U.S. patent application number 12/659704 was filed with the patent office on 2010-09-23 for heating system for a vehicle.
This patent application is currently assigned to GLACIER BAY, INC.. Invention is credited to Justin Dobbs, Paul Knauer, Dave Lyons, Ethan Petersen.
Application Number | 20100236769 12/659704 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42736485 |
Filed Date | 2010-09-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100236769 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lyons; Dave ; et
al. |
September 23, 2010 |
Heating system for a vehicle
Abstract
A climate control system is configured to provide at least one
of heating and cooling of air in an occupied space of a vehicle.
The system includes a thermal energy storage device configured to
receive heat from a waste heat source in the vehicle and a heat
exchanger coupled between the thermal energy storage device and the
occupied space of the vehicle by a coolant loop. The second heat
exchanger is configured to transfer heat from at least one of the
thermal energy storage device to the occupied space of the vehicle
and the occupied space in the vehicle to the thermal energy storage
device.
Inventors: |
Lyons; Dave; (Union City,
CA) ; Knauer; Paul; (Union City, CA) ; Dobbs;
Justin; (Union City, CA) ; Petersen; Ethan;
(Union City, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FOLEY AND LARDNER LLP;SUITE 500
3000 K STREET NW
WASHINGTON
DC
20007
US
|
Assignee: |
GLACIER BAY, INC.
|
Family ID: |
42736485 |
Appl. No.: |
12/659704 |
Filed: |
March 17, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61202615 |
Mar 18, 2009 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
165/200 ;
165/42 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B61D 27/0018 20130101;
Y02T 30/00 20130101; Y02T 30/42 20130101; Y02T 30/30 20130101; B60H
1/00492 20130101; B60H 1/025 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
165/200 ;
165/42 |
International
Class: |
F28F 27/00 20060101
F28F027/00; B61D 27/00 20060101 B61D027/00 |
Claims
1. A climate control system configured to provide at least one of
heating and cooling of air in an occupied space of a vehicle,
comprising: a thermal energy storage device configured to receive
heat from a waste heat source in the vehicle; and a heat exchanger
coupled between the thermal energy storage device and the occupied
space of the vehicle by a coolant loop, the second heat exchanger
configured to transfer heat from at least one of the thermal energy
storage device to the occupied space of the vehicle and the
occupied space in the vehicle to the thermal energy storage
device.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the waste heat source comprises
at least one of a vehicle engine, exhaust gas, and the occupied
space.
3. The system of claim 1, further comprising: a second heat
exchanger coupled to the thermal energy storage device by the
coolant loop, the second heat exchanger configured to transfer
waste heat from the heat source to the thermal energy storage
device.
4. The system of claim 3, further comprising: a second coolant loop
coupling the heat source to the second heat exchanger.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the second heat exchanger
comprises a liquid-to-liquid heat exchanger or an air-to-liquid
heat exchanger.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the heat source is coupled to the
thermal energy storage device by the coolant loop.
7. The system of claim 4, further comprising: a valve; and a bypass
coolant line configured to bypass the thermal energy storage device
and couple the heat source to the heat exchanger based on the
position of the valve.
8. The system of claim 1, further comprising: a pump configured to
circulate coolant through the coolant loop; and a fan configured to
heat across the heat exchanger and into the occupied space.
9. The system of claim 1, further comprising: an electronic
controller configured to control operation of the climate control
system based on electronic input from at least one sensor
configured to sense a condition of the vehicle.
10. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor
comprises at least one temperature sensor for mounting in the
occupied space or in an engine compartment.
11. The system of claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger comprises a
liquid-to-air heat exchanger.
12. A method for providing at least one of heating and cooling of
air in an occupied space of a vehicle, comprising: transferring
heat from a waste heat source to a thermal energy storage device;
and transferring heat from at least one of the thermal energy
storage device to the occupied space of the vehicle and the
occupied space in the vehicle to the thermal energy storage device
using a heat exchanger coupled between the thermal energy storage
device and the occupied space.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the waste heat is transferred
from at least one of a vehicle engine, exhaust gas, and the
occupied space.
14. The method of claim 12, further comprising: transferring waste
heat from the heat source to the thermal energy storage device
using a second heat exchanger coupled to the thermal energy storage
device by the coolant loop.
15. The method of claim 14, further comprising: transferring heat
from the heat source to the second heat exchanger using a second
coolant loop.
16. The method of claim 12, further comprising: transferring heat
from the heat source to the thermal energy storage device using the
coolant loop.
17. The method of claim 16, further comprising: actuating a valve
to transfer heat from the heat source to the heat exchanger over a
bypass coolant line to bypass the thermal energy storage
device.
18. The method of claim 12, further comprising: receiving an
electrical signal at an electronic controller from the at least one
sensor; and controlling operation of the climate control system
based on the electrical signal using the electronic controller.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein the electronic controller
receives the electrical signal from at least one temperature sensor
mounted in the occupied space or in an engine compartment.
20. A climate control system configured to provide heating air in
an occupied space of a vehicle, comprising: a first coolant loop
configured to transfer waste heat away from a heat source in the
vehicle, the first coolant loop comprising a first heat exchanger
configured to transfer heat away from the heat source; and a second
coolant loop configured to store waste heat from the first coolant
loop for use in heating the occupied space, the second coolant loop
comprising: a thermal energy storage device configured to store
heat from first heat exchanger; and a second heat exchanger coupled
between the thermal energy storage device and the occupied space of
the vehicle, the second heat exchanger configured to transfer heat
from the thermal energy storage device to the occupied space of the
vehicle.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S.
Provisional Application No. 61/202,615, filed Mar. 18, 2009, which
is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The present invention relates generally to the field of
heating systems for vehicles. Some vehicles are required to turn
their engines off during mandatory or voluntary resting periods.
With the engine off, waste heat is not used to provide cabin
heating. In hybrid-electric vehicles or marine vessels, cabin heat
may be required at times when the vehicle or vessel is operating in
"all-electric" mode or "quiet" mode. In these modes, waste heat
from the internal combustion engine is not available to provide
heat to the occupant cabin. Generator powered buildings or
structures may require supplemental or primary heat during periods
of non-operation of the primary generator.
SUMMARY
[0003] According to one exemplary embodiment, a climate control
system is configured to provide at least one of heating and cooling
of air in an occupied space of a vehicle. The system includes a
thermal energy storage device configured to receive heat from a
waste heat source in the vehicle and a heat exchanger coupled
between the thermal energy storage device and the occupied space of
the vehicle by a coolant loop. The second heat exchanger is
configured to transfer heat from at least one of the thermal energy
storage device to the occupied space of the vehicle and the
occupied space in the vehicle to the thermal energy storage
device.
[0004] According to another exemplary embodiment, a method for
providing at least one of heating and cooling of air in an occupied
space of a vehicle includes transferring heat from a waste heat
source to a thermal energy storage device and transferring heat
from at least one of the thermal energy storage device to the
occupied space of the vehicle and the occupied space in the vehicle
to the thermal energy storage device using a heat exchanger coupled
between the thermal energy storage device and the occupied
space.
[0005] According to another exemplary embodiment, a climate control
system is configured to provide heating air in an occupied space of
a vehicle. The system includes a first coolant loop configured to
transfer waste heat away from a heat source in the vehicle. The
first coolant loop includes a first heat exchanger configured to
transfer heat away from the heat source. The system also includes a
second coolant loop configured to store waste heat from the first
coolant loop for use in heating the occupied space. The second
coolant loop includes a thermal energy storage device configured to
store heat from first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger
coupled between the thermal energy storage device and the occupied
space of the vehicle. The second heat exchanger is configured to
transfer heat from the thermal energy storage device to the
occupied space of the vehicle.
[0006] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general
description and the following detailed description are exemplary
and explanatory only, and are not restrictive of the invention as
claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0007] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the
present invention will become apparent from the following
description, appended claims, and the accompanying exemplary
embodiments shown in the drawings, which are briefly described
below.
[0008] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a vehicle including a heating
system with a thermal energy storage device according to an
exemplary embodiment.
[0009] FIGS. 2-5 are block diagrams of a heating system according
to several exemplary embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0010] Hereinafter, various embodiments of the present invention
will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0011] Referring to FIG. 1, according to various exemplary
embodiments, a vehicle 100 may include an HVAC system 102
configured to provide climate control of a vehicle cabin 104. In
situations where the primary engine or generator is not operating,
the vehicle 100, a building, or a structure may rely on stored
power from a variety of sources to provide heating and/or cooling
for the occupied space when the primary system is not running
(e.g., battery system, fuel system (chemical energy), phase-change
material system, or various other systems). According to one
exemplary embodiment, the HVAC system 100 may be an HVAC system
installable in the vehicle 100 and having an energy storage module
or device 106 connected to the vehicle's existing power system 108
(e.g., an engine in an engine compartment). The HVAC system 102 may
be controlled in a way that makes optimized use of stored power in
module 106 to condition the air for the occupied space of the cabin
104.
