Abstract: A vehicle includes a component coated with a pollutant reduction catalyst configured to remove pollutants from a flow of air over the component, a catalyst temperature sensor coupled to the component, a general temperature sensor, a vehicle speed sensor, and an active grille shutter (AGS) system having a plurality of movable grille shutters. A controller is configured to determine an efficiency of the pollutant reduction catalyst based on signals from the catalyst temperature sensor, the general temperature sensor, the vehicle speed sensor, and the AGS system.

Abstract: An auxiliary coolant pump for circulating a coolant in a vehicle thermal system having a main coolant pump includes a housing, an impeller, a motor selectively driving the impeller, a coolant inlet configured to receive the coolant, a coolant outlet fluidly coupled to the coolant inlet, and a bypass passage fluidly coupled between the coolant inlet and the coolant outlet. When the main coolant pump is on, the auxiliary coolant pump is selectively turned off such that coolant flows through the bypass passage to reduce or eliminate restriction of the coolant flow rate in the thermal system. When the main coolant pump is off, the auxiliary coolant pump is selectively turned on such that coolant continues to flow through at least a portion of the thermal system.

Abstract: An auxiliary coolant pump for circulating a coolant in a vehicle thermal system having a main coolant pump includes a housing, an impeller, a motor selectively driving the impeller, a coolant inlet configured to receive the coolant, a coolant outlet fluidly coupled to the coolant inlet, and a bypass passage fluidly coupled between the coolant inlet and the coolant outlet. When the main coolant pump is on, the auxiliary coolant pump is selectively turned off such that coolant flows through the bypass passage to reduce or eliminate restriction of the coolant flow rate in the thermal system. When the main coolant pump is off, the auxiliary coolant pump is selectively turned on such that coolant continues to flow through at least a portion of the thermal system.

Abstract: A chiller system includes an intercooler configured to cool compressed charge air received from a charger, a low temperature cooling circuit fluidly coupled to the intercooler, and an air conditioner circuit circulating a refrigerant and having a primary circuit and a bypass circuit. The primary circuit includes a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator. The bypass circuit includes a conduit that bypasses the evaporator, and a chiller shut off valve is configured to selectively prevent refrigerant from flowing through the bypass circuit. A chiller is thermally coupled to the low temperature cooling circuit and the bypass circuit. A controller is in signal communication with the chiller shut off valve. The controller is programmed to, upon receiving a signal indicating a driver has manually selected the vehicle to operate in a racing mode, open the chiller shut off valve to provide increased cooling to the intercooler and the compressed charge air.

Abstract: A chiller system includes an intercooler configured to cool compressed charge air received from a charger, a low temperature cooling circuit fluidly coupled to the intercooler, and an air conditioner circuit circulating a refrigerant and having a primary circuit and a bypass circuit. The primary circuit includes a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator. The bypass circuit includes a conduit that bypasses the evaporator, and a chiller shut off valve is configured to selectively prevent refrigerant from flowing through the bypass circuit. A chiller is thermally coupled to the low temperature cooling circuit and the bypass circuit. A controller is in signal communication with the chiller shut off valve. The controller is programmed to, upon receiving a signal indicating a driver has manually selected the vehicle to operate in a racing mode, open the chiller shut off valve to provide increased cooling to the intercooler and the compressed charge air.

Abstract: A chiller system includes an intercooler configured to cool compressed charge air received from a turbocharger or a supercharger; a low temperature cooling circuit fluidly coupled to the intercooler, the low temperature cooling circuit circulating a coolant to provide cooling to the intercooler and including a low temperature radiator configured to cool the first coolant; and an air conditioner circuit circulating a refrigerant and having a primary circuit and an evaporator bypass circuit. A chiller is thermally coupled to the low temperature cooling circuit and the bypass circuit. A chiller shut off valve is configured to be controlled to be selectively opened to provide refrigerant to the chiller to further cool the coolant in the low temperature cooling circuit after the coolant is cooled by the low temperature radiator, thereby providing increased cooling to the intercooler and the compressed charge air to increase engine performance.

Abstract: A chiller system includes an intercooler configured to cool compressed charge air received from a turbocharger or a supercharger; a low temperature cooling circuit fluidly coupled to the intercooler, the low temperature cooling circuit circulating a coolant to provide cooling to the intercooler and including a low temperature radiator configured to cool the first coolant; and an air conditioner circuit circulating a refrigerant and having a primary circuit and an evaporator bypass circuit. A chiller is thermally coupled to the low temperature cooling circuit and the bypass circuit. A chiller shut off valve is configured to be controlled to be selectively opened to provide refrigerant to the chiller to further cool the coolant in the low temperature cooling circuit after the coolant is cooled by the low temperature radiator, thereby providing increased cooling to the intercooler and the compressed charge air to increase engine performance.

Abstract: The invention relates to a vapor compression refrigeration system for cooling air, particularly for use in automobiles, having a closed circuit for refrigerant fluid incorporating an expansion device in the form of an orifice tube supplying expanded refrigerant fluid to an evaporator for cooling the air, wherein the system comprises electrical heating means such as a resistive wire winding or film resistor to supply heat to the refrigerant fluid within the orifice tube, and control means for controlling the heating means so as to achieve desired mass flow rates of the expanded fluid in the evaporator. The control means may operate in response to signals from a pressure sensor downstream of the evaporator and from further sensors sensing the temperature and speed of the air to be cooled as it enters the evaporator.

Abstract: A heat exchanger assembly comprises a pair of header members and a plurality of heat transfer tubes passing between the headers members. The heat transfer tubes are adapted to transfer heat between fins on the exterior of the tubes and a working fluid in liquid or gaseous phase within the tubes. A pressure drop minimizing tube passes between the headers and has a cross sectional area significantly larger than the heat transfer tubes. The pressure drop minimizing tube is adapted to carry the working fluid in a gaseous phase either as an inlet, when the heat transfer assembly is utilized as a condenser, or as an outlet, when the heat transfer assembly is utilized as an evaporator. A member connects the pressure drop minimizing tube at one end to at least two of the heat transfer tubes for condensation to a liquid, when the assembly is utilized as a condenser, or transferring gaseous working fluid from the heat transfer tubes to the pressure drop minimizing tubes, when the assembly is utilized as an evaporator.