An air sterilization device for a vehicular air conditioner may include an air conditioner case, which includes an air inlet provided at an intake side of the air conditioner case and an air outlet provided at a discharge side of the air conditioner case and which includes an air path therein, a photocatalytic unit, which is configured to blow internal air or external air toward the air outlet of the air conditioner case and a surface of which is coated with a photocatalyst, and an optical source unit configured to radiate ultraviolet rays to the photocatalytic unit to thus cause a photocatalytic reaction at the photocatalytic unit, generating hydroxyl radicals.

An air sterilization device for a vehicular air conditioner may include an air conditioner case, which includes an air inlet provided at an intake side of the air conditioner case and an air outlet provided at a discharge side of the air conditioner case and which includes an air path therein, a photocatalytic unit, which is configured to blow internal air or external air toward the air outlet of the air conditioner case and a surface of which is coated with a photocatalyst, and an optical source unit configured to radiate ultraviolet rays to the photocatalytic unit to thus cause a photocatalytic reaction at the photocatalytic unit, generating hydroxyl radicals.

A vehicle includes a traction battery, an electric machine powered by the traction battery and configured to power wheels of the vehicle, and a thermal-management system. The thermal-management system includes a battery loop, a cabin heating loop, and a valve configured to fluidly connect the battery loop and the cabin heating loop when in a first position and configured to fluidly isolate the battery loop and the cabin heating loop when in a second position. A controller is programmed to, responsive to (i) battery heating being requested, (ii) a temperature of the battery being greater than a lower threshold, and (iii) cabin heating being requested, actuate the valve to the first position to heat a cabin and the battery.

A vehicle includes a traction battery, an electric machine powered by the traction battery and configured to power wheels of the vehicle, and a thermal-management system. The thermal-management system includes a battery loop, a cabin heating loop, and a valve configured to fluidly connect the battery loop and the cabin heating loop when in a first position and configured to fluidly isolate the battery loop and the cabin heating loop when in a second position. A controller is programmed to, responsive to (i) battery heating being requested, (ii) a temperature of the battery being greater than a lower threshold, and (iii) cabin heating being requested, actuate the valve to the first position to heat a cabin and the battery.

A system is for preventing molding on an evaporator associated with a vehicle air conditioning system for supplying conditioned air to a vehicle passenger cabin. The system includes a blower for selectively directing airflow over the evaporator and a controller for controlling the blower based on a sensed humidity adjacent the evaporator. The controller may also control a pump for circulating warm coolant from an engine cooling system to a heater core to warm the airflow directed to the evaporator by the blower, and thus contribute to the drying provided. Related methods are also disclosed.

A system is for preventing molding on an evaporator associated with a vehicle air conditioning system for supplying conditioned air to a vehicle passenger cabin. The system includes a blower for selectively directing airflow over the evaporator and a controller for controlling the blower based on a sensed humidity adjacent the evaporator. The controller may also control a pump for circulating warm coolant from an engine cooling system to a heater core to warm the airflow directed to the evaporator by the blower, and thus contribute to the drying provided. Related methods are also disclosed.

A refrigeration cycle device has a compressor, a radiator, an auxiliary heat exchanger, a decompressor, an evaporator, and an interior heat exchanger. The auxiliary heat exchanger performs a heat exchange between refrigerant and air and causes the refrigerant to radiate heat. The evaporator performs a heat exchange between air and refrigerant after being decompressed in the decompressor before the air is heated in the auxiliary heat exchanger. The interior heat exchanger has a first heat exchanging portion and a second heat exchanging portion and performs a heat exchange between refrigerant flowing in the first heat exchanging portion and refrigerant flowing in the second heat exchanging portion. The first heat exchanging portion is disposed in a refrigerant path between the radiator and the decompressor and is connected to the auxiliary heat exchanger in series. The second heat exchanging portion is disposed in a refrigerant path between the evaporator and the compressor.

A refrigeration cycle device has a compressor, a radiator, an auxiliary heat exchanger, a decompressor, an evaporator, and an interior heat exchanger. The auxiliary heat exchanger performs a heat exchange between refrigerant and air and causes the refrigerant to radiate heat. The evaporator performs a heat exchange between air and refrigerant after being decompressed in the decompressor before the air is heated in the auxiliary heat exchanger. The interior heat exchanger has a first heat exchanging portion and a second heat exchanging portion and performs a heat exchange between refrigerant flowing in the first heat exchanging portion and refrigerant flowing in the second heat exchanging portion. The first heat exchanging portion is disposed in a refrigerant path between the radiator and the decompressor and is connected to the auxiliary heat exchanger in series. The second heat exchanging portion is disposed in a refrigerant path between the evaporator and the compressor.

A split heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) assembly for a motor vehicle is disclosed. The split HVAC includes a first sub-assembly comprising an evaporator and a first airflow space, a second sub-assembly comprising a second airflow space, a single sealing element located between a wall and one of the first sub-assembly or the second-sub-assembly, and a first interfacing element that directly connects the first sub-assembly and the second sub-assembly. The single sealing element and the first interfacing element prevent any airflow leakage from both the first sub-assembly and the second sub-assembly, and one of the first sub-assembly and the second sub-assembly extends partially into the other of the first sub-assembly and the second sub-assembly.

A split heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) assembly for a motor vehicle is disclosed. The split HVAC includes a first sub-assembly comprising an evaporator and a first airflow space, a second sub-assembly comprising a second airflow space, a single sealing element located between a wall and one of the first sub-assembly or the second-sub-assembly, and a first interfacing element that directly connects the first sub-assembly and the second sub-assembly. The single sealing element and the first interfacing element prevent any airflow leakage from both the first sub-assembly and the second sub-assembly, and one of the first sub-assembly and the second sub-assembly extends partially into the other of the first sub-assembly and the second sub-assembly.