US20110146318A1

US20110146318A1 - Air Conditioning System Comprising A Support For Constituent Components Of Said System

Info

Publication number: US20110146318A1
Application number: US12/968,411
Authority: US
Inventors: Klaus Wittmann; Mohamed Yahia; Bertrand NICOLAS
Original assignee: Valeo Systemes Thermiques SAS
Current assignee: Valeo Systemes Thermiques SAS
Priority date: 2009-12-17
Filing date: 2010-12-15
Publication date: 2011-06-23
Also published as: EP2335953B1; FR2954465B1; JP2011126522A; EP2335953A1; FR2954465A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an air conditioning device (1) comprising elements (15,16,13,14,19,22,P₁,P₂ ;17) of an A/C loop (4) inside which circulates a cooling fluid FR, of a primary circuit (5) inside which circulates a coolant fluid FC and of a secondary circuit (6) inside which circulates a coolant liquid LC. The air conditioning device (1) comprises a support (100) on which the elements (15,16,13,14,19,22,P₁,P₂ ;17) are fixed.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the field of motor vehicle ventilation, heating and/or air conditioning installations. It relates to an air conditioning system comprising components arranged in relation to each other to limit a coolant leakage risk.

PRIOR ART

Motor vehicles are routinely equipped with an air conditioning system to modify the aerothermal parameters of the air contained inside the vehicle interior. Such a modification is obtained from the delivery of an internal air flow in the car interior. The air conditioning system comprises a ventilation, heating and/or air conditioning installation which channels the circulation of the internal air flow prior to the delivery thereof in the car interior. The installation consists of a housing made of plastic and housed under a board panel of the vehicle.
To modify a temperature of the internal air flow prior to the discharge thereof from the housing to the car interior, the air conditioning system comprises an air conditioning circuit wherein a coolant such as carbon dioxide known as R744, circulates. The air conditioning circuit comprises a plurality of components such as a compressor to pressurise the coolant and an accumulator to prevent an intake of liquid coolant inside the compressor. The air conditioning circuit further comprises coolant/internal air heat exchangers to enable successive heat transfers between the coolant and the internal air flow. The coolant/internal air heat exchangers are positioned inside the installation so as to be traversed by the internal air flow prior to the discharge thereof from the housing to the car interior. The air conditioning circuit further comprises a relief member inserted between the coolant/internal air heat exchangers, the relief member being provided to lower the coolant pressure inside the air conditioning circuit. The latter further comprises a coolant/ambient air heat exchanger to enable heat transfer between the coolant and an ambient air flow. The coolant/ambient air heat exchanger is positioned at the front of the vehicle to facilitate heat transfer between the coolant and the ambient air flow, such as an air flow outside the vehicle. The air conditioning circuit finally comprises a distribution set for handling the circulation of the coolant between the various components mentioned above.
The distribution set is suitable for operating the air conditioning circuit in heating mode or in air conditioning mode. In heating mode, the air conditioning circuit enables heating of the internal air flow whereas, in air conditioning mode, the air conditioning circuit is suitable for cooling same. The change of operation of the air conditioning circuit between these two modes is obtained by modifying the circulation of the coolant inside the distribution sets between various ports comprised therein.
One problem addressed by the air conditioning system described above lies in that said system is not arranged to limit coolant leakage risks. Furthermore, the installation of such an air conditioning system on the motor vehicle proves to be complicated and difficult.

