TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an air-conditioning system operated by utilizing the waste heat which occurs as a result of operating of a vehicle motor.

PRIOR ART

Rapid population increase, rising of the industrialization proportion and the developments in technology increase the energy need every passing day. It is assumed that approximately a quarter of energy consumption of pluralities of industrial plants worldwide is lost as a result of waste gases released to atmosphere. One of the systems, which forms waste heat and which provides spreading of waste heat to atmosphere and which is frequently used, is vehicles. Depending on the increasing population, the number of vehicle usages increases every passing day. Motors used for operation of vehicles lead to waste heat during combustion. Most of the energy which can be provided from said waste heat is lost and cannot be transformed into mechanical energy or into a usable product/service.

Depending on vehicle usage, the waste heat ratio released to atmosphere increases every passing day. This problem may lead to global warming depending on substantial heating of air. Moreover, since recovery of the waste heat released to air is not provided, excessive amount of energy loss occurs.

Air-conditioners, which are one of the comfort increasing inventions, provide heating of the medium in cold weathers by means of chemicals which are transformed from gas into liquid and which are transformed into gas again, and they provide cooling of the medium in hot weathers. This cycle provides heat transfer between the room and the outer medium. Air- conditioners used in vehicles lead to extra load for the motor in order to provide cooling processes. This condition leads to further consumption of fuel by the vehicle and decreases propelling performance of the vehicle. While air-conditioner is being used in vehicles, fuel consumption substantially increases, and carbon emission of the vehicle increases. This may lead to increase of global warming. Systems, which provide recovery of waste heat loss which occurs in vehicles, are known in the present art. Said systems provide taking of a fluid (water or other similar mixture liquids), connected to the motor, by using a heat transfer element like an exchanger, radiator, etc. This condition leads to usage of extra equipment and leads to additional cost. Besides, the biggest technical problem is that the waste heat, which occurs in the motor, is prevented from being taken with high efficiency since external fluid and equipment are used.

As a result, because of the abovementioned problems, an improvement is required in the related technical field.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an air-conditioning system, for eliminating the abovementioned disadvantages and for bringing new advantages to the related technical field.

An object of the present invention is to provide an air-conditioning system operated by utilizing the waste heat which occurs as a result of operating of a vehicle motor.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an air-conditioning system which uses waste heat emitted by the motor and which operates the vehicle air-conditioner and thus which decreases fuel consumption and which provides reduction of carbon emission.

In order to realize the abovementioned objects and the objects which are to be deducted from the detailed description below, the present invention is an air-conditioning system for providing changing of the air conditions of the medium by transforming a fluid, which is in the first phase and connected to a vehicle motor, into a second phase during the movement of said fluid along a closed cycle in a manner receiving the waste heat formed by means of said vehicle motor. Accordingly, the subject matter air-conditioning system comprises a pressure changing unit for providing balancing of the pressure of said fluid which is in the first phase, a first state changing unit for providing condensing of the fluid which is in the first phase and which exits said pressure changing unit and for providing passage of said fluid to the second phase, and a second state changing unit for providing evaporating of the fluid which is in the second phase and which exits said first state changing unit and for providing transforming of the fluid into the first phase again. Thus, heat is given to the medium by means of changing the state of the fluid heated by waste heat and medium is heated, or heat is taken from the medium and the medium is cooled. In a possible embodiment of the present invention, a control unit is provided which is operated for providing changing of the air conditions of the medium by controlling change of state of the fluid between the first state changing unit and the second state changing unit.

In another possible embodiment of the present invention, said control unit is configured to:

- decrease the pressure of the fluid, which is in the first phase and heated by means of waste heat received from the vehicle motor, at a predetermined value in the pressure changing unit;

- condense the fluid, which is in the first phase and whose pressure is partially decreased, and transform said fluid into second phase in the first state changing unit;

- evaporate the fluid which is in the second phase and transform said fluid into the first phase again in the second state changing unit;

- draw heat from the medium by the fluid which exits the second state changing unit;

- give heat to the medium by the fluid which exits the second state changing unit.

Thus, the waste heat produced in the motor is used and the inner side of the vehicle is heated or cooled.

In another possible embodiment of the present invention, the first state changing unit is a condenser.

In another possible embodiment of the present invention, the second state changing unit is an evaporator.

In another possible embodiment of the present invention, a storage tank is provided which is configured to provide controlling of pressure fluctuations.

