Methods and systems are provided for heat sanitizing a vehicle. In one example, a method may include, while receiving power from an external power source and responsive to receiving a request for cleaning an interior of a vehicle, operating an electric heater of a heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system to heat the interior above an upper threshold temperature for a first threshold duration using the power received from the external power source. In this way, the HVAC system may be advantageously used to expose the vehicle interior to temperatures that kill or inactive microbes while vehicle battery power and fuel are conserved by using power supplied from the external power source.

An electric heater includes a heating element, a heat transfer wall and a control module. The electric heater includes a fluid chamber, an inlet, and an outlet. The fluid chamber is in communication with the inlet and the outlet, the heat transfer wall is a portion of a wall part forming the fluid chamber, the heating element is fixed or limited to at least a portion of the heat transfer wall, the heating element is located outside the fluid chamber, and at least a portion of the heating element is in contact with the heat transfer wall. The electric heater includes a cover body wall, which is another portion of the wall part forming the fluid chamber. The control module is located outside the cover body wall, the control module is located outside the fluid chamber, the control module is electrically connected to the heating element.

A vehicle air conditioning control system includes an electric heater, a direct-current-to-direct-current converter, an engine system temperature sensor, and a controller. The electric heater applies heat to an air conditioning airflow. The direct-current-to-direct-current converter converts a voltage of electric power of an in-vehicle battery. The engine system temperature sensor measures a temperature of one or each of an engine and a related member. The controller controls an operating state of the electric heater based on the temperature. Upon determining, based on the temperature, that the electric heater is to operate, the controller performs a control of switching the operating state between: an operating state where the electric heater is turned on and the direct-current-to-direct-current converter is caused to output a short-time current; and an operating state where the electric heater is turned off and the direct-current-to-direct-current converter is caused to output a steady-state current.

A computer includes a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to heat a passenger cabin of a vehicle and to actuate a vehicle security subsystem to prevent entry into the vehicle upon initiation of a cabin sanitizing operation, wherein the sanitizing operation includes actuating a heater to heat the passenger cabin above a temperature threshold.

A heating device for heating fluids, such as water or a liquid coolant, for application in electric or hybrid vehicles, where the absence of an internal combustion engine or its shorter time of use requires using heating devices for heating either the passenger compartment or other parts of the vehicle that require it. The heating device is provided with a configuration which limits the temperature to the temperature at which heat exchange occurs between the heat generation source and the liquid to be heated, such that the liquid does not generate precipitates, prolonging the service life of the device.

A multi-environment integrative thermal management method for a fuel cell vehicle is provided. The method can ensure the accuracy and the stability of the control for a temperature of a fuel cell system of the fuel cell vehicle in a complicated and changeable environment, decrease the energy consumption of the entire vehicle, and increase the economical efficiency of the entire vehicle.

A heater device includes a heat generating part that generates heat by energization, and a detection unit. The detection unit detects whether or not a distance between an object around the heat generating part and the heat generating part is equal to or less than a first detection distance with a first detection sensitivity, and whether or not the distance between the object around the heat generating part and the heat generating part is equal to or less than a second detection distance shorter than the first detection distance with a second detection sensitivity that is less sensitive than the first detection sensitivity.

An conditioning device for a fuel cell vehicle includes a heater core configured to heat air in a vehicle cabin with a coolant to be discharged from a FC stack cooled by the coolant as a heat source, a coolant heating heater configured to heat the coolant, an air heating heater configured to further heat air warmed by the heater core, and a vehicle ECU configured to, in a case where a heater core outlet coolant temperature based on a target blowing temperature is equal to or higher than an FC stack inlet target temperature, perform control such that the air heating heater is operated with an output set based on the heater core outlet coolant temperature, and the coolant heating heater is operated with an output set based on a heater core inlet target coolant temperature calculated according to the set output of the air heating heater.

A radiant heating device for producing radiant heat in a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle includes a heating surface for emitting heat radiation, a heating element for providing heating power, a first temperature sensor for detecting a first temperature in a specific spot and for providing a corresponding first temperature indication, and a second temperature sensor for detecting a second temperature on the surface and for providing a corresponding second temperature indication. In order to detect a local over-heating of the heating surface, a difference between the two temperature indications is determined. In the event of a defect, a protective operating mode is then selected.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a driving control apparatus of a fluid heater for controlling battery temperature and a control method therefor, and more particularly, to a driving control apparatus for a fluid heater and a control method therefor that are capable of maximizing the allowable voltage range while simultaneously ensuring the stability of the fluid heater in such a way as to satisfy peak current limit, maximum heater heating amount limit, and allowable maximum watt density by adjusting the connection configuration between the power supply and the first and second heating elements based on the voltage value supplied from the power supply unit.