AIM OF THE INVENTION

The aim of the present invention is that of proposing an air conditioning system comprising an air conditioning circuit, a first secondary circuit and a second secondary circuit, said system being arranged to limit coolant leakages and to limit pressure drops inside the air conditioning circuit in particular. A further aim of the present invention is that of proposing such an air conditioning system which is easy to install on a motor vehicle.
The air conditioning system according to the present invention is an air conditioning system comprising the constituent components of any one of an air conditioning circuit wherein a coolant FR circulates, a first secondary circuit wherein a heat transfer fluid circulates and a second secondary circuit wherein a heat transfer liquid LC circulates. The air conditioning system comprises a support whereon said components are mounted.
Said support is an integral assembly having inner tubes to connect the components of the air conditioning circuit and the components of the first and second secondary circuit. The integral support thus contains at the same point, at least one distribution set, a heat exchanger for the coolant/heat transfer fluid circulating in the first secondary circuit, a heat exchanger for the coolant/heat transfer fluid circulating in the second secondary circuit, an internal heat exchanger for exchanging between the high pressure/high temperature of the coolant and the low pressure/low temperature of said coolant and an accumulator or cylinder for separating and/or storing the circulating mass of coolant in the circuit.
Advantageously, the integral support includes an electrical or hybrid compressor (i.e. the drive is mechanical, using an internal combustion engine, combined with an electrical engine drive), optionally accompanied by the control system thereof.
Finally, the integral support may consist of a plurality of attached subassemblies or be in unit form, i.e. consisting of a single part.
The support is made of a metallic material or plastic material.
The support is for example arranged in a platform whereon said components are mounted.
The support is for example further arranged in a cage defining an internal volume wherein said components are mounted.
The support is advantageously provided with at least one attachment means to a vehicle chassis.
The support is preferentially equipped with at least one gripping means.
Preferably, the components comprise at least one electric or hybrid compressor, one internal heat exchanger, one coolant/heat transfer fluid heat exchanger and one coolant/heat transfer liquid heat exchanger.
The components advantageously comprise a distribution set.
The components preferentially comprise a first pump belonging to the first secondary circuit and a second pump belonging to the second secondary circuit.
Preferably, the first secondary circuit is provided with first means for connecting to a first heat transfer/internal air flow heat exchanger whereas the second secondary circuit is provided with second means for connecting to a second heat transfer liquid/internal air flow heat exchanger.
The air conditioning system advantageously comprises a coolant/ambient air heat exchanger.
According to one alternative embodiment, the coolant/ambient air heat exchanger is mounted on the support.
According to a further embodiment, the air conditioning circuit is provided with joining means to the coolant/ambient air heat exchanger.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The present invention will be understood more clearly on reading the description of embodiments thereof, with reference to the figures in the appended drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an air conditioning system according to a first alternative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an air conditioning system according to a second alternative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 are partial schematic views of the air conditioning system illustrated in the above figures.

In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a motor vehicle is equipped with an air conditioning system 1 for modifying the aerothermal parameters of the air contained inside the car interior. Such a modification is obtained by delivering an internal air flow 2 inside the car interior.
To this end, the air conditioning system 1 comprises:

- a ventilation, heating and/or air conditioning installation 3 suitable for channelling the internal air flow 2 prior to the delivery thereof inside the car interior,
- an air conditioning circuit 4 wherein a coolant FR, preferentially supercritical, such as carbon dioxide known as R744, or such as an azeotropic compound known as HFO-1234 yf, circulates,
- a first secondary circuit 5 wherein a heat transfer fluid FC, such as a mixture of water and glycol, circulates, and
- a second secondary circuit 6 wherein a heat transfer liquid LC, such as a mixture of water and glycol, circulates.