In another possible embodiment of the present invention, said storage tank is embodied to provide entering of the fluid to a second cycle.

In another possible embodiment of the present invention, a safety element, embodied to allow flow of the fluid passing therethrough in single direction, is provided to the motor inlet. Thus, the fluid is moved in a single direction in the closed cycle.

In another possible embodiment of the present invention, a vehicle condenser is provided which is embodied to provide cooling of the vehicle motor water. Thus, the heated motor water is discharged through the vehicle condenser. In another possible embodiment of the present invention, a first switching element is provided between the first state changing unit and the vehicle condenser.

In another possible embodiment of the present invention, a second switching element is provided between the first state changing unit and the second state changing unit.

In another possible embodiment of the present invention, said control unit is configured to realize the process steps of:

- receive a cooling control signal for providing cooling at a predetermined value from the vehicle main control unit,

- provide heating of the fluid, which is in the first phase and connected to the vehicle motor, by means of the waste heat, which occurs in the vehicle motor, in accordance with the received cooling control signal,

- provide increasing of the pressure of the heated fluid which is in the first phase;

- provide entering of the fluid, which is in the first phase and whose pressure is increased and which has high temperature, to the pressure changing unit through a first inlet point,

- provide decreasing of the pressure of the fluid, which is in the first phase, which enters the pressure changing unit,

- provide entering of the fluid, which is in the first phase and whose pressure is relatively decreased, to the first state changing unit,

- provide condensing of the fluid, which is in the first phase, in the first state changing unit depending on the movement of the vehicle and the outer medium temperature,

- provide transforming into a fluid, which has high pressure and which has medium temperature and which is in the second phase, as a result of condensation,

- provide sending of a part of the fluid, which is in the second phase, to the second state changing unit,

- provide sending of another part of the fluid, which is in the second phase, to the storage tank,

- provide decreasing of the pressure of the fluid which is in the second phase in the second state changing unit and provide transforming of the fluid, which is in the second phase, into the fluid which is in the first phase,

- provide drawing of heat from the medium by the fluid which passes from the second phase to the first phase,

- provide cooling of the medium by drawing heat from the medium,

- provide entering of the fluid, which is in the first phase and which has low pressure and which has low temperature, to the pressure changing unit again, - realize absorption of the fluid, which exists in the storage tank and which is in the second phase, by means of the fluid which exists in the storage tank,

- provide sending of the mixture fluid, which exists in the storage tank, to the beginning point in order to gain kinetic again in the waste heat which exists in the vehicle motor for starting the second cycle.

In another possible embodiment of the present invention, said control unit is configured to realize the process steps of:

- receive a heating control signal from the vehicle main control unit for providing heating at a predetermined value,

- provide heating of the fluid, which is in the first phase and connected to the vehicle motor, by means of the waste heat, which occurs in said vehicle motor, in accordance with the taken heating control signal,

- provide entering of the fluid, which is heated and whose pressure is increased and which has high temperature and which is in the first phase, to the pressure changing unit,

- provide sending of the fluid, which is in the first phase and which exits the pressure changing unit, to the vehicle condenser by providing turning on the first switching element,

- provide transferring of the fluid, which passes through the vehicle condenser, to the second state changing unit,

- provide giving of the heat, taken through the fluid, to the medium in the second state changing unit,

- provide sending of the fluid, which gives heat to the medium, to the beginning point again.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

In Figure 1 , a representative view of the closed cycle of an air-conditioning system is given.

In Figure 2, a representative view of the operation scenario of an air-conditioning system is given.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In this detailed description, the subject matter is explained with references to examples without forming any restrictive effect only in order to make the subject more understandable. The present invention relates to an air-conditioning system (10) operated by utilizing the waste heat which occurs as a result of operating the vehicle motor (20). Said air-conditioning system (10) is embodied to provide realization of air-conditioning processes like heating, cooling and ventilation, etc. of the inner part of a vehicle by utilizing the energy provided by waste heat.

