Patent ID: 6782945
Filing Date: 2004-08-31
Classification: B60H

Abstract:
A method for automatically controlling the climate in a plurality of climate control zones of a cabin of an automobile comprising at least a first zone and a second zone having a temperature sensor located in the first zone and a conditioned air outlet vent in each of the zones, the method comprising:obtaining a target temperature value for the first zone and the second zone; obtaining a first zone temperature value estimate from the sensor in the first zone; obtaining an ambient air temperature value; obtaining a sun load heat flux value for at least one of the first zone and the second zone; obtaining a first zone gain factor value based at least on the first zone temperature value estimate; automatically determining the outlet temperatures and mass flow rates of the first zone outlet and the second zone outlet based at least on the above obtained values and on a conduction/convection heat transfer coefficient between the cabin and ambient air, an effective glass area for solar load transmission, a zone air crossover influence factor, and predetermined constraints on the relationship of the outlet temperatures and air flow, wherein the zone air crossover influence factor is a factor based on blending of air in the cabin; and providing conditioned air to the cabin from the first zone outlet and the second zone outlet at outlet temperatures and mass flow rates correlating to the determined outlet temperatures and mass flow rates.