Method for managing a thermal management system, and corresponding thermal management system

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for managing a thermal management system of a vehicle (10) in order to achieve a parameter relating to a given physiological comfort for a user of the vehicle, the thermal management system (20) comprising at least two thermal regulation devices. The method comprises the following steps: obtaining at least one piece of data representing the thermal environment of the vehicle (S10); determining an initial physiological comfort index of the user (S15); determining a strategy for controlling the thermal regulation devices in order to achieve the parameter relating to the given physiological comfort and optimise the energy consumption, on the basis of the at least one piece of data representing the thermal environment of the vehicle and the determined initial physiological comfort index of the user (S20); and controlling the thermal regulation devices according to the determined control strategy (S25).

Description

[0001] Method for managing a thermal management system, and associated thermal management system

[0002] Technical Field

[0003] The invention relates to a method for managing a thermal management system, in particular for a vehicle passenger compartment, in particular a motor vehicle. The invention also relates to a thermal management system.

[0004] Prior art

[0005] The thermal management of a vehicle, particularly the thermal management of the passenger compartment, for user comfort, consumes energy. However, energy consumption needs to be increasingly optimized, particularly due to the growing share of electric vehicles, as energy consumption has an impact on the vehicle's range. In addition, in the case of electric vehicles, electric motors emit little heat compared to conventional combustion engines.

[0006] To heat a vehicle interior, especially when outside temperatures are low, the user can combine the use of several thermal regulation devices by activating these devices. However, each being an energy consumer, they consume a considerable portion of the energy of electric vehicles, stored in the vehicle's batteries.

[0007] Among the thermal regulation devices that may be present in a vehicle, there are notably air conditioning devices, for example a heating, ventilation and air conditioning device also called HVAC. In such an air conditioning device, a heat transfer fluid passes through a fluid circuit comprising a heatercore, a compressor, a heat exchanger, called a condenser, an expansion device and a second heat exchanger, called an evaporator.

[0008] These air conditioning systems are sometimes reversible, meaning they can absorb heat energy from the outside air at a heat exchanger, called an evapo-condenser, and return it to the passenger compartment, particularly by means of a dedicated heat exchanger. In this case, the air conditioning system functions as a heat pump.

[0009] Other thermal regulation devices may also be present in the vehicle, such as radiant panels, heated seats, a heated steering wheel and / or contact heating surfaces located for example on an elbow rest. However, all these thermal regulation devices are very energy-intensive in electricity and significantly increase the energy consumption of the vehicle, particularly at cold exterior temperatures. This is particularly the case because these thermal regulation devices are activated and adjusted manually by the vehicle user, from a human / machine interface. Indeed, very often, in order to try to obtain thermal comfort as quickly as possible, the user activates all the devices simultaneously and sets them to a high power.

[0010] Summary of the invention

[0011] The invention aims in particular to propose an improvement to known thermal management systems in order to achieve optimal physiological comfort quickly while optimizing energy consumption.

[0012] To this end, the invention relates to a method for managing a vehicle thermal management system to achieve a parameter relating to a given physiological comfort for a vehicle user.

[0013] The thermal management system comprises at least two thermal regulation devices, the method comprising the following steps: obtaining at least one piece of data representative of the thermal environment of the vehicle; determining an initial physiological comfort index of the user; determining a strategy for controlling the thermal regulation devices to achieve the parameter relating to the given physiological comfort and to optimize the energy consumed, from said at least one piece of data representative of the thermal environment of the vehicle and the initial physiological comfort index of the user determined; and controlling the thermal regulation devices according to the determined control strategy.

[0014] According to this method, the management of the thermal comfort and well-being of the user and / or users of a vehicle is improved. Indeed, first of all, according to this method, thermal comfort is achieved more quickly. Then, the electrical consumption is optimized which has the effect of improving the quantity of energy consumed and therefore of extending the possible duration of use of the vehicle with regard to the quantity of energy stored in the batteries of the vehicle. According to a particular embodiment, from said at least one data representative of the thermal environment of the vehicle and the initial physiological comfort index of the user determined, the control strategy can determine a useful convective power and / or a useful conductive power and / or a useful radiative power to achieve the parameter relating to the given physiological comfort.

