Element For Cooling The Air Of A Motor Vehicle

Abstract

The present invention relates to an element for cooling the air in a motor vehicle, comprising a composite phase-change material ( 40 ) made of at least one first material which is a phase-change material ( 42 ) and one second material ( 44 ) of which the structure forms a support matrix for said phase-change material ( 42 ), said composite phase-change material ( 40 ) being covered with a heat-conducting protective layer ( 46 ).

1 . An element for cooling the air in a motor vehicle,
 comprising a composite phase-change material ( 40 ) made of at least one first material which is a phase-change material ( 42 ) and at least one second material ( 44 ) of which the structure forms a support matrix for said phase-change material ( 42 ), wherein said second material ( 40 ) is covered with a heat-conducting protective layer ( 46 ).   
     
     
         2 . An element according to  claim 1 , wherein said protective layer ( 46 ) is a carbon-fiber layer. 
     
     
         3 . An element according to  claim 1 , wherein said protective layer ( 46 ) is an oleophobic and hydrophobic surface treatment having organic/inorganic hybrid nanoparticles. 
     
     
         4 . An element according to  claim 1 , wherein said protective layer ( 46 ) is a metal film having high thermal conductivity. 
     
     
         5 . An element according to  claim 1 , wherein said protective layer ( 46 ) is an evaporative layer of a heat-conducting polymer. 
     
     
         6 . An element according to  claim 1 , wherein said composite phase-change material ( 40 ) comprises at least one rigid structural reinforcement ( 48 ) therewithin. 
     
     
         7 . An element according to  claim 6 , wherein said rigid structural reinforcement ( 48 ) is a metal framework. 
     
     
         8 . An element according to  claim 6 , wherein said rigid structural reinforcement ( 48 ) is a plastic framework. 
     
     
         9 . An air-conditioning device ( 1 ) for a motor vehicle, comprising an air-conditioning loop which comprises a first heat exchanger ( 12 ) that is in contact with the outside air and a second heat exchanger ( 16 ) that is placed in an air-conditioning housing ( 2 ), wherein said air-conditioning device ( 1 ) comprises at least one element for cooling the air according to  claim 1 , said element being placed in a region of an air diffuser ( 32 ) in the passenger compartment. 
     
     
         10 . An air-conditioning device ( 1 ) according to  claim 9 , wherein at least one element for cooling the air forms a diffusion grating ( 34 ) at an outlet of the air diffuser ( 32 ) in the passenger compartment. 
     
     
         11 . An air-conditioning device ( 1 ) according to  claim 9 , wherein at least one element for cooling the air forms flaps ( 36 ) for orienting and/or closing off the air flow entering the passenger compartment. 
     
     
         12 . An air-conditioning device ( 1 ) according to  claim 10 , wherein at least one element for cooling the air forms flaps ( 36 ) for orienting and/or closing off the air flow entering the passenger compartment. 
     
     
         13 . An element according to  claim 2 , wherein said composite phase-change material ( 40 ) comprises at least one rigid structural reinforcement ( 48 ) therewithin. 
     
     
         14 . An element according to  claim 3 , wherein said composite phase-change material ( 40 ) comprises at least one rigid structural reinforcement ( 48 ) therewithin.