Heat-pump type air conditioning and heating system for fuel cell vehicles

{
  "publication_number": "US6370903B1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B1",
  "title": "Heat-pump type air conditioning and heating system for fuel cell vehicles",
  "abstract": "A heat pump type heating and air conditioning system is provided. The heat pump comprises a series of heat exchange relationships between an internal refrigeration circuit and at least one external coolant circuit. In a preferred embodiment, a fuel cell coolant circuit and an electronics coolant circuit are in heat exchange relationship with the refrigeration circuit. A method of selectively heating and/or cooling air within a passenger compartment of a fuel cell vehicle is also provided.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A heat pump for a fuel cell vehicle, comprising: a fuel cell coolant circuit, comprising a fuel cell, a fuel cell coolant, a first fluid pump for applying a workload to the fuel cell coolant, an external evaporator, and a first passageway providing fluid communication between the first fluid pump, the fuel cell, and the external evaporator; and a refrigeration circuit, comprising a refrigerant, a compressor for applying a workload to the refrigerant, an internal condenser on a refrigerant output side of the compressor, the external evaporator of the fuel cell coolant circuit, and a second passageway providing fluid communication between the compressor, the internal condenser, and the external evaporator; wherein the external evaporator communicates with the fuel cell coolant and refrigeration circuits and defines a heat exchange relationship between the fuel cell coolant and the refrigerant, and wherein the internal condenser defines a heat exchange relationship between the refrigerant and air within said vehicle.",
    "2. A heat pump in accordance with claim 1, further comprising an electronics coolant circuit having electrical components, an electrical coolant, a second fluid pump for applying a workload to the electronics coolant, an external condenser, and a third passageway providing fluid communication between the second fluid pump, the external condenser, and the electrical components; and wherein the refrigeration circuit further comprises the external condenser of the electronics coolant circuit on a refrigerant output side of the compressor, an internal evaporator, a fourth passageway providing fluid communication between the compressor, the external condenser, and the internal evaporator, and a device positioned on a refrigerant output side of the compressor and adapted to selectively allow the refrigerant to travel within the second passageway to the internal condenser or within the fourth passageway to the external condenser; wherein the external condenser communicates with the electronics coolant and refrigeration circuits and defines a heat exchange relationship between the electronics coolant and the refrigerant, and wherein the internal evaporator defines a heat exchange relationship between the refrigerant and air within said vehicle.",
    "3. A heat pump in accordance with claim 2, wherein the device comprises a multi-position valve.",
    "4. A heat pump in accordance with claim 2, further comprising an expansion valve in the second passageway positioned on a refrigerant inlet side of the external evaporator.",
    "5. A heat pump in accordance with claim 2, further comprising an expansion valve in the fourth passageway positioned on a refrigerant inlet side of the internal evaporator.",
    "6. A heat pump in accordance with claim 2, further comprising a valve located in the second passageway and adapted to selectively impede flow of the refrigerant to the external evaporator.",
    "7. A heat pump in accordance with claim 2, further comprising a valve located in the fourth passageway and adapted to selectively impede flow of the refrigerant to the internal evaporator.",
    "8. A heat pump in accordance with claim 2, further comprising a one-way valve located in the second passageway and adapted to allow refrigerant in the second passageway to flow from the internal condenser in the direction of the external evaporator and to prevent refrigerant from flowing in the opposite direction.",
    "9. A heat pump in accordance with claim 2, further comprising a one-way valve positioned in the fourth passageway and adapted to allow refrigerant in the fourth passageway to flow from the external condenser in the direction of the internal evaporator and prevent refrigerant from flowing in the opposite direction.",
    "10. A heat pump in accordance with claim 2, further comprising a junction passageway that provides fluid communication between the second passageway at a position on a refrigerant output side of the internal condenser and the fourth passageway at a position on a refrigerant input side of the external condenser, such that refrigerant is able to flow from the compressor, to the internal condenser, to the external condenser, to the internal evaporator, and back to the compressor.",
    "11. A heat pump in accordance with claim 10, wherein the junction passageway includes a valve adapted to impede flow of refrigerant through the junction passageway.",
    "12. A refrigeration circuit for a vehicle having a first external coolant circuit and a second external coolant circuit, said refrigeration circuit comprising: a compressor for applying a workload to a refrigerant; an internal condenser on a refrigerant output side of the compressor; an external evaporator in communication with the internal condenser and the first external coolant circuit; an internal evaporator; an external condenser in communication with the internal evaporator and the second external coolant circuit. a first passageway providing fluid communication between the compressor, the internal condenser, and the external evaporator; a second passageway providing fluid communication between the compressor, the external condenser, and the internal evaporator; and a multi-position valve positioned on a refrigerant output side of the compressor and adapted to selectively allow the refrigerant to travel within the first passageway to the internal condenser or within the second passageway to the external condenser; wherein the external evaporator defines a heat exchange relationship between a first coolant within said first external coolant circuit and the refrigerant; the external condenser defines a heat exchange relationship between a second coolant within said second external coolant circuit and the refrigerant; the internal condenser defines a first heat exchange relationship between the refrigerant and air within said vehicle, and wherein the internal evaporator defines a second heat exchange relationship between the refrigerant and air within said vehicle.",
    "13. A refrigeration circuit in accordance with claim 12, further comprising a junction passageway that provides fluid communication between the first passageway at a position on a refrigerant output side of the internal condenser and the second passageway at a position on a refrigerant input side of the external condenser, such that the refrigerant is able to flow from the compressor, to the internal condenser, to the external condenser, to the internal evaporator, and back to the compressor.",
    "14. A refrigeration circuit in accordance with claim 13, wherein the junction passageway includes a valve adapted to impede flow of refrigerant through the junction passageway.",
    "15. A method of selectively heating or cooling air within a passenger compartment of a fuel cell vehicle having a fuel cell coolant, an electronics coolant, and a refrigerant, comprising: absorbing waste heat from the fuel cell coolant; transferring heat energy between the fuel cell coolant and the refrigerant; transferring heat energy between said refrigerant and said electronics coolant; and transferring heat energy between said refrigerant and said air.",
    "16. The method according to claim 15, wherein transferring heat energy between the fuel cell coolant and the refrigerant occurs within an external evaporator that communicates with the fuel cell coolant and the refrigerant.",
    "17. The method of claim 16, wherein the external evaporator comprises a heat exchanger positioned within a fuel cell coolant circuit comprising said fuel cell coolant, a fluid pump, the external evaporator, and an external radiator.",
    "18. The method of claim 17, wherein the external evaporator comprises a heat exchanger positioned within a secondary coolant circuit of the fuel cell coolant circuit.",
    "19. The method according to claim 15, wherein transferring heat energy between the refrigerant and the electronics coolant occurs within an external condenser that is accessible by the electronics coolant and the refrigerant.",
    "20. The method of claim 15, wherein transferring heat energy between the refrigerant and said air occurs selectively within an internal condenser accessible by the refrigerant and said air, and within an internal evaporator accessible by the refrigerant and said air."
  ],
  "cpc": [
    "B60L 1/00",
    "B60H 1/00385",
    "B60H 1/00907",
    "B60H 1/143",
    "B60H 1/32281",
    "B60H 2001/00949",
    "B60L 3/0046",
    "B60L 3/0053",
    "B60L 58/26",
    "B60L 58/27",
    "B60L 58/34",
    "F25B 13/00",
    "F25B 2313/023",
    "F25B 2313/025",
    "F25B 25/005",
    "F25B 30/06",
    "H01M 2250/20",
    "H01M 8/04007",
    "Y02E 60/50",
    "Y02T 10/70",
    "Y02T 90/40"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "VISTEON GLOBAL TECH INC"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2001-03-14",
  "publication_date": "2002-04-16",
  "grant_date": "2002-04-16",
  "priority_date": "2001-03-14",
  "application_number": "US-80860601-A",
  "family_id": "25199244",
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}