# US 2012/0239251 A1 · Climate control system and method for optimizing energy consumption of a vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2012/0239251 A1 - Document ID: US20120239251A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/487,313 - Filed: 2012-06-04 - Published: 2012-09-20 - Earliest claimed: 2009-05-06 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Halim Wijaya; Gerhard A. Dage; Wayne Frank Buescher; Christopher Mark Greiner - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20120239251A1 ## CPC - B60H 1/3205: {Control means therefor} - B60H 2001/3238: {related to the operation of the compressor} - B60H 2001/3266: {related to the operation of the vehicle} - B60H 2001/3277: {to control the air flow} - B60H: ARRANGEMENTS OF HEATING, COOLING, VENTILATING OR OTHER AIR-TREATING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PASSENGER OR GOODS SPACES OF VEHICLES ## Abstract A climate control system and method for optimizing energy consumption in a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) is provided. By varying evaporator temperatures based on occupant settings and environmental conditions, electric compressor speed can be optimized to provide the necessary cooling capacities resulting in energy savings. Determining the impact that increasing or decreasing engine cooling fan speed has on the overall energy consumption of the climate control system without affecting target discharge air temperature provides for energy saving opportunities. Optimizing energy consumption according to the provided strategy provides for improved fuel economy without sacrificing passenger comfort. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A climate control method for a vehicle comprising: receiving input indicative of a passenger set cabin temperature (Tsp) and one or more environmental conditions; selecting an initial target evaporator core temperature (Tevap1) from predetermined data based on Tsp and the environmental conditions; calculating a dew point temperature (Tdew) based upon the environmental conditions; and setting a target evaporator core temperature (Tevap) based on Tevap1 and Tdew. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein setting Tevap based on Tevap1 and Tdew comprises: comparing Tevap1 to Tdew; and setting Tevap based on whether Tevap1 exceeds Tdew. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein setting Tevap based on whether Tevap1 exceeds Tdew comprises: setting Tevap to Tdew when Tevap1 exceeds Tdew. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein setting Tevap based on whether Tevap1 exceeds Tdew comprises: setting Tevap to Tevap1 when Tevap1 does not exceed Tdew. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: calculating a windshield fogging probability value; and setting Tevap based further in part upon the windshield fogging probability value. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein setting Tevap based further in part upon the windshield fogging probability value comprises: calculating a second target evaporator core temperature (Tevap2) based on the windshield fogging probability value when the windshield fogging probability value is indicative of a risk of windshield fogging; and Setting Tevap to Tevap2. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein calculating Tevap2 comprises: selecting a target evaporator core temperature change amount (ΔTevap) from predetermined data based on the windshield fogging probability value; and reducing Tevap by ΔTevap. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein setting Tevap based further in part upon the windshield fogging probability value comprises: maintaining Tevap at its current value when the windshield fogging probability value is not indicative of a risk of windshield fogging. ### Claim 9 A vehicle climate control system comprising: an evaporator core for cooling airflow; and a controller configured to: select an initial target evaporator core temperature (Tevap1) from predetermined data based on a passenger set cabin temperature (Tsp) and one or more environmental conditions; calculate a dew point temperature (Tdew) based upon the environmental conditions; and set a target evaporator core temperature (Tevap) based on Tevap1 and Tdew. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the controller is configured to set Tevap based on whether Tevap1 exceeds Tdew. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the controller is configured to set Tevap to Tdew when Tevap1 exceeds Tdew. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the controller is configured to set Tevap to Tevap1 when Tevap1 does not exceed Tdew. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the control is further configured to: calculate a windshield fogging probability value; and set Tevap based further in part upon the windshield fogging probability value. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the controller is configured to set Tevap based further in part upon the windshield fogging probability value by: calculating a second target evaporator core temperature (Tevap2) based on the windshield fogging probability value when the windshield fogging probability value is indicative of a risk of windshield fogging; and Setting Tevap to Tevap2. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the controller is configured to calculate Tevap2 by: selecting a target evaporator core temperature change amount (ΔTevap) from predetermined data based on the windshield fogging probability value; and reducing Tevap by ΔTevap. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the controller is configured to set Tevap based further in part upon the windshield fogging probability value by: maintaining Tevap at its current value when the windshield fogging probability value is not indicative of a risk of windshield fogging. ### Claim 17 A method comprising: receiving input indicative of a passenger set cabin temperature (Tsp) and one or more environmental conditions; selecting an initial target evaporator core temperature (Tevap1) from predetermined data based on a cabin temperature setpoint (Tsp), interior cabin temperature (Tcab), ambient temperature (Tamb) and solar load (SL); calculating a dew point temperature (Tdew) based on Tamb and relative humidity (RH); and providing output indicative of a target evaporator core temperature (Tevap) based on whether Tevap1 exceeds Tdew. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein providing output indicative of Tevap based on whether Tevap1 exceeds Tdew comprises: outputting Tevap equal to Tdew when Tevap1 exceeds Tdew; and outputting Tevap equal to Tevap1 when Tevap1 does not exceed Tdew. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising: calculating a windshield fogging probability value; and calculating a second target evaporator core temperature (Tevap2) based on the windshield fogging probability value when the windshield fogging probability value is indicative of a risk of windshield fogging; and providing output indicative of Tevap equal to Tevap2. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein calculating Tevap2 comprises: selecting a target evaporator core temperature change amount (ΔTevap) from predetermined data based on the windshield fogging probability value; and reducing Tevap by ΔTevap.