The ventilation, heating and/or air conditioning installation 3 essentially consists of a housing 7 made of plastic and housed for example under a board panel of the vehicle. Said installation 3 houses a blower 8 for circulating the internal air flow 2 from at least one air inlet 9 to at least one air outlet 10 comprised in the housing 7. The air outlet 10 makes it possible to deliver an internal air flow 2 from the housing 7 to the vehicle interior.
To enable a modification of the temperature of the internal air flow 2 prior to the delivery thereof in the car interior, said installation 3 houses a first heat transfer fluid/internal air flow heat exchanger 11 to enable a heat transfer between the heat transfer fluid FC and the internal air flow 2, and a second heat transfer liquid/internal air flow heat exchanger 12 to enable a heat transfer between the heat transfer liquid LC and the internal air flow 2.
The first heat transfer fluid/internal air flow heat exchanger 11 is a constituent of the first secondary circuit 5. This circuit further comprises a coolant/heat transfer fluid heat exchanger 13 for enabling a heat transfer between the coolant FR and the heat transfer fluid FC. Finally, the first secondary circuit 5 comprises a first pump P₁for circulating the heat transfer fluid FC between the first heat transfer fluid/internal air flow heat exchanger 11 and the coolant/heat transfer fluid heat exchanger 13.
The second heat transfer liquid/internal air flow heat exchanger 12 is a constituent of the second secondary circuit 6. This circuit further comprises a coolant/heat transfer liquid heat exchanger 14 for enabling a heat transfer between the coolant FR and the heat transfer liquid LC. Finally, the second secondary circuit 6 comprises a second pump P₂for circulating the heat transfer liquid LC between the second heat transfer liquid/internal air flow heat exchanger 12 and the coolant/heat transfer liquid heat exchanger 14.
The coolant/heat transfer fluid heat exchanger 13 and the coolant/heat transfer liquid heat exchanger 14 also belong to the air conditioning circuit 4 for enabling a heat transfer between the coolant FR and the heat transfer fluid FC and the heat transfer liquid LC, respectively.
The air conditioning circuit 4 further comprises an electric or hybrid electric compressor 15 for pressurising the coolant FR. The electric or hybrid compressor 15 is preferentially fluidically connected to an accumulator 16 to prevent an intake of liquid coolant FR inside the electric or hybrid compressor 15. The air conditioning circuit 4 further comprises a coolant/ambient air heat exchanger 17 for enabling a heat transfer between the coolant FR and an ambient air flow 18 passing therethrough. The latter is particularly a flow of air outside the vehicle. The coolant/ambient air heat exchanger 17 is preferentially positioned at the front of the vehicle to facilitate heat transfer between the coolant FR and the ambient air flow 18. The air conditioning circuit 4 further comprises a plurality of relief members D₁,D₂,D₃for reducing the pressure of the coolant FR from the high pressure to a low pressure. The relief members D₁,D₂,D₃are particularly electronic control relief devices. In this way, the air conditioning circuit 4 comprises a plurality of high pressure lines HP₁,HP₂,HP₃provided between the electric or hybrid compressor 15 and at least one of the relief members D₁,D₂,D₃along with a plurality of low pressure lines BP₁,BP₂,BP₃provided between at least one of the relief members D₁,D₂,D₃and the electric or hybrid compressor. Finally, the air conditioning circuit 4 comprises an internal heat exchanger 19 comprising a high pressure duct 20 and a low pressure duct 21 for enabling a heat transfer between the coolant FR circulating in the high pressure duct 20 and the coolant FR circulating in the low pressure duct 21. According to the varied embodiments of the air conditioning circuit 4, the high pressure duct 20 is a constituent of the high pressure lines HP₁,HP₂,HP₃whereas the low pressure duct 21 is a constituent of one of the low pressure lines BP₁,BP₂,BP₃.
The air conditioning circuit 4 is suitable for operating in heating mode whereby the internal air flow 2 is heated by the first heat transfer fluid/internal air flow heat exchanger 11 and the second heat transfer liquid/internal air flow heat exchanger 12. The air conditioning circuit 4 is also capable of operating in air conditioning mode whereby the internal air flow 2 is cooled by the second heat transfer liquid/internal air flow heat exchanger 12, the first heat transfer fluid/internal air flow heat exchanger 11 being inoperative. Finally, the air conditioning circuit is suitable for operating in dehumidifying mode whereby the internal air flow 2 is first cooled by the second heat transfer liquid/internal air flow heat exchanger 12, and then heated by the first heat transfer fluid/internal air flow heat exchanger 11.
More specifically, it should be noted that the coolant/heat transfer liquid heat exchanger 14 circulating in the second secondary circuit 6 acts as an additional cold source in air conditioning and dehumidifying mode whereas it acts as an additional heating source to the first heat transfer fluid/internal air flow heat exchanger 11 housed in the housing 7 of the installation 3. In heating mode, the coolant/heat transfer liquid heat exchanger 14 behaves as a gas cooler cooling the coolant FR circulating in the air conditioning circuit which tends to improve the performances of the air conditioning circuit when operating in heating mode. It thus consists of an air conditioning circuit 4 wherein a coolant FR circulates and comprising a compressor 15, advantageously electric or hybrid, a coolant/ambient air heat exchanger 17, at least three relief members D₁,D₂,D₃, advantageously grouped together in a distribution set 22 as described hereinafter, a coolant/heat transfer fluid heat exchanger 13 belonging to said air conditioning circuit 4 and a first secondary circuit 5 wherein a heat transfer fluid FC circulates, a coolant/heat transfer liquid heat exchanger 14 belonging to said air conditioning circuit 4 and a second secondary circuit 6 wherein a heat transfer liquid LC circulates, an internal heat exchanger 19, said circuit operating:

