicle may have an electric only vehicle mode wherein the vehicle may occupy one of an active electric drive state and an inactive state. The heat pump system may include a thermal storage medium configured to store heat produced during the inactive state. The thermal storage medium may be a device which has a thermal capacity exchangeable with a fluid medium such as an Rechargeable Energy Storage System (RESS) or a phase change material. The heat stored by the thermal storage medium during the vehicle charge event may be transmitted from the thermal storage medium to the passenger compartment via the heat pump system during the active electric drive state.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling a combined heating and cooling vapor compression system are provided. The apparatus may be a vehicle and may include a cabin, a vehicle battery, a Rechargeable Energy Storage System (RESS), and a vapor-compression system, having at least one controller, operable in a variety of modes selectable to facilitate cooling, heating, and dehumidification of the vehicle cabin. The method may include steps to adjust evaporator air temperature to control comfort, fogging and smell in the cabin by adjusting the compressor speed; regulate heat pump performance by adjusting the output of an electric heater and adjusting the flow of coolant through the RESS chiller; and evaluating and optimizing the discharge pressure and suction pressure of the compressor by adjusting the compressor speed and adjusting the coolant flow through the RESS chiller.

Abstract: One variation may include a product including a mixture including CF3CF?CH2 and a lubricating oil or grease wherein the lubricating oil or grease that reduces eliminates the likelihood that the refrigerant will ignite.

Abstract: A climate control system for a vehicle with a passenger compartment includes a heater circuit, a cooler circuit, and a primary loop, all of which have fixed flow directions. The heater circuit is filled with a first liquid medium and has a heater core, and the cooler circuit is filled with a second liquid medium and has a cooler core. The heater and cooler cores are selectively in thermal communication with the passenger compartment. The primary loop includes a compressor and an expansion valve and is filled with a refrigerant medium. No portion of the primary loop is within the passenger compartment. A liquid-cooled condenser thermally links the heater circuit and primary loop. A liquid-warmed evaporator thermally links the cooler circuit and primary loop. The primary loop is in direct heat-exchange communication with one of the first liquid medium and the second liquid medium.

Abstract: A vehicular heat pump system for controlling the temperature of a passenger compartment and vehicle battery is provided. The heat pump system may include a cooling mode and a heating mode. The components of each of the respective heating and cooling circuits may include: a compressor, an AC condenser, a heat pump condenser, a cabin evaporator, a heat pump evaporator, a receiver/dryer, a plurality of expansion devices, and a plurality of flow control valves. The use of multiple evaporators and condensers eliminates the need to reverse the direction of refrigerant flow upon a change in operating mode; therefore, the position of the low-pressure side of the system remains constant in all operating modes. The low-pressure side of the system is not cooled with ambient air, minimizing the complexity of the system and eliminating the need to interrupt heating mode in order to de-ice the outside heat exchanger.

Abstract: Climate control systems and methods of operating climate control systems for motor vehicles are provided herein. In one example, the method comprises the steps of expanding a condensed refrigerant stream with an expansion valve to form a partially expanded refrigerant stream. The partially expanded refrigerant stream comprises a refrigerant liquid phase and a refrigerant vapor phase. The partially expanded refrigerant stream is separated with a liquid-vapor separator into a refrigerant liquid stream and a refrigerant vapor stream. Heat is exchanged between air passing across or through an evaporator and the refrigerant liquid stream passing internally through and expanding in the evaporator to form a superheated refrigerant gas stream.