The present invention relates to a vehicular heating device comprising: a vehicular engine cooling unit for connecting an engine, a water pump, and a radiator on a first cooling water circulating line to cool the engine; and a vehicular indoor space heating unit for connecting the engine, the water pump, and a heater core on a second cooling water circulating line to heat an indoor space of the vehicle, wherein the vehicular heating device comprises a heating means mounted on the second cooling water circulating line to heat cooling water supplied to the heater core. According to the present invention, the heating performance of the cooling water, which is supplied to the heater core during an initial cold start of the vehicle is improved, thereby increasing the indoor heating efficiency of the vehicle during a winter season.

An engine controller includes a reading section and a ratio-setting control section. The reading section is included in an air conditioner. The air conditioner draws an air into an air-conditioner housing, heats the air by a cooling water cooling the engine, and blows the air into a vehicle compartment. The reading section reads a state information that relates to a state of the air conditioner having an effect on an outside-air drawing ratio. The outside-air drawing ratio is a ratio of a volume of an outside air to a total volume of the outside air and an inside air. The ratio-setting control section decreases an amount of heat generated by the engine when the outside-air drawing ratio is a second ratio, which is smaller than a first ratio, to be smaller than an amount of heat generated by the engine when the outside-air drawing ratio is the first ratio.

An engine controller includes a reading section and a ratio-setting control section. The reading section is included in an air conditioner. The air conditioner draws an air into an air-conditioner housing, heats the air by a cooling water cooling the engine, and blows the air into a vehicle compartment. The reading section reads a state information that relates to a state of the air conditioner having an effect on an outside-air drawing ratio. The outside-air drawing ratio is a ratio of a volume of an outside air to a total volume of the outside air and an inside air. The ratio-setting control section decreases an amount of heat generated by the engine when the outside-air drawing ratio is a second ratio, which is smaller than a first ratio, to be smaller than an amount of heat generated by the engine when the outside-air drawing ratio is the first ratio.

A vehicle air-conditioning system that performs air heating by utilizing heat of a coolant that cools an engine includes a circulation flow passage connecting a coolant inflow portion and a coolant discharge portion of the engine, a heating heater core disposed in the circulation flow passage, a radiator disposed in the circulation flow passage, a radiator fan configured to supply an air to the radiator, and a controller configured to control the radiator fan. When a water pump configured to pressure-feed the coolant is stopped during automatic stop of the engine, the controller drives to rotate the radiator fan during automatic stop of the engine so as to let convection take place in the coolant in the radiator and supply the coolant to the heating heater core.

The invention relates to a method for operating a vehicle air-conditioning system in dependence on the difference between the temperature of the engine coolant at the inlet into the heating heat exchanger and the temperature of the air at the outlet out of the heating heat exchanger. The measured or estimated temperatures of the coolant at the inlet into the heating heat exchanger and of the air at the outlet out of the heating heat exchanger are checked to determine whether their values indicate fault states of components of the air-conditioning system.

The invention relates to a method for operating a vehicle air-conditioning system in dependence on the difference between the temperature of the engine coolant at the inlet into the heating heat exchanger and the temperature of the air at the outlet out of the heating heat exchanger. The measured or estimated temperatures of the coolant at the inlet into the heating heat exchanger and of the air at the outlet out of the heating heat exchanger are checked to determine whether their values indicate fault states of components of the air-conditioning system.

A cooling apparatus for vehicle includes a radiator, a coolant pump, a cooling fan, first and second mode controllers, and an abnormality diagnosing controller. The radiator cools a coolant that circulates through a circulation flow channel of a cooling system. The coolant pump causes the coolant to circulate through the circulation flow channel. The cooling fan faces the radiator. The first mode controller initiates a first operation mode process upon diagnosing an abnormality of the cooling system. The first operation mode process stops the coolant pump and drives the cooling fan. The second mode controller initiates a second operation mode process after completion of the first operation mode process. The second operation mode process stops the cooling fan and drives the coolant pump. The abnormality diagnosing controller diagnoses, based on a temperature of the radiator, the abnormality of the cooling system after the initiation of the second operation mode process.

A cooling apparatus for vehicle includes a radiator, a coolant pump, a cooling fan, first and second mode controllers, and an abnormality diagnosing controller. The radiator cools a coolant that circulates through a circulation flow channel of a cooling system. The coolant pump causes the coolant to circulate through the circulation flow channel. The cooling fan faces the radiator. The first mode controller initiates a first operation mode process upon diagnosing an abnormality of the cooling system. The first operation mode process stops the coolant pump and drives the cooling fan. The second mode controller initiates a second operation mode process after completion of the first operation mode process. The second operation mode process stops the cooling fan and drives the coolant pump. The abnormality diagnosing controller diagnoses, based on a temperature of the radiator, the abnormality of the cooling system after the initiation of the second operation mode process.

A thermal management system for a vehicle and a method for controlling the same are provided. The thermal management system comprises a first coolant circuit, a second coolant circuit, a refrigerant circuit, and a controller. The first coolant circuit includes at least a first coolant circuit heat exchanger, a Coolant Heater Control Module (CHCM), a CHCM mixing valve, and a bypass valve. The CHCM mixing valve is configured to modulate flow of a coolant between the first coolant circuit heat exchanger and the CHCM. The bypass valve is configured to link the first coolant circuit with the engine. The controller directs the thermal management system to operate in one of a high efficiency mode, a heat pump assist mode, a maximum performance mode, and a propulsion system energy improvement mode, effectuating the selected mode of operation via the actuation of the CHCM valve and the bypass valve to predetermined positions.

A thermal management system for a vehicle and a method for controlling the same are provided. The thermal management system comprises a first coolant circuit, a second coolant circuit, a refrigerant circuit, and a controller. The first coolant circuit includes at least a first coolant circuit heat exchanger, a Coolant Heater Control Module (CHCM), a CHCM mixing valve, and a bypass valve. The CHCM mixing valve is configured to modulate flow of a coolant between the first coolant circuit heat exchanger and the CHCM. The bypass valve is configured to link the first coolant circuit with the engine. The controller directs the thermal management system to operate in one of a high efficiency mode, a heat pump assist mode, a maximum performance mode, and a propulsion system energy improvement mode, effectuating the selected mode of operation via the actuation of the CHCM valve and the bypass valve to predetermined positions.