- in a heating mode wherein the coolant/ambient air heat exchanger 17 is heated by the ambient air whereas the coolant/heat transfer fluid heat exchanger 13 and the coolant/heat transfer liquid heat exchanger 14 are cooled by the heat transfer fluid FC and the heat transfer liquid LC
- in an air conditioning mode wherein the coolant/ambient air heat exchanger 17 is cooled by the ambient air whereas the coolant/heat transfer fluid heat exchanger 13 is inoperative and the coolant/heat transfer liquid heat exchanger 14 is heated by the heat transfer fluid FC and the heat transfer liquid LC,
- in a dehumidifying mode wherein the coolant/ambient air heat exchanger 17 is heated by the ambient air, the coolant/heat transfer fluid heat exchanger 13 is cooled by the heat transfer fluid FC and the coolant/heat transfer liquid heat exchanger 14 is heated by the heat transfer fluid FC and the heat transfer liquid LC,
- said coolant/heat transfer liquid heat exchanger 14 acting as a gas cooler of the coolant FR in heating mode in addition to the coolant/heat transfer fluid heat exchanger 13 acting as a gas cooler of the coolant FR.

It is also noted for example in FIG. 1 that the coolant/heat transfer liquid heat exchanger 14 is positioned in series in the air conditioning circuit downstream from the coolant/heat transfer fluid heat exchanger 13, both exchangers being traversed by the coolant FR subject to high pressure/high temperature when the circuit is in heating mode.
In dehumidifying mode, the coolant subject to high pressure/high temperature passes successively through the coolant/heat transfer fluid heat exchanger 13, the internal heat exchanger 19 and then splits into two by means of the distribution set 22 by supplying the coolant/heat transfer liquid heat exchanger 14 with coolant FR in parallel with the coolant/ambient air heat exchanger 17. The distribution set comprises two relief members D₁and D₂which depressurise the fluid to two different pressure levels, the pressure of the coolant after the first relief member D₁being less than the pressure after the second relief member D₂.
After passing through the coolant/heat transfer liquid heat exchanger 14, the coolant returns to the distribution set 22 to be depressurised by the third relief member D₃so as to return the pressure of the coolant FR to an equivalent pressure to that of the same fluid at the outlet of the coolant/ambient air heat exchanger 17. The distribution set then comprises a “Y”-shaped canal which returns the coolant FR from the third relief member D₃and the coolant FR from the coolant/ambient air heat exchanger 17 to a single point, the whole being routed to the accumulator 16.
This arrangement makes it possible to perform the dehumidifying function simply by operating the second heat transfer liquid/internal air flow heat exchanger 12 as an evaporator and the first heat transfer fluid/internal air flow 11 as a heat sink simultaneously.
The air conditioning circuit 4 comprises a distribution set 2 comprising inlets E₁,E₂,E₃,E₄,E₅,E₆,E₇,E₈,E₉of coolant FR into said set 22 and four outlets S₁,S₂,S₃,S₄of coolant FR from said set 22. This set is suitable for handling the circulation of the coolant FR inside the air conditioning circuit 4.
The distribution set 22 comprises a first inlet E₁and a second inlet E₂of coolant FR into said set 22 and a first outlet S₁of coolant FR from said set 22. The first outlet S₁is fluidically connected with the first inlet E₁and the second inlet E₂. More specifically, a first duct C₁is provided between the first inlet E₁and the first outlet S₁to enable a flow of the coolant FR from the first inlet E₁to the first outlet S₁. More specifically again, a second duct C₂is provided between the second inlet E₂and the first outlet S₁to enable a flow of the coolant FR from the first inlet E₂to the first outlet S₁. The first duct C₁is provided with a relief member D₁whereas the second duct C₂is equipped with a first valve V₁suitable for enabling or disabling a flow of the coolant FR inside the second duct C₂.