[0015] The determined useful convective power and / or the determined useful conductive power and / or the determined useful radiative power may furthermore be dependent on the overall power capable of being supplied by the thermal regulation devices.

[0016] Prior to determining the control strategy, the method may comprise a step of determining an available conductive power and / or an available conductive power and / or an available radiative power, the determined useful convective power and / or the determined useful conductive power and / or the determined useful radiative power is further dependent on the determined available conductive power and / or the determined available conductive power and / or the determined available radiative power.

[0017] The control of the thermal regulation devices may include activation of the thermal regulation devices according to the determined useful convective power and / or the determined useful conductive power and / or the determined useful radiative power.

[0018] The control strategy may further comprise a time sequencing of the activation of the thermal regulation devices in order to optimize the energy consumed. The time sequencing of the activation of the thermal regulation devices may comprise the activation of at least one thermal regulation device delivering convective power and / or the activation of at least one thermal regulation device delivering conductive power before the activation of at least one thermal regulation device delivering radiative power.

[0019] The control strategy may also include a duration of activation of the thermal regulation devices in order to optimize the energy consumed.

[0020] The control strategy can also be determined based on a priority level assigned to the thermal regulation devices in order to optimize the energy consumed.

[0021] The priority level assigned to thermal control devices may be based on the energy consumption of the thermal control devices.

[0022] The priority level assigned to thermal regulation devices may further depend on the ability of the thermal regulation devices to achieve the given physiological comfort parameter. The user's initial physiological comfort index may be determined from measurements of thermal or physiological quantities of different parts of the user's body and / or the environment around the user.

[0023] The user's initial physiological comfort index may be included in a range of values, and preferably, the central value of the range corresponding to the value of the parameter relating to the given physiological comfort.

[0024] The initial physiological comfort index of the user may comprise a plurality of data representative of the physiological comfort of the user, each data representative of the physiological comfort of the user being determined for a part of the user's body, each data is included in an interval of values, and preferably, the central value of the interval corresponding to the value of the parameter relating to the given physiological comfort.

[0025] It is thus possible to achieve comfort in all parts of the body as quickly as possible and to maintain them at the desired physiological comfort for the entire duration the occupant(s) remain in the vehicle.

[0026] The control strategy for thermal regulation devices can also be determined from the plurality of data representative of the user's physiological comfort.

[0027] Said at least one piece of data representative of the thermal environment of the vehicle may comprise at least one piece of data linked to the interior thermal environment of the vehicle and / or at least one piece of data linked to the exterior thermal environment of the vehicle.

[0028] Said at least one data item related to the external thermal environment of the vehicle can be determined from the external temperature of the vehicle and / or the level of sunshine and / or the speed of movement of the vehicle and / or the level of humidity. The thermal management system can comprise at least one thermal regulation device delivering essentially convective power and / or at least one thermal regulation device delivering essentially conductive power and / or at least one thermal regulation device delivering essentially radiative power.

[0029] At least one of the thermal control devices may be capable of providing primarily convective power.

[0030] Said at least one thermal regulation device capable of providing essentially convective power may be a heating, ventilation and air conditioning device. At least one of the thermal regulation devices may be capable of providing essentially conductive power. Said at least one thermal regulation device capable of providing essentially conductive power may be a heated seat device.

[0031] At least one of the thermal control devices may be capable of providing primarily radiative power.

[0032] Said at least one thermal regulation device capable of essentially providing radiative power may comprise at least one radiant panel.

[0033] The method may further comprise a step of maintaining the given physiological comfort when the given physiological comfort is reached.

[0034] Maintaining the given physiological comfort may include automatic control of thermal regulation devices to maintain the given physiological comfort.

[0035] The thermal management system may be a thermal management system for a vehicle interior, particularly a motor vehicle.

