Absorption-based system for automotive waste heat recovery

An absorption cycle based system for using waste heat from a vehicle and providing selective heating, cooling, and dehumidifying to a vehicle compartment, the system comprising:

• a waste heat loop in thermal communication with a power generating unit of the vehicle;
• a vapor absorption subsystem comprising:
• an absorption-based refrigerant;
• a thermal compressor, including a separator unit, in thermal communication with the waste heat loop;
• a radiator unit;
• a condensing unit for heating the vehicle compartment;
• an evaporating unit for selectively cooling and dehumidifying the vehicle compartment, the evaporating unit selectively receiving the refrigerant from the radiator unit and the condensing unit;
• a heat exchanger directly connected to the waste heat loop and providing thermal communication between the waste heat loop and the thermal compressor, the heat exchanger disposed within a housing and surrounded by a phase change material, the phase change material provided in thermal communication with the heat exchanger and the thermal compressor, and configured to provide heat to the thermal compressor at a substantially consistent temperature;
• a first valve configured to selectively direct refrigerant from the thermal compressor to the radiator unit and the condensing unit;
• and
• a second valve configured to selectively direct refrigerant from the condensing unit to one or both of the evaporating unit and the thermal compressor.