AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM OF A MOTOR VEHICLE

Abstract

An air-conditioning system of a motor vehicle may include a fan, an evaporator, and at least one heat exchanger. The evaporator may be arranged downstream of the heat exchanger and may both be arranged in a housing. An air-conditioning system may also include a first bypass duct that bypasses the heat exchanger and a first flap arranged within the first bypass duct. The heat exchanger may be able to be switched off and may be able to be regulated with regard to a heat output of the heat exchanger.

Claims

1. An air-conditioning system of a motor vehicle, comprising: a fan; an evaporator and at least one heat exchanger arranged downstream thereof, the evaporator and the heat exchanger being arranged in a housing; a first bypass duct that bypasses the heat exchanger; and a first flap arranged within the first bypass duct; wherein the heat exchanger is able to be switched off and is able to be regulated with regard to a heat output of the heat exchanger.

2. The air-conditioning system according to claim 1, further comprising: a mixing space arranged downstream of the heat exchanger; and an additional flap arranged between the heat exchanger and the mixing space.

3. The air-conditioning system according to claim 2, wherein at least two air distribution ducts branch off from the mixing space, the at least two air distribution ducts each being controllable with a separate flap.

4. The air-conditioning system according to claim 1, further comprising at least two zones downstream of the evaporator that are separated from one another.

5. The air-conditioning system according to claim 4, wherein the heat exchanger extends over the at least two zones.

6. The air-conditioning system according to claim 4, wherein: the first bypass duct bypasses the heat exchanger in a first zone of the at least two zones; a second bypass duct bypasses the heat exchanger in a second zone of the at least two zones; and a second flap is arranged in the second bypass duct.

7. The air-conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein one of: the heat exchanger is connected to a cooling circuit; or the heat exchanger is electrically operated.

8. A motor vehicle comprising an air-conditioning system, having: a fan; an evaporator and at least one heat exchanger arranged downstream thereof, the evaporator and the heat exchanger being arranged in a housing; a first bypass duct that bypasses the heat exchanger; and a first flap arranged within the first bypass duct; wherein the heat exchanger is able to be switched off and is able to be regulated with regard to a heat output of the heat exchanger.

9. The motor vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the air-conditioning system includes: a mixing space arranged downstream of the heat exchanger; and an additional flap arranged between the heat exchanger and the mixing space.

10. The motor vehicle according to claim 9, wherein the air-conditioning system includes at least two air distribution ducts that branch off from the mixing space, the at least two air distribution ducts each being controllable with a separate flap.

11. The motor vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the air-conditioning system includes at least two zones downstream of the evaporator that are separated from one another.

12. The motor vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the heat exchanger extends over the at least two zones.

13. The motor vehicle according to claim 11, wherein: the first bypass duct bypasses the heat exchanger in a first zone of the at least two zones; a second bypass duct bypasses the heat exchanger in a second zone of the at least two zones; and a second flap is arranged in the second bypass duct.

14. The motor vehicle according to claim 8, wherein one of: the heat exchanger is connected to a cooling circuit; or the heat exchanger is electrically operated.

15. A motor vehicle air-conditioning system, comprising: a fan; an evaporator and at least one heat exchanger arranged downstream thereof, the evaporator and the heat exchanger being arranged in a housing; a mixing space arranged downstream of the heat exchanger; a first bypass duct that bypasses the heat exchanger; and a first flap arranged within the first bypass duct; wherein the heat exchanger is connected to a cooling circuit; wherein the heat exchanger is able to be switched off and is able to be regulated with regard to its heat output; and wherein an additional flap is arranged between the heat exchanger and the mixing space.

16. The motor vehicle air-conditioning system according to claim 15, wherein at least two air distribution ducts branch off from the mixing space, the at least two air distribution ducts each being controllable with a separate flap.

17. The motor vehicle air-conditioning system according to 16, further comprising at least two zones downstream of the evaporator that are separated from one another.

18. The motor vehicle air-conditioning system according to claim 15, further comprising at least two zones downstream of the evaporator that are separated from one another.

19. The motor vehicle air-conditioning system according to claim 18, wherein the heat exchanger extends over that at least two zones.