[0036] The invention also relates to a vehicle thermal management system for achieving a parameter relating to a given physiological comfort for a vehicle user and optimizing the energy consumed, the thermal management system comprising at least two thermal regulation devices, at least one computer and at least one memory in which a computer program is stored, said computer program being configured to implement the method described above.

[0037] The invention also relates to a computer program comprising instructions which cause the preceding thermal management system to carry out the steps of the previously described method.

[0038] The invention further relates to a computer-readable medium on which the above computer program is recorded.

[0039] The invention also relates to the use of the thermal management system, in particular for a vehicle passenger compartment, to achieve a parameter relating to a given physiological comfort for the driver of the vehicle and / or a parameter relating to a given physiological comfort for the front passenger of the vehicle and / or a parameter relating to a given physiological comfort for at least one rear passenger of the vehicle.

[0040] List of Figures

[0041] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the following description, given as an illustrative and non-limiting example, and the appended figures among which: Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a thermal management system for a vehicle passenger compartment comprising several thermal regulation devices.

[0042] Figure 2 is a schematic representation showing an example of a human body divided into sections having respective thermal comfort indices.

[0043] Figure 3 illustrates an example of a method for managing a thermal management system to achieve a parameter relating to a given physiological comfort for a vehicle user in accordance with the invention.

[0044] Detailed description of the invention

[0045] The following embodiments are examples. Although the description refers to one or more embodiments, this does not necessarily mean that each reference relates to the same embodiment, or that the features apply only to a single embodiment. Single features of different embodiments may also be combined or interchanged to provide other embodiments.

[0046] Figure 1 represents a passenger compartment 10 of a motor vehicle. This passenger compartment 10 comprises a driver's seat 15. It may comprise another front passenger seat and rear passenger seats. The vehicle comprises a thermal management system 20. The thermal management system comprises at least two thermal regulation devices. It comprises, for example, at least one thermal regulation device delivering essentially convective power and / or at least one thermal regulation device delivering essentially conductive power and / or at least one thermal regulation device delivering essentially radiative power.

[0047] As illustrated in Figure 1, the thermal management system may comprise at least one thermal regulation device capable of essentially providing convective power. Such a device is, for example, a heating, ventilation and air conditioning device 25. Outlets 30 for air thermally treated by the heating, ventilation and air conditioning device, in particular a head air outlet 30a and a foot air outlet 30b, allow the air thermally treated in the heating, ventilation and air conditioning device 25 to be blown into the passenger compartment 10. The user can direct the flow of thermally treated air at the outlets 30 according to his need. According to a particular example of a heating, ventilation and air conditioning device 25, it may comprise an additional electric heating device thus providing additional heating.This additional electric heating device comprises in particular radiant elements and is capable of providing additional radiative power in the heating, ventilation and air conditioning device. According to a particular embodiment, the additional electric heating device may further comprise resistive heating elements, for example resistors with a positive temperature coefficient making it possible to transform an electric current into thermal energy.

[0048] The thermal management system 20 may comprise at least one thermal control device capable of providing essentially conductive power. Such a device is, for example, a heated seat device 30 installed in the driver's seat 15. Other heated seat devices may be installed, for example, in the front passenger seat and / or in the rear passenger seats.

[0049] The thermal management system 20 may comprise at least one thermal regulation device capable of essentially providing radiative power. Such a device comprises, for example, at least one radiant panel 35. Radiant panels could be placed at any location inside the passenger compartment 10. For example, radiant panels may be located above the windows 40 of the user 35a and / or under the feet of the user 35b. Other radiant panels may be installed, for example, on the front passenger side and / or at the rear passenger level.

[0050] The thermal management system 20 also comprises a device for obtaining at least one piece of data representative of the thermal environment of the vehicle 45. In particular, said at least one piece of data representative of the thermal environment of the vehicle comprises at least one piece of data linked to the interior thermal environment of the vehicle and / or at least one piece of data linked to the exterior thermal environment of the vehicle.

