Abstract: Disclosed is a method for driving an range extending system for a motor vehicle equipped with an electric motor (2) adapted to be supplied with electric current by a traction battery (3), the range extending system including an range extender (1) that can be activated to supply the traction battery and/or the electric motor with electric current and a cooling circuit (10) for the range extender, in which provision is made to acquire a state of charge of the traction battery and, if the state of charge is below a charge threshold, to activate the range extender. Additionally, the charge threshold has a variable value, which is a function of an outside temperature of the air outside the motor vehicle.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for driving an range extending system for a motor vehicle equipped with an electric motor (2) adapted to be supplied with electric current by a traction battery (3), the range extending system including an range extender (1) that can be activated to supply the traction battery and/or the electric motor with electric current and a cooling circuit (10) for the range extender, in which provision is made to acquire a state of charge of the traction battery and, if the state of charge is below a charge threshold, to activate the range extender. Additionally, the charge threshold has a variable value, which is a function of an outside temperature of the air outside the motor vehicle.

Abstract: A system and method for recuperating energy for a motor vehicle equipped with an internal combustion engine. The system includes a recirculation circuit for the partial recirculation of the engine exhaust gases; a first coolant circuit passing through the engine and passing through a first cooling exchanger configured to collect heat energy from the recirculation circuit; a second circuit through which there circulates a state-change fluid to mechanically drive an output shaft of an expansion machine of the second circuit; and a third coolant circuit comprising a second cooling exchanger to collect heat energy from the recirculation circuit. The first circuit comprises at least one first coupling exchanger serving as a hot source for the second circuit. The first circuit and the third circuit are positioned in such a way that the circulation of coolant through the first circuit and through the third circuit can be independent.

Abstract: A system for overall control of heat for a passenger compartment and for electrical units in a motor vehicle that is completely or partially propelled by an electric engine powered by a battery, including a heat-control fluid circuit coupled to a heating device and/or to a cooling device enabling the fluid to store calories or frigories when the system is plugged into an electrical network outside of the vehicle. The fluid circuit is capable of releasing calories and/or frigories to the air of the passenger compartment, in an alternating manner, either through a heat exchanger between the circuit and the air of the passenger compartment, or using a climate circuit forming a heat pump and/or an air-conditioning system.

Abstract: An electric generator for a motor vehicle, including: a reformer for producing a reformate from a primary fuel, water and air; circuits supplying the reformer with primary fuel, air, and water; a fuel cell for production electric power from the reformate and air; a compressor for compressing the air for the fuel cell and/or the reformer; and circuits for supplying the fuel cell with reformate and air, connecting the fuel cell to the reformer and the compressor, respectively. The circuits supplying water to the reformer include a first heat exchanger for establishing heat exchange relationship between the water and the air compressed by the compressor.

Abstract: The invention concerns an electric generator for a motor vehicle, comprising: a reformer (60) for producing a reformate from a primary fuel, water and air; circuits supplying the reformer with primary fuel (64), air (36, 40, 38, 62) and water (82, 86, 90, 66), a fuel cell (20) for production electric power from the reformate and air, a compressor (36, 38) for compressing the air for the fuel cell (20) and/or the reformer (60), circuits for supplying the fuel cell with reformate (80, 82, 84, 86, 88, 90, 92, 94, 22) and air (24), connecting the fuel cell to the reformer and the compressor (36, 38), respectively. The inventive generator is characterized in that the circuits (82, 86, 90, 66) supplying water to the reformer comprises a first heat exchanger (130; 40; 50) for establishing heat exchange relationship between said water and the air compressed by said compressor (35; 38).

Abstract: A fuel cell that includes at least two elementary cells for exothermic combustive reaction, including a heat source and an internal channel, formed between the cells for the circulation of a cooling fluid, which forms a cooling source. The cell includes a number of thermoelectric modules, each made of a couple of two conducting material elements of differing nature, a first end of each couple being in thermal contact with the heat source or the cooling source, the second end of each of the elements of the couple being in contact with the other source and electrically connected to an adjacent module.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method using a system (10) for heating or cooling air in a motor vehicle passenger compartment provided with a windscreen, by input into the passenger compartment air which has passed through an exchanger (12) comprised in a refrigerant loop. The invention is characterized in that it comprises steps which consist in measuring the temperature of the air leaving the exchanger (12), measuring the humidity of the air leaving the exchanger (12), determining the dew point of the air leaving the exchanger (12) based on said temperature and humidity, determining the windscreen temperature, comparing the dew point with the windscreen temperature and stopping the heating of air in the passenger compartment when the dew point is higher than the windscreen temperature.

Abstract: A toilet seat (10) having a cleansing facility with an pivotable arm (18) supplied with warm water for cleaning and warm air for drying the anal and genital areas of a user. The arm (18) being automatically controlled to operate along a path substantially parallel with the central fore and aft axis of the toilet seat (10) between a stored position and an active position. The water is supplied though a duct (36) which has a relatively small cross-sectional area and the air is supplied through a duct (44) having a relatively large cross-sectional area so as to provide respectively differing volumes of fluid to the user. The water duct (36) and air duct (44) are substantially parallel and both terminate in upward disposition to direct the water and air upwardly onto the user at a close range for efficient cleaning and drying, respectively.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method using a system (10) for heating or cooling air in a motor vehicle passenger compartment provided with a windscreen, by input into the passenger compartment air which has passed through an exchanger (12) comprised in a refrigerant loop. The invention is characterized in that it comprises steps which consist in measuring the temperature of the air leaving the exchanger (12), measuring the humidity of the air leaving the exchanger (12), determining the dew point of the air leaving the exchanger (12) based on said temperature and humidity, determining the windscreen temperature, comparing the dew point with the windscreen temperature and stopping the heating of air in the passenger compartment when the dew point is higher than the windscreen temperature.