As shown in Figure 1 , the air-conditioning system (10) is provided as a result of state changes to which a fluid (30) is subjected during movement of said fluid (30) from a beginning point to a finishing point. Said fluid (30) is provided so as to be connected to the vehicle motor (20) at said beginning point. The waste heat which occurs as a result of operation of the vehicle motor (20) provides heating and increasing of the kinetic of the fluid (30). The fluid (30) with increased kinetic has high temperature and high pressure. In order to provide changing of the pressure of the fluid (30), there is a pressure changing unit (100). Said pressure changing unit (100) comprises a first part (PEG) which provides decreasing of pressure and a second part (PEL) which provides increasing of pressure. Said first part has two inlet points, namely, an inlet point A (110) and an inlet point C (130); and two outlet points, namely, an outlet point B (120) and an outlet point D (140). The fluid (30) which enters through the inlet point A (110) exits through the outlet point B (120). The fluid (30) which enters through the inlet point C (130) exits through the outlet point D (140). Said second part comprises an inlet point E (150) and an outlet point F (160). The pressure changing unit (100) has been designed so as to be operated at predetermined proportions in terms of the structure. For instance, in case a fluid (30) which has pressure of 10 bars enters a pressure changing unit (100), designed so as to be operated with proportion of 2:1 , through an inlet point A (110), the fluid (30) exits the outlet point B (120) of the pressure changing unit (100) at pressure of 5 bars. At proportion of 2:1 , the entrance pressure is reduced by half. While the pressure of the fluid (30) which enters the inlet point A (110) is being reduced, the pressure of the fluid (30) which enters the inlet point C (130) and the inlet point E (150) is increased. The pressure changing unit (100) is embodied to include elements like masses, pressure relief valves, check-valves and spring. The pressure is changed by means of the movement of said elements. The air-conditioning system (10) comprises a safety element (600) which provides movement of the fluid (30), connected to the vehicle motor (20), to the pressure changing unit (100), and which prevents movement of the fluid (30) in the reverse direction. In a possible embodiment of the present invention, as the safety element (600), a check-valve is used which is embodied to allow movement of the fluid (30), which passes through said check-valve, in single direction and provided in the vicinity of the vehicle motor (20). There is a first state changing unit (200) which provides condensing of the fluid (30) which exits the pressure changing unit (100) and whose pressure is partially decreased but which has high temperature and said first state changing unit (200) provides reduction of the temperature of said fluid (30). In a possible embodiment of the present invention, preferably condenser is used as said first state changing unit (200). Said first state changing unit (200) provides condensing and cooling of the fluid (30), which comes from the pressure changing unit (100) and which has high pressure and high temperature, depending on the movement of the vehicle and medium temperature. By means of the first state changing unit (200), the condensing fluid (30) is transformed from the first phase into the second phase. The fluid (30), which is in the second phase and which exits the first state changing unit (200), passes to a second state changing unit (300). In a possible embodiment of the present invention, preferably evaporator is used as said second state changing unit (300). The fluid (30), which is in the second phase and which comes from said second state changing unit (300), has high pressure and has temperature at medium degree. The second state changing unit (300) provides evaporating of the second phase fluid (30) and transforming thereof into the first state again. Heat is drawn from the medium during phase change, and the air is cooled. The fluid (30), which is in the first phase and which exits said second state changing unit (300), enters the pressure changing unit (100) through the second inlet point of the pressure changing unit (100). The pressure changing unit (100) passes the fluid (30), which is in first phase and which has high temperature and taken from the vehicle motor (20), and the fluid (30), which is in the first phase and which has partially low temperature and which completed the first cycle, through itself and provides mixing of said fluids (30) before entering the first state changing unit (200). Thus, the fluid (30), which is excessively heated due to waste heat, is slightly cooled and the system protects itself.

There is a storage tank (500) for providing protection of the air-conditioning system (10) from instantaneous pressure fluctuations and temperatures. Said storage tank (500) comprises a fluid (30) with predetermined value. Said fluid (30) provides absorbing of the fluid (30) taken from the first state changing unit (200) and provides protection of the system against high pressure and high temperature. The storage tank (500) moreover provides absorption of the fluid (30) taken from the first state changing unit (200) and which is in the first phase and provides returning of said fluid (30) to the vehicle motor (20). Thus, the system begins a second cycle. There is a vehicle condenser (400) provided in a manner connected to the first state changing unit (200). Said vehicle condenser (400) is provided in a manner providing cooling of water of the vehicle motor (20). There is a first switching element (700) between the vehicle condenser (400) and the first state changing unit (200). Said first switching element (700) is embodied to provide passage of the fluid (30) through at least one of the first state changing unit (200) and/or vehicle condenser (400). There is a second switching element (800) embodied to provide passage of the fluid (30), which exits the first state changing unit (200) or vehicle condenser (400), to the second state changing unit (300).