20. The motor vehicle air-conditioning system according to claim 18, wherein: the first bypass duct bypasses the heat exchanger in a first zone of the at least two zones; a second bypass duct bypasses the heat exchanger in a second zone of the at least two zones; and a second flap is arranged in the second bypass duct.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] In the drawings, in each case schematically,

[0019] FIG. 1 shows a sectional illustration through an air-conditioning system according to the invention,

[0020] FIG. 2 shows a sectional illustration of the air-conditioning system according to the invention with a horizontal section plane and two zones.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] According to FIG. 1, an air-conditioning system 1 according to the invention of a motor vehicle 2 (not otherwise illustrated) has a fan 3 and a housing 4 in which an evaporator 5 and a heat exchanger 6, downstream of the latter, are arranged. Likewise provided is a first bypass duct 7 which bypasses the heat exchanger 6 and in which a first flap 8 is arranged. This flap 8 is a throttle flap which, in the closed state, can completely close the cross section of the bypass duct 7. According to the invention, the heat exchanger 6 is now able to be switched off and in particular is able to be regulated with regard to its heat output. This provides the particular advantage that, for an operating state in which maximum cooling is desired, the entire flow cross section of the bypass duct 7 and also of the heat exchanger 6 is available, since the latter can in this case simply be switched off and therefore does not heat the air flowing through it.

[0022] If the heat exchanger 6 is not only able to be switched off but also able to be regulated with regard to its heat output, temperature regulation of the air-conditioning outlets can also take place via a combination of the position of the first flap 8 in the first bypass duct 7 and the heat output of the heat exchanger 6 in a hybrid system that operates in a very energy-efficient manner.

[0023] Arranged downstream of the heat exchanger 6 is a mixing space 9. A third flap 10 can be arranged in this case between the heat exchanger 6 and this mixing space 9. This third flap 10 makes it possible to completely prevent an air flow through the heat exchanger 6, such that if, for example, only a small cooling output is required, the flap 10 can be closed and as a result the heat exchanger 6 can be closed off, wherein, in this case, the entire air flow flows through the first bypass duct 7. From the mixing space 9, at least two air distribution ducts 11, in this case a total of four air distribution ducts 11, branch off, which are each controllable, that is to say are able to be shut off, with a separate flap 12. By way of the individual air distribution ducts 11, it is in particular possible to air-condition individual regions of the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle 2.

[0024] In general, it is also conceivable for the air-conditioning system 1 to be configured as a multizone air-conditioning system and accordingly to have at least two zones 13, 13′ downstream of the evaporator 5 that are separated from one another, as can be clearly seen in FIG. 2. The two zones 13, 13′ are in this case separated from one another by a partition wall 14. The air flow 15 flowing through the air-conditioning system 1 thus first of all flows through the evaporator 5 and is cooled in the latter, wherein it is divided between the two zones 13 and 13′ downstream of the evaporator 5. In this case, the heat exchanger 6 extends over both zones 13, 13′ according to FIG. 2. In this case, the first bypass duct 7, bypassing the heat exchanger 6, is arranged in the first zone 13, while a second bypass duct 16 bypasses the heat exchanger 6 in the second zone 13′, wherein a second flap 17 is arranged in the second bypass duct 16. In this case, the heat exchanger 6 can be connected to a cooling circuit, in particular of an internal combustion engine, but, purely theoretically, can also be electrically operated and as a result not only be able to be switched off but also to be regulated with regard to its heat output.

[0025] By way of the multizone air-conditioning system 1 shown in FIG. 2, it is in particular possible to realize a much higher temperature level of the air flow 15 in the second zone 13′ than in the first zone 13. To this end, for example the second flap 17 is closed such that all of the air flow 15 flowing through the second zone 13′ flows through the heat exchanger 6 and is heated there in a corresponding manner. If a lower temperature level is intended to be set in the first zone 13, the first flap 8 in the first bypass duct 7 is opened at least slightly, with the result that a partial air flow 15a flows through the first bypass duct 7 and thus bypasses the heat exchanger 6, such that the emerging air flow 15 is cooler. If maximum cooling in both zones 13, 13′ is intended to be achieved, the heat exchanger 6 is not just turned down with regard to its heat output, but is switched off entirely, such that, in this case, the air flow 15 can flow both through the first bypass duct 7 as an air flow 15a and through the second bypass duct 16 and at the same time through the heat exchanger 6 that is present in both zones 13, 13′ but switched off. As a result, a comparatively cost-effective component can be selected for the heat exchanger 6. Furthermore, deficits in the temperature profile within the heat exchanger 6, which result from partial air throughflow, are avoided, since the heat exchanger 6 is flowed through completely by air in all operating states. By way of the heat exchanger 6 that is able to be switched off and in particular able to be regulated with regard to its heat output, an additional degree of freedom for regulating the exit temperature results.

[0026] The air-conditioning system 1 according to the invention thus employs a hybrid concept, specifically a mixture of the water-side and the air-side regulating concept, wherein, given different temperature demands of individual zones 13, 13′, the heat exchanger 6 provides the heat output required for the highest demand (water-side regulating concept) and wherein, in the zone 13 with a lower temperature demand, this is set by mixing cold and hot air (air-side regulating concept). As a result of it being possible to completely switch off the heat exchanger 6, it is possible for the latter also to be completely flowed through in the event of maximum desired cooling, with the result that the pressure loss and the noise level can be lowered.