Methods and systems are provided for carrying out on-board diagnostics of a plurality of components of an exhaust heat exchange system. In one example, degradation of one or more of a heat exchanger and a coolant system fluidically coupled to the heat exchanger may be detected based on a first temperature estimated upstream of the heat exchanger, a second temperature sensor estimated downstream of the heat exchanger, a coolant temperature, and a pressure estimated upstream of the heat exchanger. Also, degradation of a diverter valve of the heat exchange system may be detected based on inputs of a position sensor coupled to the diverter valve.

Improved thermal energy storage materials, devices and systems employing the same and related methods. The thermal energy storage material may be employed in a heater module capable of generating and storing heat. The thermal energy storage materials may include a phase change material that includes a metal-containing compound. The thermal energy storage materials may be encapsulated. Preferably the heater module includes an electric heater and/or a fan.

Methods and systems are provided for controlling an air conditioning system of a motor vehicle. In one example, a cabin of the vehicle may be heated firstly to a first temperature by flowing coolant to a heat exchanger, coolant may be diverted away from the heat exchanger and toward the engine in order to increase a temperature of the engine, and the coolant may then flow again to the heat exchanger in order to heat the cabin to a second temperature. An amount of fuel savings resulting from heating the engine by diverting coolant away from the heat exchanger may be displayed to an operator of the vehicle via a display device.

The present disclosure provides a vehicle control device including: a fluid circuit, mutually connecting an engine, a vehicle cabin interior heat exchanger for discharging heat into a vehicle cabin interior, and a heat discharging heat exchanger included in a refrigerant cycle in which a refrigerant is compressed and expanded by a compressor, and in which a fluid circulates; and a control unit for controlling the compressor and the engine such that, in a case in which engine warm-up operation ending conditions have not been established and in a case in which predetermined stopping conditions, other than the warm-up operation ending conditions, for stopping engine idling have been established, the compressor is operated while the engine is idling so as to release heat from the refrigerant from the heat discharging heat exchanger and to heat the fluid.

Methods and systems are provided for reducing condensate accumulation at a charge air cooler (CAC) during cold ambient conditions. During defrosting conditions, an air conditioner may be operated to dehumidify a cabin space while heat is rejected into a cooling circuit. Warm coolant may be directed to a CAC bypassing a radiator to expedite CAC heating.

A heat storing system includes: a heat source that emits heat to a first thermal medium; and a heat storing unit. The heat storing unit includes a heat storing body container housing a heat storing body, and a thermal medium container housing a liquid phase thermal medium. The heat storing body stores or emits heat in accordance with phase change of the heat storing body. The heat storing unit is configured to conduct a cold heat emission mode in which the liquid phase thermal medium and a cooling medium exchange heat in the thermal medium container to evaporate the thermal medium such that cold heat is emitted to the cooling medium.

A vehicle heating system having a first viscous clutch and a pump and viscous clutch mechanism. The first viscous clutch has a first clutch input member. The pump and viscous clutch mechanism has a pump and a second viscous clutch. The pump includes a pump input member, while the second viscous clutch includes a second clutch input member. One of the pump input member and the second clutch input member is drivingly coupled to a portion of the first viscous clutch.

A vehicle includes an engine, an engine cooling system configured to cool the engine with a coolant, an air conditioning apparatus, a heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the coolant and a refrigerant, and an ECU that controls the air conditioning apparatus. The air conditioning apparatus includes a compressor that compresses the refrigerant, and the compressor is driven in response to an air conditioning request to air condition a passenger compartment. Even in the absence of the air conditioning request, the ECU causes the compressor to be driven to heat the coolant by radiation of heat from the refrigerant.

A flow-directing element for a heating apparatus, in particular a heating apparatus with an evaporator burner, having a body which comprises a laterally arranged inflow region on an underside of the flow-directing element, having a centrally arranged outflow region, which includes a through-passage from an underside of the flow-directing element to an upper side of the flow-directing element, the upper side being located opposite the underside, and having at least one guide element, which is arranged such that it allows flow to be guided from the inflow region to the outflow region.

A method and system for preventing temperature undershoot in a refrigerant loop during extreme temperatures includes determining a sensed condition at a refrigerant loop and when the sensed condition is below a first threshold starting a flow of coolant in a coolant loop comprising a first portion of a first heat exchanger. The method further includes raising the temperature of the coolant from a heat source to form heated coolant, communicating refrigerant through a second portion of the first heat exchanger, heating the refrigerant in the refrigerant loop at the first heat exchanger from the heated coolant and starting a flow of refrigerant in the refrigerant loop by starting a compressor within the refrigerant loop.