External noise reduction of HVAC system for a vehicle

A vehicle comprising:

• a frame;
• a propulsion system coupled to the frame;
• a passenger compartment;
• a door coupled to the frame and movable between an open position and a closed position to selectively allow access to the passenger compartment;
• a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (“HVAC”) system operable in a first mode and a second mode that is quieter than the first mode, the HVAC system including a refrigeration circuit operable to selectively control the temperature within the passenger compartment based on a sensed temperature within the passenger compartment, the refrigeration circuit including an exterior heat exchanger supported by the frame and a first air moving device coupled to the exterior heat exchanger for directing air across the exterior heat exchanger;
• a sensor configured to sense a condition of the vehicle and to generate a signal indicative of the vehicle condition, the vehicle condition including at least one of a position of the door, a location of the vehicle, and a load of the propulsion system;
• and
• a controller disposed in the vehicle and in communication with the HVAC system to regulate operation of the refrigeration circuit in response to the sensed temperature of the passenger compartment, the controller further in communication with the sensor to receive the signal indicative of the vehicle condition and to selectively vary the HVAC system between the first mode and the second mode in response to the signal,
• wherein the location of the vehicle includes the proximity of the vehicle relative to a freestanding structure, and wherein the controller is programmed to operate the HVAC system in the second mode in response to the signal indicative of the location of the vehicle in close proximity with the freestanding structure.

A method of operating a vehicle, the method comprising:

• providing a passenger compartment and a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (“HVAC”) system in the vehicle, the HVAC system including a refrigeration circuit operable to control the temperature within the passenger compartment based on a sensed temperature within the passenger compartment, the refrigeration circuit having an exterior heat exchanger, a first air moving device directing air across the exterior heat exchanger, an interior heat exchanger, a second air moving device for directing air across the interior heat exchanger, and a compressor;
• initiating the HVAC system and selectively conditioning the passenger compartment using the refrigeration circuit based on the sensed temperature within the passenger compartment;
• sensing a condition of the vehicle including sensing at least one of a position of a door of the vehicle, a location of the vehicle, and a load of a propulsion system of the vehicle;
• sensing the location of the vehicle relative to a freestanding structure;
• decreasing a speed of the refrigeration circuit in response to the location of the vehicle in close proximity with the freestanding structure;
• and
• increasing the speed of the refrigeration circuit in response to the location of the vehicle at least a predetermined distance from the freestanding structure.