Claims:We claim:

1. A phase change material (PCM) based heat exchanger (100), the heat exchanger (100) comprising:
a plurality of first tubes (8) configured to store the PCM;
a plurality of second tubes (9) configured to facilitate the flow of at least one of refrigerant and engine coolant, wherein each of the plurality of first tubes (8) are housed inside the plurality of second tubes (9);
a fluid storage tank (3 and 4) disposed in fluid communication with the plurality of second tubes (9), wherein the fluid storage tank (3 and 4) is configured to store and supply at least one of the refrigerant and the engine coolant to the plurality of second tubes (9);
a PCM storage tank (1 and 2) disposed in fluid communication with the plurality of first tubes (8), wherein the PCM storage tank (1 and 2) is coupled to the fluid storage tank (3 and 4) and is configured to store and supply the PCM,
wherein, the PCM in the plurality of first tubes (8) is configured to selectively store and release thermal energy.

2. The heat exchanger (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fluid storage tank (3 and 4) includes a first fluid storage tank (3) and a second fluid storage tank (4) disposed on either sides of the plurality of second tubes (9).

3. The heat exchanger (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the PCM storage tank (1 and 2) includes a first PCM storage tank (1) and a second PCM storage tank (2) disposed on either sides of the plurality of first tubes (8).

4. The heat exchanger (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein a plurality of second notches (20) are defined in the fluid storage tank (3 and 4) to allow flow of the refrigerant or the engine coolant to each of the plurality of second tubes (9).

5. The heat exchanger (100) as claimed in claim 3, wherein a plurality of first notches (10) are defined in the PCM storage tank (1 and 2) to allow flow of the PCM to each of the plurality of first tubes (8).

6. The heat exchanger (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the PCM is filled inside each of the plurality of first tubes (8) by creating vacuum inside the plurality of first tubes (8).

7. The heat exchanger (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger (100) is integrated with a heat ventilating air-conditioning (HVAC) (15) of a vehicle for charging and discharging of the PCM in the plurality of first tubes (8).

8. The heat exchanger (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger (100) is integrated with an engine (22) of a vehicle for charging and discharging of the PCM in the plurality of first tubes (8).

9. The heat exchanger (100) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the PCM stores thermal energy in the form of cold storage energy by exchange of heat with the refrigerant and solidifies during operation of the HVAC unit (15) in engine ON condition.

10. The heat exchanger (100) as claimed in claim 9, wherein the PCM stores heat energy by exchange of heat with the engine coolant and liquefies during operation of the engine (22) in ON condition.

11. The heat exchanger (100) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the PCM releases the cold storage energy to cool the incoming stream of air and liquifies the PCM when the HVAC unit (15) is inactive in engine OFF condition.

12. The heat exchanger (100) as claimed in claim 11, wherein the PCM releases the stored heat energy to heat the incoming stream of air and solidifies when the engine is in OFF condition.

13. The heat exchanger (100) as claimed in claim 1 comprises a knob (5) removably connected to the PCM storage tank (1 and 2) for supplying the PCM to the PCM storage tank (1 and 2) and the plurality of first tubes (8).

14. The heat exchanger (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of fins (11) are configured between the plurality of second tubes (9).

15. The heat exchanger (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of extended surfaces (14) are provided:
between the plurality of first tubes (8) and the plurality of second tubes (9); and
inside the plurality of second tubes (9) to facilitate the heat transfer between at least one of the PCM and the refrigerant and the PCM and the air.

16. A vehicle comprising a PCM based heat exchanger (100) as claimed in claim 1.

17. An air conditioning system (101) for a vehicle comprising:
a heat ventilating air-conditioning (HVAC) unit (15) comprising a compressor, evaporator, an expansion valve and a condenser; and
a PCM based heat exchanger (100) in fluid communication with the HVAC unit, wherein the PCM heat exchanger (100) comprises:
a plurality of second tubes (9) configured to facilitate the flow of refrigerant;
a plurality of first tubes (8), each housed inside the plurality of second tubes (9), wherein the plurality of first tubes (8) is configured to store the phase change material;
a fluid storage tank (3 and 4) disposed in fluid communication with the plurality of second tubes (9), wherein the fluid tank (3 and 4) is configured to store and supply the refrigerant to the plurality of second tubes (9);
a PCM storage tank (1 and 2) disposed in fluid communication with the plurality of first tubes (8), wherein the PCM storage tank (1 and 2) is coupled to the fluid storage tank (3 and 4) and is configured to store and supply the PCM;
wherein, the PCM in the plurality of first tubes (8) is cooled and solidified during engine ON condition to store thermal energy and release the thermal energy to cool the air in the engine OFF condition.

18. An air conditioning system (101) for a vehicle comprising:
an engine coolant circuit;
a PCM based heat exchanger (100) in fluid communication with engine coolant circuit (15), wherein the PCM heat exchanger (100) comprises:
a plurality of second tubes (9) configured to facilitate the flow of engine coolant;
a plurality of first tubes (8), each housed inside the plurality of second tubes (9), wherein the plurality of first tubes (8) is configured to store the phase change material;
a fluid storage tank (3 and 4) disposed in fluid communication with the plurality of second tubes (9), wherein the fluid tank (3 and 4) is configured to store and supply the engine coolant to the plurality of second tubes (9);
a PCM storage tank (1 and 2) disposed in fluid communication with the plurality of first tubes (8), wherein the PCM storage tank (1 and 2) is coupled to the fluid storage tank (3 and 4) and is configured to store and supply the PCM;
wherein, the PCM in the plurality of first tubes (8) is heated and liquefied during engine ON condition to store thermal energy and release the thermal energy to heat the air in engine OFF condition;

19. The air conditioning system (101) as claimed in claims 17 and 18, comprises a flow generation device (16) disposed proximal to the PCM based heat exchanger (100) to blow air towards the PCM based heat exchanger (100).

20. The air conditioning system (101) as claimed in claim 17 comprises an air duct (17) in fluid communication with the PCM based heat exchanger (100) to receive and supply cooled air.
, Description: