초록 ▼

An air conditioning system for a vehicle includes a compressor, a condenser, a first sub-cooler, a metering device, and an evaporator assembly. The evaporator assembly includes an evaporator and a second sub-cooler. The second sub-cooler is arranged below the evaporator such that water condensation

An air conditioning system for a vehicle includes a compressor, a condenser, a first sub-cooler, a metering device, and an evaporator assembly. The evaporator assembly includes an evaporator and a second sub-cooler. The second sub-cooler is arranged below the evaporator such that water condensation from the evaporator drains onto the second sub-cooler to cool the second sub-cooler such that a temperature of the refrigerant exiting the second sub-cooler is less than a temperature of the refrigerant exiting the first sub-cooler.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An air conditioning system for a vehicle comprising: a compressor to pressurize a refrigerant cycling through the air conditioning system;a condenser located downstream of and fluidly connected to the compressor to condense the refrigerant;a first sub-cooler located downstream of and fluidly conn

1. An air conditioning system for a vehicle comprising: a compressor to pressurize a refrigerant cycling through the air conditioning system;a condenser located downstream of and fluidly connected to the compressor to condense the refrigerant;a first sub-cooler located downstream of and fluidly connected to the condenser to reduce a temperature of the refrigerant to a temperature that is less than a temperature of the refrigerant exiting the condenser;a second sub-cooler located downstream of and fluidly connected to the first sub-cooler, the second sub-cooler being fluidly connected in series with the first sub-cooler such that refrigerant passes from the first sub-cooler directly to the second sub-cooler;a metering device located downstream of and fluidly connected to the second sub-cooler to reduce a pressure of the refrigerant;an evaporator located downstream of and fluidly connected to the metering device to convert the refrigerant from a liquid to a gas, the evaporator being located upstream of and fluidly connected to the compressor; anda housing in which the evaporator is housed,wherein the second sub-cooler is arranged directly below the evaporator and the housing so as to be spaced from the evaporator and disposed outside the housing, such that water condensation formed on the evaporator drains onto the second sub-cooler to cool the second sub-cooler such that a temperature of the refrigerant exiting the second sub-cooler is less than a temperature of the refrigerant exiting the first sub-cooler. 2. The air conditioning system of claim 1, wherein the metering device is a thermal expansion valve, which regulates a flow of refrigerant to the evaporator based on cooling demand. 3. The air conditioning system of claim 1, wherein the second sub-cooler includes an incoming refrigerant tube and an outgoing refrigerant tube, wherein the incoming refrigerant tube and outgoing refrigerant tube are oriented such that a line defined between a center of the incoming refrigerant tube and the outgoing refrigerant tube is substantially vertical. 4. The air conditioning system of claim 3, wherein the metering device is a thermal expansion valve, which regulates a flow of refrigerant to the evaporator based on cooling demand. 5. The air conditioning system of claim 1, wherein the evaporator includes at least a first evaporator tube and a second evaporator tube spaced from the first evaporator tube such that an inner surface of the first evaporator tube faces an inner surface of the second evaporator tube with a space provided therebetween, and wherein the evaporator overlays the second sub-cooler with a center point of the second sub-cooler disposed directly below the space between the first evaporator tube inner surface and the second evaporator tube inner surface. 6. The air conditioning system of claim 5, wherein the evaporator overlays an entirety of an upper surface of the second sub-cooler. 7. An HVAC system for a vehicle comprising: an air conditioner system including:a compressor to pressurize a refrigerant cycling through the air conditioning system;a condenser located downstream of and fluidly connected to the compressor to condense the refrigerant;a first sub-cooler located downstream of and fluidly connected to the condenser to reduce a temperature of the refrigerant to a temperature that is less than a temperature of the refrigerant exiting the condenser;a second sub-cooler located downstream of and fluidly connected to the first sub-cooler;a metering device located downstream of and fluidly connected to the second sub-cooler to reduce a pressure of the refrigerant; andan evaporator located downstream of and fluidly connected to the metering device to convert the refrigerant from a liquid to a gas, the evaporator being located upstream of and fluidly connected to the compressor,wherein the evaporator includes at least a first evaporator tube and a second evaporator tube spaced from the first evaporator tube such that an inner surface of the first evaporator tube faces an inner surface of the second evaporator tube with a space provided therebetween, andwherein the second sub-cooler is arranged below and spaced from the evaporator at a position where an entirety of an upper surface of the second sub-cooler is overlaid by the evaporator and a center point of the second sub-cooler is disposed directly below the space between the first evaporator tube inner surface and the second evaporator tube inner surface, such that water condensation formed on the inner surface of the first evaporator tube and the inner surface of the second evaporator tube drains onto the second sub-cooler to cool the second sub-cooler such that a temperature of the refrigerant exiting the second sub-cooler is less than a temperature of the refrigerant exiting the first sub-cooler. 8. The HVAC system of claim 7, further comprising: a heat resistant-insulating material arranged in a space between a lower portion of the evaporator and an upper portion of the second sub-cooler to reduce heat dissipated by the second sub-cooler from rising upward toward the evaporator; anda housing in which only the evaporator, the second sub-cooler, and the heat resistant-insulating material are housed. 9. The HVAC system of claim 8, wherein the metering device is a thermal expansion valve, which regulates a flow of refrigerant to the evaporator based on cooling demand. 10. The HVAC system of claim 7, further comprising a housing in which only the evaporator is housed, wherein the second sub-cooler is arranged directly below and outside of the housing. 11. The HVAC system of claim 10, wherein the second sub-cooler includes an incoming refrigerant tube and an outgoing refrigerant tube, wherein the incoming refrigerant tube and outgoing refrigerant tube are oriented such that a line defined between a center of the incoming refrigerant tube and the outgoing refrigerant tube is substantially vertical. 12. The HVAC system of claim 11, wherein the metering device is a thermal expansion valve, which regulates a flow of refrigerant to the evaporator based on cooling demand.