A method for controlling coolant flow and cooling of a heater core to be used as a cold storage device or heater core cold storage (HCCS) cooling of a vehicle to extend an engine auto-stop period includes determining if at least one predetermined condition is met for HCCS cooling, and charging a heater core for a predetermined charge period in preparation for HCCS cooling when the at least one predetermined condition is met. The charge is held in the heater core until a trigger event occurs and HCCS cooling is initiated. HCCS cooling is then performed until a predetermined use period expires.

A hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) that includes an internal combustion engine and a climate control system (CCS) coupled to controllers configured to auto start-stop the engine when the HEV decelerates to an engine-stop threshold speed. The controllers are also configured to adjust a climate-fan-speed by a predetermined initial-factor, and at subsequent timed-intervals with a speed-factor that is adjusted from the initial-factor at each timed-interval, such that engine restart is inhibited by perceptually small speed adjustments and perceptually slow timed-interval cabin cooling adjustments. Such gradual adjustments are tuned to increase passenger perceptions of continuing cabin comfort, which reduce the likelihood that a passenger may adjust the CCS to require engine restart, and to increase auto stop-start fuel economy.

A control unit that controls a travelling state and an air conditioning state of a vehicle includes: a drive control unit performing a vehicle speed control and a power train control, the vehicle speed control selectively executing an acceleration operation where an engine mounted on the vehicle is operated and a deceleration operation where the engine is stopped to allow the vehicle to coast, the power train control selectively executing activation or deactivation of the engine; m and an air conditioning control unit that controls an air conditioning system provided in the vehicle to execute an air conditioning control. A content of control is changed for at least one of the vehicle speed control, the power train control and the air-conditioning control while the air conditioning system is operating, compared to a case where the air conditioning system is not operating.

The auxiliary AC system includes a temperature measurement device configured to generate a variable output based on an air temperature in an environment proximate to the AC system and a compressor control circuit communicably coupled to a variable speed motor. The compressor control circuit is configured to receive the variable output from the temperature measurement device, determine that the output indicates a change in the air temperature, and generate a control signal for the variable speed motor, the control signal including a current having a magnitude depending on the extent of the change to vary a rate at which a compressor pressurizes a refrigerant vapor.

A vehicle includes an engine, a start-stop system configured to stop and restart operation of the engine in response to predetermined triggers, and an auxiliary air conditioning AC system including a controller communicably coupled to the start-stop system. The start-stop system is configured to provide a first indication to the auxiliary AC system indicating ignition of the engine and a second indication to the auxiliary AC system after stopping the engine. The auxiliary AC system is configured to turn off the auxiliary AC system in response to receiving the first indication and restart the auxiliary AC system in response to receiving the second indication.

An air-conditioning system including a primary circuit and a secondary circuit is provided. The primary circuit includes a flow of refrigerant, an evaporator and a chiller configured to exchange heat between a coolant and the refrigerant. The secondary circuit includes a heat exchanger in fluid communication with the chiller to receive the coolant. The heat exchanger includes a phase change material in heat exchange relationship with the coolant, such that the coolant exchanges heat with the phase change material to store thermal energy in the phase change material. The air-conditioning system is implemented in a machine in which during an idle-off state, the stored energy in the heat exchanger is discharged to provide an air-conditioning effect.

A method for controlling coolant flow and cooling of a heater core to be used as a cold storage device or heater core cold storage (HCCS) cooling of a vehicle to extend an engine auto-stop period includes determining if at least one predetermined condition is met for HCCS cooling, and charging a heater core for a predetermined charge period in preparation for HCCS cooling when the at least one predetermined condition is met. The charge is held in the heater core until a trigger event occurs and HCCS cooling is initiated. HCCS cooling is then performed until a predetermined use period expires.

A control device for a vehicle includes an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to: execute first automatic stop control for automatically stopping an engine when a first condition is established during traveling of the vehicle; execute second stop control for automatically stopping the engine when a second condition is established during stop of the vehicle; predict a vehicle stop duration; calculate a required cold and heat storage amount of an evaporator; calculate a reaching time until a cold and heat storage amount of the evaporator reaches the required cold and heat storage amount; predict a time needed for vehicle stop; and when the first condition is established during traveling of the vehicle, in a case where the calculated reaching time is equal to or longer than the predicted time needed for vehicle stop, automatically stop the internal combustion engine during traveling of the vehicle.

The compact low-profile air conditioner unit is configured to be installed through the roof of a truck cabin, and run off of electrical power. The vehicle air conditioner includes a compressor, a blower fan, and a housing assembly. The housing assembly includes a mounting base having a top side and an opposing bottom side. The mounting base is configured to be mounted to a roof of a vehicle. The compressor and the blower fan are each mounted to the mounting base. When installed to the roof of the vehicle via the mounting base, the compressor and the blower fan each extend at least partially through the roof of the vehicle.

Provided is an air-conditioning apparatus for a vehicle based on heat storage and cold storage. The apparatus includes a coolant supply unit supplying a first coolant circulating within a vehicle, a cooling unit repeatedly performing a cooling cycle using a refrigerant circulating though a first flow pipe unit, a hot/cold accumulation unit storing a second coolant of a preset capacity and communicating with the coolant supply unit through second flow pipe units, wherein the temperature of the second coolant is converted into a temperature capable of heating and accumulated in the hot/cold accumulation unit, the evaporator of the cooling unit is disposed within the hot/cold accumulation unit, and the temperature of the second coolant is converted into a temperature capable of cooling and accumulated in the hot/cold accumulation unit during the cooling cycle.