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 for a vehicle includes an engine having a rotatable crankshaft and an engine-driven component having a rotatable component shaft. A torque-transmission device has a drive element operatively connected to the crankshaft and a driven element operatively connected to the rotatable component shaft. The torque-transmission device has a slipping state in which slip occurs during torque transfer from the drive element to the driven element so that a speed differential exists between the drive element and the driven element. An electronic controller is operatively connected to the crankshaft, the rotatable component shaft, and the torque-transmission device. The electronic controller includes a processor with a stored algorithm executed to establish the slipping state to maintain a rotational speed of the rotatable component shaft at or below a predetermined rotational speed.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a body that extends along a longitudinal axis, between a forward end and a rearward end. A front bumper assembly is disposed at the forward end of the body. The front bumper assembly includes a B-shaped structure that defines a channel that extends transversely across the body, relative to the longitudinal axis. A heat exchanger is disposed within the channel of the bumper structure. The heat exchanger is operable to transfer heat from a fluid circulating through the heat exchanger to a flow of air passing across the heat exchanger. The fluid may include, but is not limited to, engine oil, transmission fluid, power steering fluid, or an engine coolant from a low temperature coolant loop.

Abstract: A power steering waste heat recovery system for a vehicle and method of operating is disclosed. The system may include a power steering system and a waste heat absorption system. The power steering system may include a power steering pump, a liquid-to-liquid heat exchanger located downstream of the power steering pump and configured to allow power steering fluid flow therethrough, and a steering rack operatively engaging the heat exchanger to receive the power steering fluid therefrom. The waste heat absorption system may include an auxiliary heater loop configured to direct a liquid through the heat exchanger; and an automatically controllable heat control valve having an inlet, a first outlet for directing the liquid to bypass the auxiliary heater loop, and a second outlet for directing the liquid through the heat exchanger in the auxiliary heater loop.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a body that extends along a longitudinal axis, between a forward end and a rearward end. A front bumper assembly is disposed at the forward end of the body. The front bumper assembly includes a B-shaped structure that defines a channel that extends transversely across the body, relative to the longitudinal axis. A heat exchanger is disposed within the channel of the bumper structure. The heat exchanger is operable to transfer heat from a fluid circulating through the heat exchanger to a flow of air passing across the heat exchanger. The fluid may include, but is not limited to, engine oil, transmission fluid, power steering fluid, or an engine coolant from a low temperature coolant loop.

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 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 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: An HVAC system, and a method of operation, for use in a vehicle is disclosed. The HVAC system may comprise: an evaporator having a drain that receives condensate dripping from the evaporator; a refrigerant compressor that receives a refrigerant from the evaporator and compresses the refrigerant; a condenser that receives the refrigerant from the compressor; and a condensate-to-refrigerant heat exchanger that receives the refrigerant from the condenser and the condensate from the drain, whereby the condensate absorbs heat from the refrigerant as the condensate flows through the condensate-to-refrigerant heat exchanger.

Abstract: A HVAC and battery cooling system, and method of operation, for use in a vehicle that may include a HVAC system, a battery cooling system and a pre-cooling heat exchanger is disclosed. The HVAC system may include an evaporator and a drain configured to receive condensate from the evaporator. The battery cooling system may include a main battery cooling subsystem configured to cool a cooling fluid that flows through a battery pack. The pre-cooling heat exchanger is configured to receive a flow of the cooling fluid therethrough and a flow of the condensate therethrough, whereby the condensate absorbs heat from the cooling fluid as the condensate flows through the pre-cooling heat exchanger.

Abstract: A power steering waste heat recovery system for a vehicle and method of operating is disclosed. The system may include a power steering system and a waste heat absorption system. The power steering system may include a power steering pump, a liquid-to-liquid heat exchanger located downstream of the power steering pump and configured to allow power steering fluid flow therethrough, and a steering rack operatively engaging the heat exchanger to receive the power steering fluid therefrom. The waste heat absorption system may include an auxiliary heater loop configured to direct a liquid through the heat exchanger; and an automatically controllable heat control valve having an inlet, a first outlet for directing the liquid to bypass the auxiliary heater loop, and a second outlet for directing the liquid through the heat exchanger in the auxiliary heater loop.