Self-powered air conditioning systems

Abstract

An air conditioning system includes a vapor compression loop including a compressor, an expansion device, a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, wherein a working fluid is configured to circulate within the vapor compression loop. An energy storage device is selectively operable to supply power to a component of the air conditioning system. A thermal management system includes a heat transfer fluid loop fluidly connecting the energy storage device and a coolant heat exchanger. A heat transfer fluid is configured to circulate through the heat transfer fluid loop. The thermal management system is thermally and fluidly coupled to the vapor compression loop at the coolant heat exchanger. The coolant heat exchanger is arranged in series with each of the compressor, the expansion device, the first heat exchanger, and the second heat exchanger within the vapor compression loop.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An air conditioning system comprising:
 a vapor compression loop including a compressor, an expansion device, a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, wherein a working fluid is configured to circulate within the vapor compression loop;   an energy storage device selectively operable to supply power to a component of the air conditioning system;   a thermal management system including a heat transfer fluid loop fluidly connecting the energy storage device and a coolant heat exchanger and having a heat transfer fluid configured to circulate through the heat transfer fluid loop, wherein the thermal management system is thermally and fluidly coupled to the vapor compression loop at the coolant heat exchanger, the coolant heat exchanger being arranged in series with each of the compressor, the expansion device, the first heat exchanger, and the second heat exchanger within the vapor compression loop.   
     
     
         2 . The air conditioning system of  claim 1 , wherein the vapor compression loop includes a reversing flow valve arranged downstream from an outlet of the compressor, the reversing flow valve being movable to transform the vapor compression loop between a cooling mode and a heating mode. 
     
     
         3 . The air conditioning system of  claim 2 , wherein the coolant heat exchanger is located between the outlet of the compressor and the second heat exchanger relative to a flow of the working fluid in the heating mode. 
     
     
         4 . The air conditioning system of  claim 2 , wherein the coolant heat exchanger is located between the second heat exchanger and the reversing flow valve relative to a flow of the working fluid in the heating mode. 
     
     
         5 . The air conditioning system of  claim 2 , wherein the coolant heat exchanger is located between the second heat exchanger and the expansion device relative to a flow of the working fluid in the heating mode. 
     
     
         6 . The air conditioning system of  claim 2 , wherein the vapor compression loop includes a receiver, and the coolant heat exchanger is arranged at the receiver. 
     
     
         7 . The air conditioning system of  claim 6 , wherein the coolant heat exchanger is arranged within an interior of the receiver. 
     
     
         8 . The air conditioning system of  claim 1 , wherein the working fluid is a selected from refrigerant, coolant, water, glycol, and dielectric fluid. 
     
     
         9 . The air conditioning system of  claim 1 , wherein the heat transfer fluid is water. 
     
     
         10 . The air conditioning system of  claim 1 , wherein the thermal management system further comprises:
 a movement mechanism operable to control a flow of the heat transfer fluid within the heat transfer fluid loop;   at least one sensor; and   a controller operably coupled to the at least one sensor and to the movement mechanism, the controller being configured to control operation of the thermal management system to maintain the energy storage device within a desired temperature range.   
     
     
         11 . The air conditioning system of  claim 10 , wherein the desired temperature range is between about 20°C. and about 25°C. 
     
     
         12 . The air conditioning system of  claim 10 , wherein the controller is configured to:
 receive data from the at least one sensor; and   adjust operation of the movement mechanism in response to the data from the at least one sensor.   
     
     
         13 . The air conditioning system of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one sensor includes a temperature sensor configured to monitor a temperature of the heat transfer fluid. 
     
     
         14 . The air conditioning system of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one sensor includes a temperature sensor configured to monitor a temperature of the energy storage device. 
     
     
         15 . A method of operating an air conditioning system comprising:
 providing a vapor compression loop and a thermal management system fluidly and thermally coupled to the vapor compression loop, the thermal management system including an energy storage device operable to supply power to the air conditioning system and a coolant heat exchanger;   determining if a temperature associated with the energy storage device is beyond a desired temperature range; and   varying a heat transfer between the vapor compression loop and the thermal management system in response to the determining that the temperature of the energy storage device is beyond the desired temperature range.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein varying the heat transfer between the vapor compression loop and the thermal management system includes controlling a flow rate of a heat transfer fluid of the thermal management system via a movement mechanism. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the heat transfer between the vapor compression loop and the thermal management system is varied to increase the temperature of the energy storage device. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the heat transfer between the vapor compression loop and the thermal management system is varied to decrease the temperature of the energy storage device.