US 6,782,945 B1 · Dual zone automatic climate control algorithm utilizing heat flux analysis

Abstract

A method for automatically controlling the climate in a plurality of climate control zones of a cabin of an automobile comprising at least a driver zone and a passenger zone having a temperature sensor located in a driver side zone and at least one conditioned air outlet vent in each of the zones, the method comprising, obtaining various values indicative of internal and external climate, determining outlet temperatures and mass flow rates of at least one of a driver zone outlet and at least one of a passenger zone outlet based at least on the above obtained values and on other factors relating to the design of the automobile, including a zone air crossover influence factor, providing conditioned air to the cabin from at least one of the driver zone outlets and at least one of the passenger zone outlets at the determined outlet temperatures and mass flow rates.

Claims52

Dependent claims

A method for automatically controlling the climate in a plurality of climate control zones of a cabin of an automobile comprising at least a first zone and a second zone having a temperature sensor located in the first zone and a conditioned air outlet vent in each of the zones, the method comprising:

obtaining a target temperature value for the first zone and the second zone;
obtaining a first zone temperature value estimate from the sensor in the first zone;
obtaining an ambient air temperature value;
obtaining a sun load heat flux value for at least one of the first zone and the second zone;
obtaining a first zone gain factor value based at least on the first zone temperature value estimate;
automatically determining the outlet temperatures and mass flow rates of the first zone outlet and the second zone outlet based at least on the above obtained values and on a conduction/convection heat transfer coefficient between the cabin and ambient air, an effective glass area for solar load transmission, a zone air crossover influence factor, and predetermined constraints on the relationship of the outlet temperatures and air flow, wherein the zone air crossover influence factor is a factor based on blending of air in the cabin;
and
providing conditioned air to the cabin from the first zone outlet and the second zone outlet at outlet temperatures and mass flow rates correlating to the determined outlet temperatures and mass flow rates.

5 more elements

A method for automatically controlling the climate in a plurality of climate control zones of a cabin of an automobile comprising at least a first zone and a second zone having a temperature sensor located in a first zone and an conditioned air outlet vent in each of the zones, the method comprising at least utilizing an algorithm relating to at least equations

ToD=[TGT(D)+(Ge·(TGT(D)−RMd)+K·(TGT(D)−Ta)−qs(D)·GL)/GA−R·ToPa]/(1−R)
and
ToP=ToD+([TGT(P)−TGT(D)]·(1+K/GA)−[qs(P)−qs(D)]·GL/GA)/(1−R)
where:
ToD=F first zone outlet temperature,
ToP=S second zone outlet temperature,
TGT(D)=First zone target temperature,
TGT(P)=Second zone target temperature,
Ge=Gain factor,
RMd=First zone temperature estimate from sensor,
qs(D)=First zone sun load heat flux,
qs(P)=Second zone sun load heat flux,
GL=Effective glass area for solar load transmission,
Ta=Ambient temperature,
GA=Mass air flow rate,
K=Conduction or convection heat transfer coefficient between the cabin and ambient air,
R=Zone crossover influence factor,
ToPa=The second zone's true outlet temperature,
(Evaporator Temperature≦ToPa≦Heater Air Outlet Temperature),
the method comprising:
automatically determining ToD, ToP, and GA by solving the above equations with predetermined constraints on the relationship of ToD, ToP, and GA;
and
providing conditioned air to the cabin from the first zone outlet and the second zone outlet at outlet temperatures and mass flow rates correlating to the determined outlet temperatures and mass flow rates.

20 more elements

An automatic climate control apparatus for automatically controlling climate in a plurality of climate control zones of a cabin of an automobile comprising at least a first zone and a second zone, comprising:

an air blower adapted to blow conditioned air into the cabin;
an air outlet vent in the first zone in fluid communication with the air blower;
an air outlet vent in the second zone in fluid communication with the air blower;
an air cooling device and an air heating device in fluid communication with the air blower, the first zone vent, and the second zone vent;
a temperature sensor located in the first zone adapted to provide a temperature value estimate of the first zone;
an electronic processor device comprising a processor and a memory, wherein the memory is adapted to store a plurality of equations, the plurality of equations including equations for the air outlet temperatures and mass flow rates of the first zone outlet and the second zone outlet, the equations being based on variables including:
a target temperature value for the first zone and the second zone;
a first zone temperature value estimate;
an ambient air temperature value;
a sun load heat flux value for at least one of the first zone and the second zone;
a first zone gain factor value based at least on the first zone temperature value estimate;
a conduction/convection heat transfer coefficient between the cabin and the ambient air;
an effective glass area for solar load transmission;
and
a zone air crossover influence factor, wherein the zone air crossover influence factor is a factor based on blending of air in the cabin;
wherein
the electronic processor is adapted to automatically control and adjust mass flow rate and temperature of the air being blown from the vents based on the equations as constrained by predetermined constraints on the relationship of the outlet temperatures and air flow.

