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This paper describes the recent efforts on developing an automotive climate control system throughout integrating an electrically-controlled variable capacity scroll compressor with a fuzzy logic control-based refrigerant flow management. Applying electrically-controlled variable capacity compressor technology to climate control systems has a significant impact on improving vehicle fuel economy, achieving higher passenger comfort level, and extending air and refrigerant temperature controllability as well. In this regard, it is very important for automotive climate control engineers to layout a system-level temperature control strategy so that the operation of variable capacity compressor can be optimized through integrating the component control schemes into the system-level temperature control. Electronically controlled expansion devices have become widely available in automotive air conditioning (A/C) systems for the future vehicle applications(1, 2, 3 and 4).

The advancements in hybrid and electric vehicles require an optimal utilization of the on-board energy sources to increase vehicle fuel economy, provide a safe and comfortable driving environment, and extend heating and cooling capacity range. Recently, the application of parallel propulsion technology to design and build hybrid vehicles has caused new concerns on climate control engineering. This study is the first to address the challenges on developing an innovative heating system for parallel hybrid vehicle applications. This paper presents a hybrid heating system for a parallel hybrid passenger car, in which a conventional coolant heater core loop and a heat pump loop are installed to meet the needs of cabin heating. Thermodynamic characteristics of various subsystems are discussed with respect to the variations of ambient temperature through the experimental and analytical comparisons.