[0051] The data relating to the external thermal environment of the vehicle is determined from the external temperature of the vehicle and / or the level of sunshine and / or the speed of movement of the vehicle and / or the level of humidity and / or the intensity of the wind. In particular, the data relating to the external thermal environment of the vehicle is data representative of the external thermal environment of the vehicle and may represent at least one meteorological condition of the environment of the vehicle. The data relating to the external thermal environment of the vehicle may also be determined from data transmitted by a remote server configured to transmit one or more data representative of the external temperature and the weather (sunshine, intensity of the wind, humidity, etc.) depending on the location of the vehicle.The data relating to the interior thermal environment of the vehicle represents, for example, the interior temperature of the vehicle, namely the passenger compartment and / or the humidity level present in the vehicle. The data relating to the interior thermal environment of the vehicle can also be determined from an estimate of the temperatures and speeds of the blown air flows, the temperature of the materials making up the passenger compartment, the temperature of the user's seat and the interior walls of the vehicle.

[0052] To do this, the device for obtaining at least one piece of data representative of the thermal environment of the vehicle 45 may comprise a measuring device comprising one or more sensors such as a sunshine sensor, a temperature sensor, in particular a temperature sensor at an air outlet of the installation, a sensor of the temperature prevailing in the passenger compartment or a humidity sensor.

[0053] The thermal management system 20 also comprises a device for determining an initial physiological comfort index of the user 50. The initial physiological comfort index is, for example, data representative of the initial thermal comfort of the user. The physiological comfort index expresses an overall thermal sensation, namely, over the entire body, or a local one, namely, over an area of ​​the user's body and depends in particular on the heat of the user's body, whether produced or absorbed in the area concerned, in particular due to metabolic activity. It may also be based on the user's level of clothing.

[0054] The initial physiological comfort index of the user is thus, for example, determined from measurements of thermal or physiological quantities of different parts of the user's body and / or of the environment around the user, namely for example the passenger compartment, as illustrated in Figure 2. According to this embodiment, a local initial physiological comfort index is determined for several parts of the user's body. In other words, the user's body is segmented in order to determine a local physiological comfort index for each segment of the body or for one or more segments of the body. The segments are for example, the head 210, the chest 215, the legs 220, the feet 225 and the arms 230. Other more or less precise segmentations can be used. The initial physiological comfort index of the user is then obtained from the local initial physiological comfort indices, for example by averaging the determined indices.The thermal management system 20 further comprises a control device 55 which will determine a strategy for controlling the thermal regulation devices present in the vehicle to achieve the parameter relating to a given physiological comfort. The control strategy is determined from said at least one piece of data representative of the thermal environment of the vehicle and the initial physiological comfort index of the determined user.

[0055] According to the determined control strategy, the thermal management system 20, in particular the control device 55, will then automatically control the thermal regulation devices to achieve the parameter relating to a given physiological comfort while optimizing the energy consumed.

[0056] Indeed, it is necessary to control the thermal regulation devices in order to achieve an appropriate physiological comfort indicated by a parameter relating to a given physiological comfort. This parameter could include a thermal comfort index whose value is a central value in an interval of indices, for example the value zero in an interval between -4 and +4.

[0057] The control device 55 may comprise a calculation means or microprocessor for determining the control strategy of the thermal regulation devices present in the vehicle and controlling these devices. In particular, the microprocessor may determine a control strategy of the thermal regulation devices to achieve the parameter relating to the given physiological comfort, from said at least one data item representative of the thermal environment of the vehicle and the initial physiological comfort index of the user determined.

[0058] The control device 55 may comprise another or the same computer or microprocessor to generate the commands for controlling the thermal regulation devices.

[0059] Furthermore, the control device 55 may comprise a memory in order to store a set of possible predefined control strategies.