With reference to Figure 2, there is a control unit (900) which controls state change of the fluid (30) between the first state changing unit (200) and the second state changing unit (300) and operated for providing changing of the air conditions of the medium. Said control unit (900) is configured to control operation of the first switching element (700) and said second switching element (800). The control unit (900) is moreover configured to provide operation of the air-conditioning system (10) in accordance with the signal received from the main control unit (900) provided in the vehicle.

An exemplary operation scenario of the present invention is described below;

The air-conditioning system (10) provided in the vehicle is embodied to provide cooling and heating of the air which exists in the vehicle. The air-conditioning system (10) is operated by means of the waste heat provided through the vehicle motor (20) without needing an additional work load to the vehicle motor (20). The main control unit (900) of the vehicle provides transfer of a signal, which includes the information indicating that the vehicle motor (20) is operated, to the control unit (900). As the control unit (900) receives a second signal including realization of cooling by the air-conditioning system (10), the air-conditioning system (10) is operated. By means of operating the vehicle motor (20), the fluid (30) which is in the first phase and connected to said vehicle motor (20) is heated. The kinetic of the heated fluid (30) which is in the first phase is increased. This condition provides actuation of the fluid (30). The fluid (30), whose kinetic is increased and which is in the first phase, has high pressure and high temperature. The fluid (30) which is in the first phase enters through the inlet point A (110) of the pressure changing unit (100) from the vicinity of the vehicle motor (20) accepted as the beginning point. The pressure changing unit (100) provides the pressure of the fluid (30), which is in the first phase, to be partially reduced and provides exiting of said fluid (30) through the outlet point B (120). The fluid (30), which is in the first phase and which has high temperature and which has a partially reduced pressure value, is provided to enter the first state changing unit (200). The fluid (30), which enters the first state changing unit (200) at the first phase, exits at the second phase at the first state changing unit (200). A part of the fluid (30), which is in the second phase, is transferred to the storage tank (500). The fluid (30), which is in the second phase and which is transferred to the storage tank (500), is absorbed by the fluid (30) which exists in the storage tank (500). The fluid (30) which exits the storage tank (500) is transferred to inlet point E (150) of the pressure changing unit (100) in order to return to the beginning point. The pressure of the fluid (30) is increased in the pressure changing unit (100) and the kinetic of the fluid (30), whose kinetic has been decreased, is increased. The fluid (30), whose pressure is increased in the pressure changing unit (100), exits the outlet point F (160) and is transferred to the beginning point again in order to be heated by means of waste heat which is formed by means of the vehicle motor (20). While the fluid (30) is being transferred to the beginning point, the fluid (30) is passed through the safety element (600). Another part of the fluid (30) which is in the second phase and which exits the first state changing unit (200) is transferred to the second state changing unit (300). The fluid (30), which is in the second phase, enters the second state changing unit (300) such that the pressure of said fluid (30) is partially reduced and the temperature thereof is decreased. In the second state changing unit (300), the fluid (30) which is in the second phase is evaporated and is transformed into the first phase again. In this case, heat is drawn from the medium depending on evaporation. The medium is cooled by drawing heat from the medium. The pressure changing unit (100) transfers the fluid (30), which is in the first phase and which exits the second state changing unit (300), to the inlet point C (130) such that said fluid (30) enters the second cycle again. The fluid (30), whose pressure is increased in the pressure changing unit (100), exits the outlet point D (140) and is mixed with the fluid (30) which comes from the vehicle motor (20) and whose pressure is decreased. This condition provides partial reduction of the temperature of the fluid (30) which enters the first state changing unit (200), and provides partial reduction of the high pressure and enables the fluid (30) to be made usable. Thus, the fluid (30) enters the second cycle. Said cycle continues until the signal, which is to be transferred to the control unit (900) and which indicates that the vehicle motor (20) is turned off, is sent to the main control unit (900), and a control signal, which includes that the air- conditioning system (10) is turned off, is sent to the control unit (900). Said process comprises the process steps of the cooling cycle of the air-conditioning system (10).