[0012] It may be advantageous for the HVAC system 100 to be at
least partially powered by the waste heat of the vehicle from a
waste heat source (e.g., from an engine, an exhaust system, a
drivetrain, etc.) and to store excess energy from the waste heat in
the energy storage device 106, which may also power other
components of the HVAC system 100. It may be advantageous for the
HVAC system 100 to be powered by the waste heat and the energy
storage device 106 such that the HVAC components and system operate
efficiently.
[0013] The engine 108 (e.g., an internal combustion engine) may
include a system to cool the engine 108. According to one exemplary
embodiment, the cooling system comprises a closed loop through
which flows a cooling fluid, such as a mixture of water and glycol.
The cooling fluid absorbs heat as it passes through the engine 108
and transfers heat to the surrounding environment (e.g., the
surrounding air and/or water) with a heat exchanger, such as a
radiator.
[0014] At least a portion of the waste heat generated by the engine
108 may be transferred to the storage device 106. The waste heat
may be transferred to the storage device 106 directly (e.g., with
the closed cooling loop) or with a secondary loop. As described
below, according to some exemplary embodiments, the stored energy
may be used to heat the vehicle cabin 104. However, according to
other exemplary embodiments, the stored energy may be used for
other purposes, such as cooling the vehicle cabin 104.
[0015] The vehicle 100 includes occupied space, such as the cabin
104 or other rooms. The occupied rooms are generally heated by
powered equipment while the engine 108 is running. As described in
more detail below, the vehicle may include a heating system and the
energy storage device 106 may be a thermal energy storage device.
The storage device 106 absorbs thermal energy when the engine 108
is operating and releases the energy when the engine 108 is off to
heat air supplied to the occupied areas of the vehicle 100. In
other exemplary embodiments, the storage device 106 may be a
battery charged by an alternator driven by the engine or any other
suitable energy storage device.
[0016] The storage device 106 may use the stored energy when the
engine 108 is off to heat or cool air supplied to the occupied
areas of the vehicle, for example the cabin 104. The heating and
cooling system 102 may include an intelligent control system
configured to optimize performance to the cabin occupants based on
their situational needs and comfort levels. The heating and cooling
system 102 may be a "hybrid" heating system that combines multiple
forms of heating in an optimized system. For example, a radiant
panel and a fuel-fired heater may be used together such that the
panel warms the driver while he or she is in the bunk, while a
motion sensor turns on the fuel-fired heater when the driver gets
up to heat the remainder of the cabin 104.
[0017] The energy to drive the heating and cooling system 102 is
stored in the energy storage module 106, as described above.
Because the amount of stored energy in the energy storage system
106 is finite, the heating and cooling ability of the system 102
is, in turn, also finite. For example, on especially cold or hot
nights the heating or cooling load needed to maintain the desired
interior cabin temperature may exceed the amount of heating or
cooling that can be provided with the stored energy. To make
efficient use or consumption of the stored energy, the heating and
cooling system 102 may be configured to make trade-offs between
system power (energy consumption rates) and system performance
(heating or cooling output) under certain high temperature
difference conditions.
[0018] According to various exemplary embodiments, the energy
storage device 106 may be a system that utilizes phase change
materials where the heat is released or absorbed by a chemical
substance during a change of state (i.e., solid, liquid, or gas) or
a phase transition (e.g., water, salt hydrates, etc.). For example,
the heat from the secondary working fluid may cause the material to
transform from a solid to a liquid or vice versa. The energy
storage device 106 functions as a heat exchanger for the secondary
loop 202, transferring heat from or to a flue in the secondary loop
202.
[0019] According to some exemplary embodiments, the energy storage
device 106 may comprise a plurality of storage panels. For example,
the energy storage device 106 may be an energy storage device
described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,901,572, which is herein incorporated
by reference in its entirety. Heated air is blown over the panels
with a fan, causing the material in the panel to undergo phase
change and store thermal energy (e.g., when the engine is running).
Such a material may be, for example, water, a linear alkyl
hydrocarbon, or a mix of alkyl hydrocarbons and paraffin wax.