The distribution set 22 comprises a third inlet E₃and a fourth inlet E₄of coolant FR into said set 22 and a second outlet S₂of coolant FR from said set 22. The second outlet S₂is fluidically connected to the third inlet E₃and the fourth inlet E₄. More specifically, a third duct C₃is provided between the third inlet E₃and the second outlet S₂to enable a flow of the coolant FR from the third inlet E₃to the second outlet S₂. More specifically again, a fourth duct C₄is provided between the fourth inlet E₄and the second outlet S₂to enable a flow of the coolant FR from the fourth inlet E₄to the second outlet S₂. The third duct C₃is provided with the second relief member D₂whereas the fourth duct C₄is equipped with a second valve V₂suitable for enabling or disabling a flow of the coolant FR inside the fourth duct C₄.
The distribution set 22 comprises a fifth inlet E₅, a sixth inlet E₆and a seventh inlet E₇of coolant FR into said set 22 and a third outlet S₃of coolant FR from said set 22. The third outlet S₃is fluidically connected to the fifth inlet E₅, sixth inlet E₆and the seventh inlet E₇. More specifically, a fifth duct C₅is provided between the fifth inlet E₅and the third outlet S₃to enable a flow of the coolant FR from the fifth inlet E₅to the third outlet S₃. More specifically, a sixth duct C₆is provided between the sixth inlet E₆and the third outlet S₃to enable a flow of the coolant FR from the sixth inlet E₆to the third outlet S₃. Finally, more specifically, a seventh duct C₇is provided between the seventh inlet E₇and the third outlet S3 to enable a flow of the coolant FR from the seventh inlet E₇to the third outlet S₃. The fifth duct C₅is provided with a third valve V₃suitable for enabling or disabling a flow of the coolant FR inside the fifth duct C₅. The sixth duct C₆is provided with a fourth valve V₄suitable for enabling or disabling a flow of the coolant FR inside the sixth duct C₆. The seventh duct C₇is provided with a fifth valve V₅suitable for enabling or disabling a flow of the coolant FR inside the seventh duct C₇.
The distribution set 22 comprises an eighth inlet E₈and a ninth inlet E9 of coolant FR into said set 22 and a fourth outlet S₄of coolant FR from said set 22. The fourth outlet S₄is fluidically connected to the eighth inlet E₈and the ninth inlet E₉. More specifically, an eighth duct C₈is provided between the eighth inlet E₈and the fourth outlet S₄to enable a flow of the coolant FR from the eighth inlet E₈to the fourth outlet S₄. More specifically again, a ninth duct C₉is provided between the ninth inlet E₉and the fourth outlet S₄to enable a flow of the coolant FR from the ninth inlet E₉to the fourth outlet S₄. The eighth duct C₈is provided with a sixth valve V₆suitable for enabling or disabling a flow of the coolant FR inside the eighth duct C₈. The ninth duct C₉is equipped with the third relief member D₃. A seventh valve V₇is placed in parallel with the third relief member D₃to enable circulation of the coolant FR between the ninth inlet E₉and the fourth outlet S₄using a bypass of the third relief member D₃.
The coolant/ambient air heat exchanger 17 comprises a discharge port 23 of coolant FR which is fluidically linked with the seventh inlet E₇and the eighth inlet E₈. The coolant/ambient air heat exchanger 17 further comprises an inlet port 24 of coolant FR which is fluidically linked with the first outlet S₁.
The coolant/heat transfer liquid heat exchanger 14 comprises an outlet port 25 of coolant FR which is fluidically linked with the sixth inlet E₆and the ninth inlet E₉. The coolant/heat transfer liquid heat exchanger 14 further comprises an inlet port 26 of coolant FR which is fluidically linked with the second outlet S₂.
The internal heat exchanger 19 comprises a high pressure outlet 27 which is fluidically linked with the first inlet E₁and the third inlet E₃. The internal heat exchanger 19 further comprises a high pressure inlet 28 which is fluidically linked with the third outlet S₃. The high pressure outlet 27 and the high pressure inlet 28 are fluidically connected to each other via the high pressure duct 20. In parallel, the internal heat exchanger 19 comprises a low pressure outlet 29 which is fluidically linked with a coolant inlet of the electric or hybrid compressor 15. The internal heat exchanger 19 further comprises a low pressure inlet 30 which is fluidically linked with a coolant FR outlet from the accumulator 16. The low pressure outlet 29 and the low pressure inlet 30 are fluidically connected to each other via the low pressure duct 21. The high pressure duct 20 and the low pressure duct 21 are arranged with respect to each other so as to enable heat transfer between the coolant FR circulating inside one of the ducts 20, 21 and the coolant FR circulating inside the other duct 21,20.
The accumulator 16 further comprises an inlet port 31 of coolant FR from the outlet S₄.
The coolant/heat transfer fluid heat exchanger 13 receives the coolant FR from the electric or hybrid compressor 15 to discharge same to the second inlet E₂or the fourth inlet E₄or the fifth inlet E₅with which the coolant/heat transfer fluid heat exchanger 13 is fluidically linked.
The first relief member D₁, the second relief member D₂and the third relief member D₃are suitable for enabling or disabling a flow of the coolant FR inside the duct C₁,C₂,C₃to which they are respectively allocated.
To minimise the risks of leakage of coolant FR, the present invention envisages that the air conditioning system 1 comprises a support 100 bearing components such as the electric or hybrid compressor 15, the coolant/heat transfer fluid heat exchanger 13 of the first secondary circuit 5, the coolant/heat transfer fluid heat exchanger 14 of the second secondary circuit 6, the accumulator 16, the internal heat exchanger 19, the distribution set 22, the first pump P₁, the second pump P₂belonging thereto and which belong to the air conditioning circuit 4, of the first secondary circuit 5 or the second secondary circuit 6. In other words, apart from the first heat transfer fluid/internal air flow heat exchanger 11, the second heat transfer liquid/internal air flow heat exchanger 12 which are housed inside said installation 3 and the coolant/ambient air heat exchanger 17 positioned at the front of the vehicle, all or part of the components such as the electric or hybrid compressor 15, the coolant/heat transfer fluid heat exchanger 13 of the first secondary circuit 5, the coolant/heat transfer fluid heat exchanger 14 of the second secondary circuit 6, the accumulator 16, the internal heat exchanger 19, and the distribution set 22, the first pump P₁, the second pump P₂belonging to the air conditioning circuit 4, of the first secondary circuit 5 and/or the second secondary circuit 6 are suitable for being mounted on or in the internal volume of the support 100. Preferentially, all these components such as the electric or hybrid compressor 15, the coolant/heat transfer fluid heat exchanger 13 of the first secondary circuit 5, the coolant/heat transfer fluid heat exchanger 14 of the second secondary circuit 6, the accumulator 16, the internal heat exchanger 19, and the distribution set 22, the first pump P₁, the second pump P₂are placed in the support 100 or in the support 100, the latter comprising inner pipes for the fluidic connection between said components. Such an arrangement makes it possible to limit the risks of leakage of coolant FR and decrease the pressure drops inside the air conditioning circuit 4 in particular.
In this way, according to the first alternative embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the components gathered together on the support 100 are the electric or hybrid compressor 15, the accumulator 16, the coolant/heat transfer fluid heat exchanger 13, the coolant/heat transfer liquid heat exchanger 14, the internal heat exchanger 19, the distribution set 22, the first pump P₁and the second pump P₂. In this case, the support 100 is suitable for being arranged at any point of a vehicle engine compartment.
According to the second embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the components gathered together on or in the support 100 are the electric or hybrid compressor 15, the accumulator 16, the coolant/heat transfer fluid heat exchanger 13, the coolant/heat transfer liquid heat exchanger 14, the internal heat exchanger 19, the distribution set 22, the first pump P₁and the second pump P₂and the coolant/ambient air heat exchanger 17. In this alternative embodiment of the invention, the coolant/ambient air heat exchanger 17 is incorporated in the support 100, i.e. said support holds the coolant/ambient air heat exchanger 17 mechanically while ensuring the circulation of ambient air therethrough. The risk of coolant leakage is again reduced.
In this case, the support 100 is positioned in a front zone of the vehicle such that the coolant/ambient air heat exchanger 17 enables optimised heat exchange between the coolant FR and the ambient air flow 18.
The support 100 and the components consisting of the electric or hybrid compressor 15, the accumulator 16, the coolant/heat transfer fluid heat exchanger 13, the coolant/heat transfer liquid heat exchanger 14, the internal heat exchanger 19, the distribution set 22, the first pump P₁, the second pump P₂(for the first alternative embodiment) and the coolant/ambient air heat exchanger 17 (for the second alternative embodiment of the invention) borne by the support 100 form a unit assembly 101 suitable for handling in one piece, facilitating the assembly thereof on the vehicle. For this purpose, the support 100 is provided with gripping means 102, such as a pair of handles or equivalent to enable the gripping thereof by a user for the assembly of the air conditioning system 1 on the vehicle. The support 100 is also provided with attachment means 103 to a vehicle chassis, such as the walls of the vehicle engine compartment. The attachment means 103 may be by means of bolting, jointing, clipping or equivalent. The attachment means 103 are preferentially reversible to facilitate any maintenance operations.
The first secondary circuit 5 is provided with first connection means 104 arranged between the first heat transfer fluid/internal air flow heat exchanger 11 and the first pump P₁and the coolant/heat transfer fluid heat exchanger 13. The first connection means 104 are for example of the ring and removable connection sleeve type.
The second secondary circuit 6 is provided with second connection means 105 arranged between a second heat transfer liquid/internal air flow heat exchanger 12 and the second pump P₂and the coolant/heat transfer liquid heat exchanger 14. The second connection means 105 are for example also of the ring and removable connection sleeve type.
In FIG. 2, the air conditioning circuit 4 is provided with joining means 106 arranged between the coolant/ambient air heat exchanger 17 and the first outlet S₁and the seventh inlet E₇and the ninth inlet E₉. The joining means 106 are for example again of the ring and removable connection sleeve type.
In FIG. 3, the support 100 is arranged in a platform, made of either metal or plastic, wherein the components such as the electric or hybrid compressor 15, the accumulator 16, the coolant/heat transfer fluid heat exchanger 13, the coolant/heat transfer liquid heat exchanger 14, the internal heat exchanger 19, the distribution set 22, the first pump P₁, the second pump P₂(for the first alternative embodiment) and the coolant/ambient air heat exchanger 17 (for the second alternative embodiment of the invention) are mounted.
In FIG. 4, the support 100 is arranged in a cage, made of either metal or plastic, defining an internal volume 107 wherein the components consisting of the electric or hybrid compressor 15, the accumulator 16, the coolant/heat transfer fluid heat exchanger 13, the coolant/heat transfer liquid heat exchanger 14, the internal heat exchanger 19, the distribution set 22, the first pump P₁, the second pump P₂(for the first alternative embodiment) and the coolant/ambient air heat exchanger 17 (for the second alternative embodiment of the invention) are housed. In this case, the cage may be formed by machining a metal block.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle air conditioning system (1) comprising at least one coolant/heat transfer fluid heat exchanger (13) belonging to an air conditioning circuit (4) wherein a coolant FR circulates, a first secondary circuit (5) wherein a heat transfer fluid FC circulates, a coolant/heat transfer liquid heat exchanger (14) belonging to the air conditioning circuit (4) and a second secondary circuit (6) wherein a heat transfer liquid LC circulates, an internal heat exchanger (19), a distribution set (22), characterised in that the air conditioning system (1) comprises a support (100) whereon the components (13,14,19,22) are mounted.

