Storage Evaporators - Innovative AC Concept for Micro Hybrid Vehicles

Hybrid vehicles are equipped with a stop/start function, a feature that turns off the engine at idle, to reduce fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions.

A new AC concept for micro hybrid vehicles is necessary, since stopping the engine at idle also brings the climate compressor to a standstill.

In this paper, a storage evaporator will be presented that can provide thermal comfort during compressor standstills. The storage evaporator is equipped with latent media that undergoes a phase change. This principle thus provides cold air during engine stops. Comfort demands for idle-off phases are defined and cooling characteristics in a vehicle are shown.

The BEHR storage evaporator is an innovative AC concept to maintain comfort allowing all the benefits of an engine stop at idle, also under conditions where the AC is needed.