[0060] The thermal management system 20 further comprises at least one computer or processor and at least one memory in which a computer program is stored. The computer program is configured to implement a method for managing a thermal management system on said system. The computer program comprises instructions that can be executed by the computer or processor which cause the thermal management system to execute the steps of the method for managing a thermal management system. The computer program can be stored in a computer-readable medium. The computer-readable medium can include a memory for storing the instructions. The memory can comprise any memory suitable for storing data and executable instructions, such as read-only memory, rewritable flash memory and a hard disk.The thermal management system 20 may be used to achieve a given physiological comfort parameter for the driver of the vehicle and / or a given physiological comfort parameter for the front passenger of the vehicle and / or a given physiological comfort parameter for at least one rear passenger of the vehicle. Although the vehicle thermal management system has been illustrated in Figure 1 for the thermal management of a passenger compartment, the vehicle thermal management system may additionally manage other parts of the vehicle.

[0061] Figure 3 illustrates a method for managing a vehicle thermal management system 20, for example the thermal management system described in the support of Figure 1, to achieve a parameter relating to a given physiological comfort for a user of the vehicle and optimize the energy consumed.

[0062] The method begins at step S10 of obtaining at least one piece of data representative of the thermal environment of the vehicle. This step is notably carried out by the device for obtaining at least one piece of data representative of the thermal environment of the vehicle 45. Said at least one piece of data representative of the thermal environment of the vehicle comprises at least one piece of data linked to the interior thermal environment of the vehicle and / or at least one piece of data linked to the exterior thermal environment of the vehicle as described in the support of Figure 1.

[0063] Step S 10 is followed by a step S 15 of determining an initial physiological comfort index of the user. This step is carried out for example by the device for determining an initial physiological comfort index of the user. The physiological comfort index has been described previously in support of Figure 1 and Figure 2. The initial physiological comfort index of the user can be determined from measurements of thermal or physiological quantities of different parts of the user's body and / or of the passenger compartment around the user. The index can be determined by means of measurements or be estimated in order to determine the user's actual feeling of comfort. According to a particular embodiment, the initial physiological comfort index of the user is included in an interval of values. According to one embodiment, the central value of the interval corresponds to the value of the parameter relating to the given physiological comfort.

[0064] The range of values ​​is, for example, from -4 to 4, the central value 0 corresponding, for example, to pleasant physiological comfort for the user.

[0065] In particular, the initial physiological comfort index of the user may comprise a plurality of data representative of the physiological comfort of the user, each data representative of the physiological comfort of the user being determined for a part of the user's body as illustrated in Figure 2, and each data is included in an interval of values. In particular, the central value of the interval corresponds to the value of the parameter relating to the given physiological comfort.

[0066] Step S15 is followed by a step S20 of determining a strategy for controlling the thermal regulation devices to achieve the parameter relating to the given physiological comfort, based on said at least one piece of data representative of the thermal environment of the vehicle and the initial physiological comfort index of the user determined.

[0067] The determined control strategy must make it possible to achieve the value of the parameter relating to a given physiological comfort for a vehicle user while optimizing the energy consumed. The control strategy will consist of determining how to control the different thermal regulation devices in order to achieve the value of the parameter relating to a given physiological comfort within a reasonable or even optimal time, while controlling energy consumption.

[0068] To achieve this, the control strategy may consist of combining or sequencing the use of thermal regulation devices as well as defining their activation level to achieve the comfort objective.

[0069] Indeed, from said at least one data representative of the thermal environment of the vehicle and the initial physiological comfort index of the user determined, the control strategy can determine a useful convective power and / or a useful conductive power and / or a useful radiative power to achieve the parameter relating to the given physiological comfort. The control strategy is for example determined by the control device 55.

[0070] The useful convective power and / or the useful conductive power and / or the useful radiative power corresponds to the useful power to provide a thermal load in order to obtain the overall thermal load desired to achieve the given physiological comfort.

[0071] The determined useful convective power and / or the determined useful conductive power and / or the determined useful radiative power may furthermore be dependent on the overall power capable of being supplied by the thermal regulation devices.

[0072] Prior to determining the control strategy, the method may comprise a step of determining an available conductive power and / or an available conductive power and / or an available radiative power, the determined useful convective power and / or the determined useful conductive power and / or the determined useful radiative power may further be dependent on the determined available conductive power and / or the determined available conductive power and / or the determined available radiative power. The available conductive power, the available conductive power and the available radiative power respectively correspond to the capacity in terms of power of the thermal regulation devices. From the available powers of each thermal regulation device, the impact of the activation of the devices on the parameter relating to the given physiological comfort may be determined.

[0073] According to a particular embodiment, the thermal management system 20, in particular the control device 55, comprises a set of possible predefined control strategies, each control strategy being defined for given parameters, namely, at least one data item representative of the thermal environment of the vehicle and an initial physiological comfort index of a user. For example, the strategies are stored in the form of a table taking on the one hand as input at least one data item representative of the thermal environment of the vehicle and on the other hand an initial physiological comfort index of a user.

[0074] The table thus defines a control strategy for each data representative of the vehicle's thermal environment and each initial physiological comfort index of a user.

[0075] The table may be multi-dimensional, in particular in order to take into account a plurality of data linked to the thermal environment of the vehicle, namely for example the external thermal environment of the vehicle and the internal thermal environment of the vehicle.

[0076] According to a particular embodiment, the same control strategy can be used for one or more data representative of the thermal environment of the vehicle and one or more initial physiological comfort indices of a user.

[0077] According to one embodiment, for one or more data representative of the thermal environment of the vehicle and one or more initial physiological comfort indices of a user, no control strategy is defined because with regard to the data and the physiological comfort indices, the data are incompatible or the physiological comfort index has already been reached.

[0078] The control strategy may further comprise a time sequencing of the activation of the thermal regulation devices and / or a duration of activation of the thermal regulation devices in order to optimize the energy consumed. The control strategy may further comprise a level of regulation of the thermal regulation devices. For example, the heated seat may comprise three levels of adjustment in order to heat more or less, and the heating, ventilation and air conditioning device may comprise an adjustment of the flow of air blown into the passenger compartment as well as the temperature of the blown air.

[0079] The time sequencing of the activation of the thermal control devices may comprise the activation of at least one thermal control device delivering convective power and / or the activation of at least one thermal control device delivering conductive power before the activation of at least one thermal control device delivering radiative power.

[0080] Indeed, for example, the control strategy may consist of initially favoring the use of the heating, ventilation and air conditioning device 25 and the heated seat 30 because the user feels this almost immediately, then subsequently activating the radiant panels 35.

[0081] Alternatively, the control strategy may consist of initially prioritizing heating of the user's feet (particularly if the initial local physiological comfort index indicates significant discomfort), by means of radiant panels 35b and the heating, ventilation and air conditioning device 25, prioritizing the outlet of the air flow 30b, then subsequently regulating these devices to prioritize the other parts of the user's body.

[0082] The control strategy may further be determined based on a priority level assigned to the thermal control devices in order to optimize the energy consumed, the priority level assigned to the thermal control devices being able to be a function of the energy consumption of the thermal control devices. In particular, the priority level may be determined with regard to a ratio between the power supplied by the thermal control device and its energy consumption.

[0083] The priority level assigned to thermal regulation devices may further depend on the capacity of the thermal regulation devices to achieve the given physiological comfort parameter. The capacity of the thermal regulation devices may be defined by determining the available power of each device.

[0084] The control strategy of the thermal regulation devices can be determined, in addition, from the plurality of data representative of the physiological comfort of the user. Step S20 is followed by a step S25 of controlling the thermal regulation devices according to the determined control strategy. The control of the thermal regulation devices can comprise an activation of the thermal regulation devices according to the determined useful convective power and / or the determined useful conductive power and / or the determined useful radiative power.

[0085] The control of thermal regulation devices according to the determined control strategy can also be accompanied by manual control of the thermal regulation devices by the user.

[0086] According to a particular embodiment, as long as the given physiological comfort is not reached, the method is repeated at regular intervals in order to adapt the strategy and the control of the thermal regulation devices to the changes occurring in the thermal environment of the vehicle and in the physiological comfort index of the user. For example, the procedure is repeated every two minutes or every five minutes.