The control unit (900) provides operation of the air-conditioning system (10) as said control unit (900) receives a first signal, including the information indicating that the vehicle motor (20) is operated, and a second signal including the information indicating that the air- conditioning system (10) shall realize heating. By means of operation of the air-conditioning system (10), the fluid (30) which is in the first phase is heated by means of the waste heat of the vehicle motor (20). First of all, the pressure of the heated fluid (30) is reduced in the pressure changing unit (100). The first switching element (700) is operated in order to transfer the fluid (30), which has high temperature and which exits the pressure changing unit (100), to the vehicle condenser (400). As the first switching element (700) is turned on, the fluid (30) is transferred to the vehicle condenser (400). The fluid (30) is cooled on the vehicle condenser (400) and changes state. The fluid (30), which is relatively cooled, is transferred to the second state changing unit (300). The heat of the fluid (30) is taken in the second state changing unit (300) and heat is given to the medium. The fluid (30) whose heat is taken enters the system again through the inlet point C (130) of the pressure changing unit (100). A part of the fluid (30) which exits the vehicle condenser (400) is transferred to the storage tank (500). The fluid (30), which mixes with the fluid (30) which exists in the storage tank (500), is transferred to the beginning point again.

In order to prevent damaging of the system by a gas heated excessively by means of the waste heat, the high pressure fluid (30) which exits the first state changing unit (200) is transferred to the storage tank (500) by operating the second switching element. The fluid (30) provided to the storage tank (500) absorbs said high pressure fluid (30). Thus, the pressure of the fluid (30) is balanced and is sent to the cycle again. This condition provides protection of the system against high pressure.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, in order to cool a vehicle, first of all, the vehicle motor (20) is operated. As the vehicle motor (20) is operated, the button provided for vehicle air-conditioner is operated. The air-conditioner control unit (900) operates the air- conditioner such that the air-conditioner realizes cooling as said air-conditioner control unit (900) receives said signals of motor operation and button pressing. In this case, the fluid (30), which is in gas phase and provided in a line provided in the vicinity of the motor, is heated. The kinetic of the heated gas is increased. The fluid (30), which moves inside the air- conditioning system (10), moves in a unidirectional manner by means of a check-valve provided in the vicinity of the vehicle motor (20). The fluid (30), whose kinetic is increased and which is in gas phase, enters the pressure changing unit (100) through the inlet point A (110). In the pressure changing unit (100), the pressure of the fluid (30), which is in gas phase, is partially reduced. Said fluid (30) leaves the pressure changer through an outlet point B (120). The fluid (30), which is in gas phase and whose pressure is partially decreased and which has high temperature, enters the condenser and condenses here. The temperature of the condensed fluid (30) is partially reduced. The condensed gas is liquefied and leaves the condenser. While a part of the liquid which exits the condenser is being transferred to the storage tank (500), the other part of the liquid is transferred to the evaporator. The liquid transferred to the storage tank (500) is mixed with the liquid which exists in the storage tank (500). The mixture is sent to an inlet point E (150) of the pressure changing unit (100) for a second cycle. The pressure of the fluid (30) which enters through inlet point E (150) is increased and is removed through an outlet point F (160). The fluid (30) which exits the outlet point F (160) is transferred again to the line connected to the motor which is the beginning point and is heated again by means of waste heat. The liquid transferred from the condenser to the evaporator is evaporated and is transformed into gas phase again. Heat is drawn from the medium for evaporation of the liquid. This provides cooling of the medium. The gas phase fluid (30) which exits the evaporator enters the pressure changing unit through an inlet point C (130) for being used again. The pressure of said fluid (30) is increased. The fluid (30) whose pressure is increased is removed from an outlet point D (140). The gas whose pressure is increased which exits the outlet point D (140) and the gas with partially reduced pressure which exits the outlet point B (120) are mixed with each other. This condition provides transformation of the gas pressure, heated by means of waste heat in the system, into usable form. In order to provide protection of the system against very high pressure, the liquid which exits the condenser is transferred to the storage tank (500). The storage tank (500) provides absorption of the high pressure by means of the liquid which exists in the storage tank (500) and provides protection of the system.

The protection scope of the present invention is set forth in the annexed claims and cannot be restricted to the illustrative disclosures given above, under the detailed description. It is because a person skilled in the relevant art can obviously produce similar embodiments under the light of the foregoing disclosures, without departing from the main principles of the present invention.

REFERENCE NUMBERS

10 Air-conditioning system

100 Pressure changing unit 110 Inlet point A

120 Outlet point B 130 Inlet point C 140 Outlet point D 150 Inlet point E 160 Outlet point F

200 First state changing unit 300 Second state changing unit 400 Vehicle condenser 500 Storage tank 600 Safety element

700 First switching element 800 Second switching element 900 Control unit 20 Vehicle motor 30 Fluid