14 more elements

A climate control device for controlling at least one component of a climate control system that controls climate in a plurality of climate control zones of a cabin of an automobile comprising at least a first zone and a second zone, comprising:

a device adapted to receive a signal representing mass flow rate of conditioned air being blown into the cabin;
a device adapted to output a signal to control heating and cooling of air being blown into the cabin;
a device adapted to output a signal to control the mass flow rate of air being blown into the cabin;
a device adapted to receive a signal representative of a sensed temperature inside the cabin;
a device storing an algorithm based on at least a plurality of equations, the plurality of equations including equations for air outlet temperatures and mass flow rates of first zone outlet and second zone outlet, the equations being based on variables including:
a target temperature value for the first zone and the second zone;
a first zone temperature value estimate;
an ambient air temperature value;
a sun load heat flux value for at least one of the first zone and the second zone;
a first zone gain factor value based at least on the first zone temperature value estimate;
a conduction/convection heat transfer coefficient between the cabin and ambient air;
an effective glass area for solar load transmission;
and
a zone air crossover influence factor, wherein the zone air crossover influence factor is a factor based on blending of air in the cabin;
and
a device storing a plurality of predetermined constraints on a relationship of the first zone and second zone outlet temperatures and air flow;
wherein
the control device is adapted to automatically output a signal to control and adjust the mass flow rate and temperature of air being blown from the vents based on the equations as constrained by the predetermined constraints on the relationship of the outlet temperatures and air flows.

15 more elements

A method for automatically controlling climate in a plurality of climate control zones of a cabin of an automobile comprising at least a first zone and a second zone having a temperature sensor located in the first zone and a temperature sensor located in the second zone and an conditioned air outlet vent in each of the zones, the method comprising:

obtaining a target temperature value for the first zone and the second zone;
obtaining temperature value estimates for the first zone and the second zone from the first zone temperature sensor and the second zone temperature sensor respectively;
obtaining an ambient air temperature value;
obtaining a sun load heat flux value for at least one of the first zone and the second zone;
obtaining at least one of a gain factor value based the first zone temperature value estimate and a gain factor value based on the second zone temperature value estimate;
automatically determining outlet temperatures and mass flow rates of the first zone outlet and the second zone outlet based at least on the above obtained values and on a conduction/convection heat transfer coefficient between the cabin and ambient air, an effective glass area for solar load transmission, a zone air crossover influence factor, and predetermined constraints on a relationship of the outlet temperatures and air flow;
wherein the zone air crossover influence factor is a factor based on blending of air in the cabin;
and,
providing conditioned air to the cabin from the first zone outlet and the second zone outlet at outlet temperatures and mass flow rates correlating to the determined outlet temperatures and mass flow rates.

6 more elements

A method for automatically controlling climate in a plurality of climate control zones of a cabin of an automobile comprising at least a first zone and a second zone and having a temperature sensor located in the first zone and a temperature sensor located in the second zone and an air outlet vent in each of the zones, the method comprising at least utilizing an algorithm relating to at least equations:

ToD=[TGT(D)+(Ge(D)·(TGT(D)−RMd)+K·(TGT(D)−Ta)−qs(D)·GL)/GA(D)−R·ToPa]/(1−R)
and
ToP=[TGT(P)+(Ge(P)·(TGT(P)−RMp)+K·(TGT(P)−Ta)−qs(P)GL)/GA(P)−R·ToDa]/(1−R)
where:
ToD=First zone outlet temperature,
ToP=Second zone outlet temperature,
TGT(D)=First zone target temperature,
TGT(P)=Second zone target temperature,
Ge(D)=Gain factor based on a first zone temperature value estimate,
Ge(P)=Gain factor based on a second zone temperature value estimate,
RMd=First zone temperature estimate from sensor,
RMp=Second zone temperature estimate from sensor,
qs(D)=First zone sun load heat flux,
qs(P)=Second zone sun load heat flux,
GL=Effective glass area for solar load transmission,
Ta=Ambient temperature,
GA(D)=Mass air flow rate of the first zone,
GA(P)=Mass air flow rate of the second zone,
K=Conduction or convection heat transfer coefficient between the cabin and ambient air,
R=Zone crossover influence factor,
ToPa=The second zone's true outlet temperature, (Evaporator Temperature≦ToPa≦Heater Air Outlet Temperature),
ToDa=The first zone's true outlet temperature, (Evaporator Temperature≦ToDa≦Heater Air Outlet Temperature),
the method comprising:
automatically determining ToD and ToP, and GA by solving the above equations with predetermined constraints on a relationship of ToD, ToP, GA(D) and GA(P);
and
providing conditioned air to the cabin from the first zone outlet and the second zone outlet at outlet temperatures and mass flow rates correlating to the determined outlet temperatures and mass flow rates.

23 more elements

an air blower adapted to blow conditioned air into the cabin;
an air outlet vent in the first zone in fluid communication with the air blower;
an air outlet vent in the second zone in fluid communication with the air blower;
an air cooling device and an air heating device in fluid communication with the air blower, the first zone vent, and the second zone vent;
a temperature sensor located in the first zone adapted to provide a temperature value estimate of the first zone;
an electronic processor device comprising a processor and a memory, wherein the memory is adapted to store a plurality of equations, the plurality of equations including equations for the air outlet temperatures and mass flow rates of the first zone outlet and the second zone outlet, the equations being based on variables including:
a target temperature value for the first zone and the second zone;
a first zone temperature value estimate;
an ambient air temperature value;
a sun load heat flux value for at least one of the first zone and the second zone;
a first zone gain factor value based at least on the first zone temperature value estimate;
a conduction/convection heat transfer coefficient between the cabin and ambient air;
an effective glass area for solar load transmission;
and
a zone air crossover influence factor, wherein the zone air crossover influence factor is a factor based on blending of air in the cabin;
wherein
the electronic processor is adapted to automatically control and adjust the mass flow rate and the temperature of the air being blown from the vents based on the equations as constrained by predetermined constraints on the relationship of the outlet temperatures and air flow.

14 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Dual zone automatic climate control algorithm utilizing heat flux analysis

Life of this patent

Dual zone automatic climate control algorithm utilizing heat flux analysis

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims52