An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle air conditioning device that can solve the decrease of a circulation refrigerant quantity while effectively using the heat of a temperature control object in heating a cabin. The heating operation of a vehicle air conditioning device (1) includes an external air heat absorption heating mode for heating a cabin in a manner that a refrigerant discharged from a compressor (2) radiates heat in a radiator (4), the refrigerant is decompressed, and then the refrigerant absorbs heat in an outdoor heat exchanger (7), and a temperature control object heat absorption heating mode for heating the cabin in a manner that the refrigerant absorbs heat in a refrigerant-heat medium heat exchanger (64), and these modes are performed while being switched. The heating operation is started in the external air heat absorption heating mode.

Embodiments are directed to controlling a thermal environment inside a cabin of a vehicle by detecting a user in the cabin of the vehicle and retrieving a profile for the detected user. The profile can define settings for each of one or more features of the vehicle influencing the thermal environment inside the cabin of the vehicle. A set of current environmental conditions can be detected and a setting for each of the one or more features of the vehicle influencing the thermal environment inside the cabin of the vehicle can be determined based on the retrieved user profile and the detected set of current environmental conditions. The determined settings can then be applied to each of the one or more features of the vehicle influencing the thermal environment inside the cabin of the vehicle.

A method for operating a cooling circuit. It is provided that a) the actuation signal ST of the coolant compressor is provided so as to increase over time from a minimum value (ST.sub.min) in order to generate a start-up phase of the coolant compressor, b) a control signal maximum value (ST.sub.max) and a control signal threshold (ST.sub.SW) are provided, where ST.sub.SW<ST.sub.max, c) the actuation signal (ST) is limited to the control signal maximum value (ST.sub.max) if the actuation signal (ST) reaches the control signal threshold (ST.sub.SW) and the measured high and/or low-pressure value (PHD, P.sub.ND) satisfies a condition.

The present invention relates to an air conditioner for a vehicle, which takes up less installation space due to its compact-sized structure and effectively performs cooling and heating with a simple structure. The air conditioner for a vehicle includes: a case (10) having an air inflow port and an air outflow port; a blower for introducing air into the air inflow port to send the air into the case (10); a compressor (30) for compressing refrigerant; a heat exchanger for exchanging heat between refrigerant and air; and an expansion means for throttling the refrigerant, wherein the blower, the compressor (30), and the heat exchange are arranged inside the case (10) side by side to be formed in a flat type.

A hybrid vehicle includes a thermal control system having a first high temperature cooling circuit, a second low temperature cooling circuit and a third cooling circuit for cooling/heating a battery pack. A system of valves is configured to connect the third circuit with the second circuit so as to create a loop consisting of a main portion of the third circuit and a main portion of the second circuit including the cooling portion of one or more electric motor assemblies of the hybrid vehicle, one or more additional components of the motor-vehicle, such as a turbocharger assembly and an intercooler assembly. In this operating condition, circulation of the liquid in the loop thus-formed can be activated by the pump of the third circuit and causes heating of the battery pack by the heat generated by the electric motor assemblies and, preferably, by the aforesaid additional components of the motor-vehicle.

A thermal energy management system for a vehicle supplies thermal energy to a passenger compartment of the vehicle. The thermal energy management system includes three thermal fluid loops. The first thermal fluid loop includes a coolant pump for circulating a coolant through at least a vehicle battery, a transmission oil cooler of the vehicle, and a chiller such that the coolant selectively transfers thermal energy from the vehicle battery, the transmission oil cooler, and the chiller. The second thermal fluid loop circulates oil through the transmission oil cooler. The third thermal fluid loop circulates a refrigerant through at least the chiller and at least one condenser such that the third thermal fluid loop transfers thermal energy to the passenger compartment.

Methods and systems are provided for operating a climate control system. In one example, a method for operating a vehicle climate control system includes modeling a temperature in a cabin heating circuit coupled to a heat pump. The method also includes operating the heat pump to deliver thermal energy to a cabin heat exchanger based on the modeled temperature.

An electric vehicle thermal management system is provided. The system includes an inside AC unit having an air inlet unit and an air outlet unit and a cooling core embedded therein. A heating core is disposed between the air outlet unit of the inside AC unit and the cooling core and a control door is disposed inside the inside AC unit to adjust air supply to the heating core. A first flow path circulates to pass through the heating core and includes an electric heater. A branch flow path is branched from downstream point of the heating core of the first flow path and passing through a high voltage battery heat exchange unit. A control valve is disposed in a branch point between the first flow path and the branch flow path and a second flow path circulates between a compressor and a condenser and the cooling core.

A heat pump system including a compressor mounted on a refrigerant circulation line for compressing and discharging refrigerant. An internal heat exchanger is mounted inside an air-conditioning case. An evaporator is mounted inside the air-conditioning case. An external heat exchanger is mounted outside the air-conditioning case. A first expansion means is mounted on the refrigerant circulation line between the internal heat exchanger and the external heat exchanger to selectively expand refrigerant discharged from the internal heat exchanger. A second expansion means is mounted on the refrigerant circulation line of an inlet side of the evaporator to expand the refrigerant supplied to the evaporator. A coolant circulation line is configured to circulate coolant toward electronic units of the vehicle. A refrigerant-coolant heat exchanger is configured to exchange heat between the refrigerant flowing the refrigerant circulation line and the coolant circulating through the coolant circulation line.

Provided is a vehicle air-conditioning apparatus heat pump system configured so that an excessive increase in the temperature (superheat degree) of refrigerant discharged from a compressor can be prevented in air-heating operation. The heat pump system (HP) includes a compressor (C) and an indoor heat exchanger (HXC2) on a refrigerant circuit (RC). A first branched flow path (BC1) on which a first expansion mechanism (EX1) of which opening degree is adjustable and a first heat absorption heat exchanger (HXA1) are arranged in series and a second branched flow path (BC2) on which a second expansion mechanism (EX2) of which opening degree is adjustable and a second heat absorption heat exchanger (HXA2) are arranged in series are arranged in parallel on the refrigerant circuit extending from the indoor heat exchanger to the compressor.