[0087] For example, when the data representative of the external thermal environment of the vehicle is -5 degrees, the driver starts the vehicle, and therefore the vehicle is cold, a heating, ventilation and air conditioning device according to the state of the art controls for example the heat pump (or the refrigerant heater) to produce a power of 2 kW in order to heat the refrigerant loop to produce a flow of hot air which will be sent into the passenger compartment. The time required to achieve the given physiological comfort for a vehicle user is between 5 and 10 minutes. If the user has also activated the heated seat, the vehicle user may find himself in a situation of discomfort due to excessive heating of the passenger compartment because the heating, ventilation and air conditioning device and the heated seat heat according to the user's commands, independently of each other.The user will then modify the controls for the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system and the heated seat. Numerous user manipulations will be necessary to achieve the physiological comfort given to a user.

[0088] According to the method according to the invention, the thermal management system will determine a strategy for controlling the thermal regulation devices to achieve the parameter relating to the given physiological comfort, from said at least one data representative of the thermal environment of the vehicle and the initial physiological comfort index of the user determined, then will control the thermal regulation devices. In the example above, the control strategy will consist in particular of activating the heated seat for 1 minute in order to obtain physiological comfort for the user in the back and legs. For this, the energy consumption of these devices will be 0.15 kW. The radiant panels will also be activated to provide physiological comfort for the user in the arms and feet, in particular according to the physiological needs of these parts of the body.For this purpose, the energy consumption of the radiant panels will be 0.5 kW. The heating, ventilation and air conditioning system is then activated to heat the air around the user's body, but at a lower temperature, since the user is already close to the given physiological comfort. For this purpose, the energy consumption of the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system will be between 1 and 1.5 kW.

[0089] Thus, it is estimated that energy consumption will be reduced by approximately a factor of 20 and that the time to reach the given physiological comfort will decrease from 7 minutes by manual control of the thermal regulation devices according to the prior art to 3 minutes with an immediate sensation of heat according to the present invention.

[0090] The significant reduction in energy consumption is particularly interesting, especially when implementing such a method in electric or hybrid vehicles in which energy consumption must be optimized. According to a particular embodiment, when the given physiological comfort is achieved, the method can continue with a step S30 of maintaining the given physiological comfort. Maintaining the given physiological comfort can include automatic control of the thermal regulation devices for maintaining the given physiological comfort.

Claims

Claims 1. Method for managing a vehicle thermal management system, to achieve a parameter relating to a given physiological comfort for a user of the vehicle, the thermal management system comprising at least two thermal regulation devices, the method comprising the following steps: obtaining at least one piece of data representative of the thermal environment of the vehicle; determining an initial physiological comfort index of the user; determining a strategy for controlling the thermal regulation devices to achieve the parameter relating to the given physiological comfort and optimizing the energy consumed, from said at least one piece of data representative of the thermal environment of the vehicle and the initial physiological comfort index of the user determined; and controlling the thermal regulation devices according to the determined control strategy.

2. Method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that, from said at least one data item representative of the thermal environment of the vehicle and the initial physiological comfort index of the user determined, the control strategy determines a useful convective power and / or a useful conductive power and / or a useful radiative power to achieve the parameter relating to the given physiological comfort.

3. Method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the determined useful convective power and / or the determined useful conductive power and / or the determined useful radiative power is furthermore dependent on the overall power capable of being supplied by the thermal regulation devices.

4. Method according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that prior to determining the control strategy, the method comprises a step of determining an available conductive power and / or an available conductive power and / or an available radiative power, the power determined useful convective power and / or determined useful conductive power and / or determined useful radiative power is further dependent on the determined available conductive power and / or determined available conductive power and / or determined available radiative power.

5. Method according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the control of the thermal regulation devices comprises an activation of the thermal regulation devices according to the determined useful convective power and / or the determined useful conductive power and / or the determined useful radiative power.

6. Method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the control strategy further comprises a sequencing in time of the activation of the thermal regulation devices in order to optimize the energy consumed.

7. Method according to claim 6, characterized in that the sequencing in time of the activation of the thermal regulation devices comprises the activation of at least one of a thermal regulation device delivering convective power, a thermal regulation device delivering conductive power and a thermal regulation device delivering radiative power, before the activation of at least one other of said thermal regulation device delivering convective power, said thermal regulation device delivering conductive power and said thermal regulation device delivering radiative power.

8. Method according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the control strategy further comprises a duration of activation of the thermal regulation devices in order to optimize the energy consumed.

9. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control strategy is further determined according to a priority level assigned to the thermal regulation devices in order to optimize the energy consumed.

10. Method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the priority level assigned to the thermal regulation devices is a function of the energy consumption of the thermal regulation devices.

11. Method according to any one of claims 9 to 10, characterized in that the priority level assigned to the thermal regulation devices is furthermore a function of the capacity of the thermal regulation devices to achieve the parameter relating to given physiological comfort.

12. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the initial physiological comfort index of the user (TCI) is determined from measurements of thermal or physiological quantities of different parts of the user's body and / or of the environment around the user.

13. Method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the initial physiological comfort index of the user (TCI) is included in an interval of values, and preferably, the central value of the interval corresponding to the value of the parameter relating to the given physiological comfort.

14. Method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the initial physiological comfort index of the user (TCI) comprises a plurality of data representative of the physiological comfort of the user, each data representative of the physiological comfort of the user being determined for a part of the user's body, each data is included in an interval of values, and preferably, the central value of the interval corresponding to the value of the parameter relating to the given physiological comfort.

15. Method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the control strategy of the thermal regulation devices is determined, in addition, from the plurality of data representative of the physiological comfort of the user.

16. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one piece of data representative of the thermal environment of the vehicle comprises at least one piece of data linked to the interior thermal environment of the vehicle and / or at least one piece of data relating to the vehicle's external thermal environment.

17. Method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said at least one piece of data linked to the external thermal environment of the vehicle is determined from the external temperature of the vehicle and / or the level of sunshine and / or the speed of movement of the vehicle and / or the level of humidity.

18. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the thermal management system comprises at least one thermal regulation device delivering essentially convective power and / or at least one thermal regulation device delivering essentially conductive power and / or at least one thermal regulation device delivering essentially radiative power.

19. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the thermal regulation devices is capable of providing essentially convective power.

20. Method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said at least one thermal regulation device capable of essentially providing convective power is a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) device.

21. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the thermal regulation devices is capable of providing essentially conductive power.

22. Method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said at least one thermal regulation device capable of providing essentially conductive power is a heated seat device.

23. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the thermal regulation devices is capable of essentially providing radiative power.

24. Method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said at least one thermal regulation device capable of essentially providing radiative power comprises at least one radiant panel.

25. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the method further comprises a step of maintaining the given physiological comfort when the given physiological comfort is reached.

26. Method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the maintenance of the given physiological comfort comprises automatic control of the thermal regulation devices for the maintenance of the given physiological comfort.

27. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the thermal management system is a thermal management system for a vehicle passenger compartment, 28. Vehicle thermal management system, to achieve a parameter relating to a given physiological comfort for a vehicle user and to optimize the energy consumed, the thermal management system comprising at least two thermal regulation devices, at least one computer and at least one memory in which a computer program is stored, said computer program being configured to implement the method according to any one of claims 1 to 27 on said system.

29. Computer program comprising instructions which cause the thermal management system according to the preceding claim to execute the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 27.

30. Computer-readable medium, on which the computer program according to the preceding claim is stored.

31. Use of the thermal management system according to claim 28, in particular for a vehicle passenger compartment, to achieve a parameter relating to a physiological comfort given for the driver of the vehicle and / or a parameter relating to a physiological comfort given for the front passenger of the vehicle and / or a parameter relating to a physiological comfort given for at least one rear passenger of the vehicle.

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