# US 10,870,326 B2 · Battery power management systems and methods for engine off > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,870,326 B2 - Document ID: US10870326B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/123,541 - Filed: 2018-09-06 - Published: 2019-03-28 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2017-09-26 - Assignees: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc. - Applicants: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc. - Inventors: Shawn W. Vehr; Joseph James Rozsnaki - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10870326B2 ## CPC - B60H 1/004: {for vehicles having a combustion engine and electric drive means, e.g. hybrid electric vehicles} - B60H 1/00021: {Air flow details of HVAC devices} - B60H 1/00064: {for sending air streams of different temperatures into the passenger compartment} - B60H 1/00378: {for tractor or load vehicle cabins} - B60H 1/00428: {electric} - B60H 1/3207: {for minimizing the humidity of the air} - B60H 1/3208: {Vehicle drive related control of the compressor drive means, e.g. for fuel saving purposes} - B60H 1/321: {for preventing the freezing of a heat exchanger} - B60H 1/3222: {characterised by the compressor driving arrangements, e.g. clutches, transmissions or multiple drives (B60H1/3208, B60H1/3226 take precedence)} - F25B 5/02: arranged in parallel - F25B 49/02: for compression type machines, plants or systems - B60H 1/00807: {the input being a specific way of measuring or calculating an air or coolant temperature} - B60H 2001/3238: {related to the operation of the compressor} - B60H 2001/325: {of the refrigerant at a compressing unit} - B60H 2001/3261: {of the air at an evaporating unit} - B60H 2001/3272: {to control the revolving speed of a compressor} - B60H 2001/3283: {to control the refrigerant flow} - B60H 2001/3292: {Compressor drive is electric only} - F25B 27/00: Machines, plants or systems, using particular sources of energy (F25B30/06 takes precedence) - F25B 49/027: {Condenser control arrangements} - F25B 2600/021: Inverters therefor - F25B 2600/0251: with on-off operation - F25B 2600/0271: the discharge pressure - F25B 2600/11: Fan speed control - F25B 2600/2519: On-off valves - F25B 2700/02: Humidity - F25B 2700/1931: Discharge pressures - F25B 2700/1933: Suction pressures - F25B 2700/195: of the condenser - F25B 2700/2104: of an indoor room or compartment - F25B 2700/21151: at the suction side of the compressor - F25B 2700/21152: at the discharge side of the compressor - F25B 2700/21163: of the refrigerant at the outlet of the condenser - F25B 2700/2117: of an evaporator - Y02T 10/88: Optimized components or subsystems, e.g. lighting, actively controlled glasses - B60H: ARRANGEMENTS OF HEATING, COOLING, VENTILATING OR OTHER AIR-TREATING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PASSENGER OR GOODS SPACES OF VEHICLES - F25B: REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract An air conditioning system of a vehicle having an internal combustion engine includes a condenser configured to receive refrigerant output by an electric compressor and transfer heat from the refrigerant within the condenser to air passing the condenser. A first evaporator is configured to receive refrigerant from the condenser when a first control valve is open and transfer heat from air passing the first evaporator to the refrigerant within the first evaporator. A first blower is configured to blow air across the first evaporator to a first section of a cabin of the vehicle. A second evaporator is configured to receive refrigerant from the condenser when a second control valve is open and transfer heat from air passing the second evaporator to the refrigerant within the second evaporator. A second blower is configured to blow air across the second evaporator to a second section of the cabin of the vehicle. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An air conditioning system of a vehicle having an internal combustion engine, comprising: an electric compressor that draws power from a battery pack; a condenser that is configured to receive refrigerant output by the electric compressor and that transfers heat from the refrigerant within the condenser to air passing the condenser; a first control valve; a first evaporator that is configured to receive refrigerant from the condenser when the first control valve is open and that transfers heat from air passing the first evaporator to the refrigerant within the first evaporator; a first blower that is configured to blow air across the first evaporator to a first section of a cabin of the vehicle; a second control valve; a second evaporator that is configured to receive refrigerant from the condenser when the second control valve is open and that transfers heat from air passing the second evaporator to the refrigerant within the second evaporator; a second blower that is configured to blow air across the second evaporator to a second section of the cabin of the vehicle; and a control module that is configured to, when the internal combustion engine of the vehicle is off, the electric compressor is on, and the second blower is on and blowing air across the second evaporator, control a speed of the electric compressor based on at least one of: a temperature of the second section of the cabin of the vehicle; and a speed of the second blower, wherein the control module is configured to, based on a current of the electric compressor, determine whether to control the speed of the electric compressor based on the temperature of the second section of the cabin of the vehicle or based on the speed of the second blower. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The air conditioning system of claim 1 wherein the control module is configured to: when the current of the electric compressor is greater than a predetermined value, control the speed of the electric compressor based on the temperature of the second section of the cabin of the vehicle; and when the current of the electric compressor is not greater than the predetermined value, control the speed of the electric compressor based on the speed of the second blower. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The air conditioning system of claim 2 wherein the control module is configured to, when the current of the electric compressor is greater than the predetermined value: (i) operate the electric compressor at a predetermined speed until the temperature of the second section of the cabin is less than a minimum temperature defining a lower limit of a predetermined temperature range; (ii) disable the electric compressor when the temperature of the second section of the cabin is less than the minimum temperature; (iii) maintain the electric compressor disabled until the temperature of the second section of the cabin is greater than a maximum temperature defining an upper limit of the predetermined temperature range; and (iv) when the temperature of the second section of the cabin is greater than the maximum temperature, repeat (i)-(iii). ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The air conditioning system of claim 2 wherein the control module is configured to, when the current of the electric compressor is not greater than the predetermined value: determine a compressor speed command based on the speed of the second blower; and operate the electric compressor based on the compressor speed command. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The air conditioning system of claim 4 wherein the control module is configured to: increase the compressor speed command as the speed of the second blower increases; and decrease the compressor speed command as the speed of the second blower decreases. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The air conditioning system of claim 4 wherein the control module is configured to: determine the compressor speed command based on the speed of the second blower until a voltage of the battery pack is less than a predetermined voltage; and when the voltage of the battery pack is less than the predetermined voltage: (i) operate the electric compressor at a predetermined speed until the temperature of the second section of the cabin is less than a minimum temperature defining a lower limit of a predetermined temperature range; (ii) disable the electric compressor when the temperature of the second section of the cabin is less than the minimum temperature; (iii) maintain the electric compressor disabled until the temperature of the second section of the cabin is greater than a maximum temperature defining an upper limit of the predetermined temperature range; and (iv) when the temperature of the second section of the cabin is greater than the maximum temperature, repeat (i)-(iii). ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The air conditioning system of claim 1 wherein the control module is configured to: operate the electric compressor at a predetermined speed for a predetermined period; determine a current flow to the electric compressor when the predetermined period has passed; and based on the current flow to the electric compressor, determine whether to control the speed of the electric compressor based on the temperature of the second section of the cabin of the vehicle or based on the speed of the second blower. ### Claim 8 An air conditioning system of a vehicle having an internal combustion engine, comprising: an electric compressor; a condenser that is configured to receive refrigerant output by the electric compressor and that transfers heat from the refrigerant within the condenser to air passing the condenser; a fan that is configured to blow air across the condenser; a first control valve; a first evaporator that is configured to receive refrigerant from the condenser when the first control valve is open and that transfers heat from air passing the first evaporator to the refrigerant within the first evaporator; a first blower that is configured to blow air across the first evaporator to a first section of a cabin of the vehicle; a second control valve; a second evaporator that is configured to receive refrigerant from the condenser when the second control valve is open and that transfers heat from air passing the second evaporator to the refrigerant within the second evaporator; a second blower that is configured to blow air across the second evaporator to a second section of the cabin of the vehicle; a control module that is configured to, when the internal combustion engine of the vehicle is off, the electric compressor is on, and the second blower is on and blowing air across the second evaporator: determine a compressor speed command; and control a speed of the fan based on at least one of: a power consumption of an inverter drive; a compressor discharge pressure; and a speed of the electric compressor; and wherein the inverter drive is configured to apply power to the electric compressor based on the compressor speed command. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The air conditioning system of claim 8 wherein the control module is configured to control the speed of the fan based on the power consumption of the inverter drive including: decreasing the speed of the fan as the power consumption decreases; and increasing the speed of the fan as the power consumption increases. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The air conditioning system of claim 8 wherein the control module is configured to control the speed of the fan based on the compressor discharge pressure including: decreasing the speed of the fan as the compressor discharge pressure decreases; and increasing the speed of the fan as the compressor discharge pressure increases. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The air conditioning system of claim 8 wherein the control module is configured to control the speed of the fan based on the speed of the electric compressor including: decreasing the speed of the fan as the speed of the electric compressor decreases; and increasing the speed of the fan as the speed of the electric compressor increases. ### Claim 12 An air conditioning control method for a vehicle having an internal combustion engine, comprising: determining whether the internal combustion engine of the vehicle is off, wherein a first evaporator is configured to receive refrigerant from a condenser when a first control valve is open and to transfer heat from air passing the first evaporator to the refrigerant within the first evaporator, wherein a first blower is configured to blow air across the first evaporator to a first section of a cabin of the vehicle, and wherein the condenser is configured to receive refrigerant output by an electric compressor that draws power from a battery pack and to transfer heat from the refrigerant within the condenser to air passing the condenser; determining whether the electric compressor is on; determining whether a second blower is on and blowing air across a second evaporator, wherein the second evaporator is configured to receive refrigerant from the condenser when a second control valve is open and to transfer heat from air passing the second evaporator to the refrigerant within the second evaporator, and wherein the second blower is configured to blow air across the second evaporator to a second section of the cabin of the vehicle; when the internal combustion engine of the vehicle is off, the electric compressor is on, and the second blower is on and blowing air across the second evaporator, controlling a speed of the electric compressor based on at least one of: a temperature of the second section of the cabin of the vehicle; and a speed of the second blower; and based on a current of the electric compressor, determining whether to control the speed of the electric compressor: based on the temperature of the second section of the cabin of the vehicle; or based on the speed of the second blower. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The air conditioning control method of claim 12 further comprising: when the current of the electric compressor is greater than a predetermined value, controlling the speed of the electric compressor based on the temperature of the second section of the cabin of the vehicle; and when the current of the electric compressor is not greater than the predetermined value, controlling the speed of the electric compressor based on the speed of the second blower. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The air conditioning control method of claim 13 further comprising: (i) operating the electric compressor at a predetermined speed until the temperature of the second section of the cabin is less than a minimum temperature defining a lower limit of a predetermined temperature range; (ii) disabling the electric compressor when the temperature of the second section of the cabin is less than the minimum temperature; (iii) maintaining the electric compressor disabled until the temperature of the second section of the cabin is greater than a maximum temperature defining an upper limit of the predetermined temperature range; and (iv) when the temperature of the second section of the cabin is greater than the maximum temperature, repeating (i)-(iii). ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The air conditioning control method of claim 13 wherein controlling the speed of the electric compressor based on the speed of the second blower when the current of the electric compressor is not greater than the predetermined value includes: determining a compressor speed command based on the speed of the second blower; and operating the electric compressor based on the compressor speed command. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The air conditioning control method of claim 15 further comprising: increasing the compressor speed command as the speed of the second blower increases; and decreasing the compressor speed command as the speed of the second blower decreases. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The air conditioning control method of claim 15 further comprising: determining the compressor speed command based on the speed of the second blower until a voltage of the battery pack is less than a predetermined voltage; and when the voltage of the battery pack is less than the predetermined voltage: (i) operating the electric compressor at a predetermined speed until the temperature of the second section of the cabin is less than a minimum temperature defining a lower limit of a predetermined temperature range; (ii) disabling the electric compressor when the temperature of the second section of the cabin is less than the minimum temperature; (iii) maintaining the electric compressor disabled until the temperature of the second section of the cabin is greater than a maximum temperature defining an upper limit of the predetermined temperature range; and (iv) when the temperature of the second section of the cabin is greater than the maximum temperature, repeating (i)-(iii). ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The air conditioning control method of claim 12 further comprising: operating the electric compressor at a predetermined speed for a predetermined period; determining a current flow to the electric compressor when the predetermined period has passed; and based on the current of the electric compressor, determining whether to control the speed of the electric compressor: based on the temperature of the second section of the cabin of the vehicle; or based on the speed of the second blower. ### Claim 19 An air conditioning control method for a vehicle having an internal combustion engine, comprising: determining whether the internal combustion engine of the vehicle is off, wherein a first evaporator is configured to receive refrigerant from a condenser when a first control valve is open and to transfer heat from air passing the first evaporator to the refrigerant within the first evaporator, wherein a first blower is configured to blow air across the first evaporator to a first section of a cabin of the vehicle, wherein the condenser is configured to receive refrigerant output by an electric compressor and to transfer heat from the refrigerant within the condenser to air passing the condenser, and wherein a fan is configured to blow air across the condenser; determining whether the electric compressor is on; determining whether a second blower is on and blowing air across a second evaporator, wherein the second evaporator is configured to receive refrigerant from the condenser when a second control valve is open and to transfer heat from air passing the second evaporator to the refrigerant within the second evaporator, and wherein the second blower is configured to blow air across the second evaporator to a second section of the cabin of the vehicle; and when the internal combustion engine of the vehicle is off, the electric compressor is on, and the second blower is on and blowing air across the second evaporator: determining a compressor speed command; and controlling a speed of the fan based on at least one of: a power consumption of an inverter drive; a compressor discharge pressure; and a speed of the electric compressor; and wherein the inverter drive is configured to apply power to the electric compressor based on the compressor speed command. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The air conditioning control method of claim 19 wherein controlling the speed of the fan based on at least one of the power consumption of the inverter drive, the compressor discharge pressure, and the speed of the electric compressor includes controlling the speed of the fan based on the power consumption of the inverter drive including: decreasing the speed of the fan as the power consumption decreases; and increasing the speed of the fan as the power consumption increases. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The air conditioning control method of claim 19 wherein controlling the speed of the fan based on at least one of the power consumption of the inverter drive, the compressor discharge pressure, and the speed of the electric compressor includes controlling the speed of the fan based on the compressor discharge pressure including: decreasing the speed of the fan as the compressor discharge pressure decreases; and increasing the speed of the fan as the compressor discharge pressure increases. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) The air conditioning control method of claim 19 wherein controlling the speed of the fan based on at least one of the power consumption of the inverter drive, the compressor discharge pressure, and the speed of the electric compressor includes controlling the speed of the fan based on the speed of the electric compressor including: decreasing the speed of the fan as the speed of the electric compressor decreases; and increasing the speed of the fan as the speed of the electric compressor increases.