초록 ▼

A preferred thermal energy storage and delivery unit includes a chamber for containing a phase change material and one or more air channel members which pass through the phase change material for conveying air into heat exchange relationship with the phase change material. The unit also includes a f

A preferred thermal energy storage and delivery unit includes a chamber for containing a phase change material and one or more air channel members which pass through the phase change material for conveying air into heat exchange relationship with the phase change material. The unit also includes a fluid circuit for conveying a thermal potential charging fluid, for example engine coolant or refrigerant, into heat exchange relationship with the phase change material. The unit optionally may include a fluid circuit through which engine coolant passes, and a fluid circuit through which refrigerant passes. In this manner, systems which incorporate the unit and selectively provide heated or cooled air to condition an interior vehicle space are provided. Also described are improved vehicular environmental conditioning systems which include a front HVAC unit and a rear thermal storage apparatus, and which are flexibly operated in a number of environmental conditioning and/or thermal storage modes.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A thermal energy storage apparatus for use in a vehicular environmental conditioning system, comprising:a housing having a chamber for containing a volume of thermal storage medium;a first heat exchange coil for carrying coolant of a coolant system of the vehicle having a

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A thermal energy storage apparatus for use in a vehicular environmental conditioning system, comprising:a housing having a chamber for containing a volume of thermal storage medium;a first heat exchange coil for carrying coolant of a coolant system of the vehicle having a plurality of coil rows positioned to pass through a volume of aqueous thermal storage medium contained in the chamber, for conveying the coolant into heat exchange relationship with the thermal storage medium so as to impart positive thermal potential to the thermal storage medium;a second heat exchange coil for carrying refrigerant of an air conditioning system of the vehicle positioned to pass through the volume of thermal storage medium, for conveying the refrigerant into heat exchange relationship with the thermal storage medium so as to impart negative thermal potential to the thermal storage medium;one or more air channel members positioned to pass between said coil rows and to span the volume of thermal storage medium, for conveying air into heat exchange relationship with the thermal storage medium to extract positive or negative thermal potential from the thermal storage medium; said air channel members including a plurality of internal fin members for increasing heat exchange between air passing through the channel members and thermal storage medium contacting exterior surfaces of the channel members;a first air manifold defined in the housing and communicating with inlet openings of said channel members, said first air manifold having an air intake opening;a second air manifold communicating with outlet openings of said channel members, said second air manifold having an air discharge opening;a first fan associated with the air intake opening of the first air manifold and operable to create a forced air flow into the first air manifold and into the inlet openings of the channel members; anda second fan associated with the air discharge opening of the second air manifold and operable to create a forced air flow out of the outlet openings of the channel members and out of the second air manifold.