Cab heating systems and methods for vehicles

A method of heating a cab of a vehicle comprising a vehicle battery, a fuel tank, and a cab HVAC system comprising a main working fluid that flows through a compressor operatively connected to the vehicle battery, a condenser, and an evaporator, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a turbine engine operatively connected to the fuel tank, where the turbine engine is configured as a generator to burn fuel from the fuel tank to generate electricity for use by the vehicle battery;
• providing a heat exchanger comprising a first portion and a second portion;
• operatively connecting a duct to carry exhaust from the turbine engine to the first portion of the heat exchanger;
• operating the turbine engine to generate exhaust containing waste heat such that the first portion of the heat exchanger transfers waste heat of the exhaust generated by the turbine engine to the auxiliary working fluid;
• circulating the auxiliary fluid between the first and second portions of the heat exchanger such that
• the first line carries the auxiliary working fluid to the second portion of the heat exchanger, and
• the second line carries the auxiliary working fluid to the first portion of the heat exchanger;
• causing the first portion of the heat exchanger to transfer heat from the waste exhaust of the turbine engine to the auxiliary working fluid;
• causing the second portion of the heat exchanger to extract heat from the auxiliary working fluid and transfer the heat extracted from the auxiliary working fluid to the main working fluid to allow waste heat of the turbine engine to be used by the cab HVAC system.

A vehicle heating and cooling system for a vehicle comprising a vehicle battery and a fuel tank, the vehicle heating a cooling system comprising:

• a turbine engine generator operatively connected to the fuel tank, where the turbine engine is configured as a generator to burn fuel from the fuel tank to generate
• electricity for use by the vehicle battery, and
• exhaust containing waste heat;
• a heat exchanger comprising a first portion and a second portion;
• a compressor, where the vehicle battery is operatively connected to the compressor;
• an evaporator;
• an evaporator;
• and
• a duct operatively connected to carry exhaust from the turbine engine to the first portion of the heat exchanger;
• wherein
• auxiliary working fluid circulates between the first portion of the heat exchanger and the second portion of the heat exchanger;
• the first portion of the heat exchanger transfers waste heat of the exhaust generated by the turbine engine to the auxiliary working fluid;
• the second portion of the heat exchanger extracts heat from the auxiliary working fluid and transfers the heat extracted from the auxiliary working fluid to main working fluid flowing between the compressor and the evaporator to allow waste heat of the turbine engine to be used to heat at least a portion of the vehicle.