2. An air conditioning system (1) according to claim 1, further comprising an electric or hybrid compressor (15) mounted on the support (100).

3. An air conditioning system (1) according to claim 1, further comprising an accumulator (16) mounted on the support (100).

4. An air conditioning system (1) according to claim 1, further comprising a first pump (P₁) for circulating the heat transfer fluid FC in the first secondary circuit (5) and a second pump (P₂) for circulating the heat transfer liquid LC in the second secondary circuit (6) mounted on the support (100).

5. An air conditioning system (1) according to claim 1, further comprising a coolant/ambient air heat exchanger (17) mounted on the support (100).

6. An air conditioning system (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the support (100) is arranged in a platform whereon the components (13,14,19,22) are mounted.

7. An air conditioning system (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the support (100) is in a cage defining an internal volume (107) wherein the components (13,14,19,22) are mounted.

8. An air conditioning system (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the support (100) is provided with at least one attachment means (103) to a vehicle chassis and at least one gripping means (102).

9. An air conditioning system (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the first secondary circuit (5) is provided with first means (104) for connecting to a first heat transfer/internal air flow heat exchanger (11), and the second secondary circuit (6) is provided with second means (105) for connecting to a second heat transfer liquid/internal air flow heat exchanger (12).

10. An air conditioning system (1) according to claim 5, characterised in that the air conditioning circuit (4) is provided with joining means (106) to the coolant/ambient air heat exchanger (17).

11. An air conditioning circuit (4) wherein a coolant FR circulates, the air conditioning circuit (4) comprising a compressor (15), a coolant/ambient air heat exchanger (17), at least three relief members (D₁,D₂,D₃), a coolant/heat transfer fluid heat exchanger (13) belonging to the air conditioning circuit (4), a first secondary circuit (5) wherein a heat transfer fluid FC circulates, a coolant/heat transfer liquid heat exchanger (14) belonging to the air conditioning circuit (4), and a second secondary circuit (6) wherein a heat transfer liquid LC circulates, and an internal heat exchanger (19), the air conditioning circuit (4) operating:

in a heating mode wherein the coolant/ambient air heat exchanger (17) is heated by the ambient air, whereas the coolant/heat transfer fluid heat exchanger (13) and the coolant/heat transfer liquid heat exchanger (14) are cooled by the heat transfer fluid FC and the heat transfer liquid LC,

in an air conditioning mode wherein the coolant/ambient air heat exchanger (17) is cooled by the ambient air, whereas the coolant/heat transfer fluid heat exchanger (13) is inoperative, and the coolant/heat transfer liquid heat exchanger (14) is heated by the heat transfer liquid LC, and

in a dehumidifying mode wherein the coolant/ambient air heat exchanger (17) is heated by the ambient air, the coolant/heat transfer fluid heat exchanger (13) is cooled by the heat transfer fluid FC, and the coolant/heat transfer liquid heat exchanger (14) is heated by the heat transfer liquid LC,

wherein the coolant/heat transfer liquid heat exchanger (14) acts as a gas cooler of the coolant FR in the heating mode in addition to the coolant/heat transfer fluid heat exchanger (13) acting as a gas cooler of the coolant FR.

12. An air conditioning system (1) according to claim 2, further comprising an accumulator (16) mounted on the support (100).

13. An air conditioning system (1) according to claim 2, further comprising a first pump (P₁) for circulating the heat transfer fluid FC in the first secondary circuit (5) and a second pump (P₂) for circulating the heat transfer liquid LC in the second secondary circuit (6) mounted on the support (100).

14. An air conditioning system (1) according to claim 3, further comprising a first pump (P₁) for circulating the heat transfer fluid FC in the first secondary circuit (5) and a second pump (P₂) for circulating the heat transfer liquid LC in the second secondary circuit (6) mounted on the support (100).

15. An air conditioning system (1) according to claim 2, further comprising a coolant/ambient air heat exchanger (17) mounted on the support (100).

16. An air conditioning system (1) according to claim 3, further comprising a coolant/ambient air heat exchanger (17) mounted on the support (100).

17. An air conditioning system (1) according to claim 4, further comprising a coolant/ambient air heat exchanger (17) mounted on the support (100).

18. An air conditioning system (1) according to claim 1, further comprising an electric or hybrid compressor (15) mounted on the support (100), an accumulator (16) mounted on the support (100), a first pump (P₁) for circulating the heat transfer fluid FC in the first secondary circuit (5) and a second pump (P₂) for circulating the heat transfer liquid LC in the second secondary circuit (6) mounted on the support (100), and a coolant/ambient air heat exchanger (17) mounted on the support (100).