Method for operating an air conditioning system in the vehicle interior of a motor vehicle

A motor vehicle, comprising:

• a vehicle interior;
• an air conditioning system for air-conditioning the vehicle interior;
• at least one first and at least one second air path each of which fluidically connect the air conditioning system to the vehicle interior, the at least one first air path opening out into the vehicle interior in at least one first opening point, and the at least one second air path opening out into the vehicle interior in at least one second opening point;
• a recirculating air connection disposed at the air conditioning system;
• a valve;
• a fresh air connection disposed at the air conditioning system, the fresh air connection in fluidical communication with an external environment of the motor vehicle to introduce fresh air from the external environment into the vehicle interior;
• wherein the at least one first air path fluidically communicates with one of (i) the recirculating air connection and (ii) the fresh air connection, and the at least one second air path fluidically communicates with the other of the one of (i) the recirculating air connection and (ii) the fresh air connection;
• and
• wherein the valve is adjustable between a first setting, in which the at least one first air path fluidically communicates with the recirculating air connection and the at least one second air path fluidically communicates with the fresh air connection, and a second setting, in which the at least one first air path fluidically communicates with the fresh air connection and the at least one second air path fluidically communicates with the recirculating air connection.

A method for operating an air conditioning system to condition air in a vehicle interior of a motor vehicle, the air conditioning system including a heater, a recirculating air connection, and a fresh air connection, the fresh air connection in fluidical communication with an external environment of the motor vehicle to introduce fresh air into the vehicle interior, wherein at least one first air path and at least one second air path each fluidically communicate with the air conditioning system and each open out into the vehicle interior, the method comprising:

• guiding the air from the vehicle interior via one of (i) the at least one first air path and (ii) the at least one second air path to the air conditioning system as a function of an operating state set in the air conditioning system;
• guiding the air from the air conditioning system via the other of the one of (i) the at least one first air path and (ii) the at least one second air path into the vehicle interior;
• when in a first operating state of the air conditioning system:
• guiding the air from the vehicle interior via the at least one first air path to the air conditioning system;
• cooling the guided air via the air conditioning system;
• guiding the cooled air back into the vehicle interior via the at least one second air path;
• establishing fluidical communication between the at least one first air path and the recirculating air connection;
• and
• establishing fluidical communication between the at least one second air path and the fresh air connection;
• when in a second operating state of the air conditioning system:
• establishing fluidical communication between the at least one first air path and the fresh air connection;
• and
• establishing fluidical communication between the at least one second air path and the recirculating air connection.