Likewise, air may be blown over the panels after the engine is off
causing the opposite effect, with the phase change material giving
up the stored thermal energy to heat the air (e.g., after the
engine has been turned off). According to other exemplary
embodiments, and as described herein, instead of a forced air
system similar to the system disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,901,572,
the heat transfer between the energy storage device 106 and the
heating and cooling system 102 may be directly between the phase
change material and a primary or secondary loop of fluid.
[0020] While the heating and cooling system 102 as generally
described herein may be configured so that energy storage module
106 serves as a secondary power source, according to other
exemplary embodiments, the energy storage module 106 may not be
limited to use as a backup power source. In some exemplary
embodiments, the system may be configured so that the energy
storage module 106 is the main source of energy for the heating and
cooling system 102. For example, the heating and cooling system 102
may be powered in most situations by energy from the energy storage
module 106. In exemplary embodiments where the energy storage
module provides primary power, an engine powered generator or an
off truck power source (i.e., shore power) system may be used to
charge the energy storage module 106.
[0021] According to various exemplary embodiments, the features
described herein may be employed with an HVAC system disclosed in
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/320,213, filed Jan. 21, 2009,
or in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/560,160, filed on Nov.
15, 2006, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its
entirety.
[0022] Referring to FIG. 2, according to one exemplary embodiment,
heat is transferred from an engine cooling loop 200 (e.g., a
primary loop) to a secondary loop 202 with a liquid-to-liquid heat
exchanger 204 (e.g., counter flow or parallel flow double pipe heat
exchanger, cross flow heat exchanger, shell-and-tube heat
exchanger, etc.).
[0023] The engine cooling loop 200 (e.g., a closed loop through)
circulates a cooling fluid, such as a mixture of water and glycol,
using a pump 206. The cooling fluid absorbs heat as it passes
through the engine 108 and transfers heat to the surrounding
environment (e.g., the surrounding air and/or water) with a heat
exchanger 208, such as a radiator. A fan 210 may blow air across
the radiator 208 to increase heat transfer from the fluid to the
surrounding air.
[0024] The secondary loop 202 contains a working fluid that is
configured to efficiently absorb and transfer heat from the engine
cooling loop 200 to the storage device 106. The working fluid may
be, for example, a mixture of water and glycol. The working fluid
is circulated by a pump 212 from the energy storage device 106 to a
heat exchanger 214, for example a liquid to air heat exchanger, to
provide heated air to the occupied space, for example the cabin
104. A variable speed or fixed speed fan 216 may blow air across
the heat exchanger 214 to increase heat transfer from the fluid to
the surrounding air.
[0025] When the engine 108 is running, heat energy is stored in the
energy storage device 106 via the phase transition of the storage
material. During periods when the engine 108 is turned off, the
stored energy can released by the storage device 106 to the working
fluid secondary loop 202. The energy is carried by the secondary
loop 202 to the liquid-to-air heat exchanger 214. The air absorbs
heat from the secondary fluid and is provided to the cabin 104 or
other occupied space.
[0026] An electronic controller 218 is provided to control the
storage device 106, the pump 212, and the fan 216 in the secondary
loop 202. Alternatively, separate controllers may be provided for
one or more components. The electronic controller 218 is configured
to monitor sensors (e.g., state sensors) for various systems, for
example a temperature sensor 220. The controller 218 is configured
to provide climate control based on system feedback control
algorithms. The sensors may be sensors positioned and configured to
sense a condition of the vehicle. For example, the sensors may
include a sensor to detect the temperature of a compartment (i.e.,
engine compartment or passenger compartment).
[0027] According to another exemplary embodiment, the system could
work on simple open-loop user set controls. A user may select the
fan 216 speed (e.g., "low," "medium," and "high") based on their
preference. The fan 216 speed may be adjusted or the fan 216 may be
turned off if the user feels the temperature is too warm or too
cold in the occupied space.
[0028] Referring to FIG. 3, according to another exemplary
embodiment, exhaust gases from the engine 108 may be directed to an
air-to-liquid heat exchanger 300 (e.g., counter flow or parallel
flow double pipe heat exchanger, cross flow heat exchanger,
shell-and-tube heat exchanger, etc.). Heat is transferred from the
exhaust gases to a secondary loop 302. Similar to the exemplary
embodiment of FIG. 2, the secondary loop 302 transfers the heat
from the heat exchanger 300 to the storage device 106 for use in
heating air of the occupied space.
[0029] Referring to FIG. 4, according to still another exemplary
embodiment, a heating system 400 may not include a secondary loop.
Instead, the coolant in the cooling loop may be routed directly to
the storage device 106 by a pump 402 before passing through the
heat exchanger 214 configured to provide heat to the occupied space
and the engine 108 heat exchanger 208 (e.g., a radiator).
[0030] Because of space and material limitations, the energy
storage device 106 may only be capable of storing enough energy to
heat the cabin 104 or other occupied space for a certain amount of
time. To extend the amount of time the cabin 104 may be heated
after the engine 108 has been turned off, the engine block itself
may be used as a storage device. In the exemplary embodiment of
FIG. 4, a working fluid such as water or a water and glycol mix may
be circulated through the engine block for a few hours after
shutting down the engine 108.
[0031] Referring to FIG. 5, according to an exemplary embodiment
similar to the system shown in FIG. 4, a cooling loop 500 provides
a working fluid. Instead of transferring heat to the storage device
106, the fluid may be directed to the liquid-to-air heat exchanger
214, bypassing the storage device 106. A valve 502 may control the
flow of the fluid through the main line or a bypass line 504 based
on the temperature of the engine 108 block. The temperature of the
engine block may be read by a temperature sensor 506, which sends
temperature readings to a controller 508. Controller 508 is
configured to control actuation of the valve 502. The length of
time the engine 108 block may provide heat to the heating system
may be dependent on how long the block stays hot due to external
temperatures, etc. However, using the engine 108 block heat may
contribute additional heating time for the cabin 104 in addition to
what the energy stored in the storage device 106 can provide.
[0032] As described above, the heating and cooling system 102 may
capture waste heat from the vehicle's internal combustion engine
108. The heat source may be the engine block or other component of
the internal combustion engine 108. The heat exchanger 204, 300,
transferring the waste heat to the secondary loop 202 may be
constructed in a manner similar to conventional well known examples
of heat exchangers utilizing the heat from the engine 108 or engine
exhaust to heat a fluid. According to various exemplary
embodiments, the heat exchanger 204, 300 may be a heat exchanger
disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,003,344 and 7,013,644, each of which
is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
[0033] While the heating and cooling system 102 is described above
as being used to capture waste heat from a propulsion or power
generation engine 108 in a vehicle 100, it should be understood
that the concepts are applicable to other environments as well. For
example, the heating system may also be used to heat a building
structure or shelter by extracting waste heat of an power
generating internal combustion engine.
[0034] While the thermal energy stored in the storage device 106 is
generally described as being used to heat the air for occupied
areas of the vehicle 100, such stored energy may be used for other
purposes. For example, according to another exemplary embodiment,
the stored thermal energy may be used as part of a refrigeration
cycle to cool air.
[0035] It is important to note that the construction and
arrangement of the heating system as shown in the various exemplary
embodiments is illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments
of the present application have been described in detail in this
disclosure, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure
will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible (e.g.,
variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions
of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting
arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without
materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the
subject matter recited in the application. For example, elements
shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or
elements, the position of elements may be reversed or otherwise
varied, and the nature or number of discrete elements or positions
may be altered or varied. Accordingly, all such modifications are
intended to be included within the scope of the present
application. The order or sequence of any process or method steps
may be varied or re-sequenced according to alternative embodiments.
Any means-plus-function clause is intended to cover the structures
described herein as performing the recited function and not only
structural equivalents but also equivalent structures. Other
substitutions, modifications, changes and omissions may be made in
the design, operating conditions and arrangement of the exemplary
embodiments without departing from the scope of the present
application.
[0036] The foregoing description of embodiments of the application
has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It
is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the application to the
precise form disclosed, and modifications and variations are
possible in light of the above teachings, or may be acquired from
practice of the application. The embodiments were chosen and
described in order to explain the principles of the application and
its practical application to enable one skilled in the art to
utilize the application in various embodiments and with various
modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.
[0037] Although the description contains many specificities, these
specificities are utilized to illustrate some of the preferred
embodiments of this application and should not be construed as
limiting the scope of the application. The scope of this
application fully encompasses other embodiments which may become
apparent to those skilled in the art. All structural, chemical, and
functional equivalents to the elements of the above-described
application that are known to those of ordinary skill in the art
are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended to
be encompassed by the present application. A reference to an
element in the singular is not intended to mean one and only one,
unless explicitly so stated, but rather it should be construed to
mean at least one. Furthermore, no element, component or method
step in the present disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the
public.
* * * * *