Vehicle Thermal Management System

Abstract

The present invention relates to a vehicle thermal management system, comprising: a cooling device that circulates coolant in a coolant pipeline to cool at least one electrical component disposed in the coolant pipeline; a battery cooling device that circulates coolant through a battery module; a refrigerator that is used to perform heat exchange between the coolant and a refrigerant to control the temperature of the coolant; a heater that uses the coolant to heat the interior of the vehicle; and a branch pipeline; wherein a condenser included in an air conditioner is connected to the coolant pipeline to allow the coolant circulated by the cooling device to pass through.

Description

[0001] Cross - reference to related applications

[0002] This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10 - 2020 - 0088820, filed on July 17, 2020, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. Technical Field

[0003] The present invention relates to a vehicle thermal management system. More specifically, the vehicle thermal management system of the present invention regulates the temperature of a battery module by using a chiller that exchanges heat between a refrigerant and a coolant and improves heating efficiency by utilizing waste heat generated by electrical components. Background Art

[0004] In recent years, as environmental and energy issues have become important, electric vehicles have received much attention as future means of transportation. Electric vehicles use a battery module in which a plurality of rechargeable and dischargeable secondary batteries are formed as a set as a main power source, and thus do not generate exhaust gas and have very low noise.

[0005] Such an electric vehicle is driven by a drive motor that operates by electric power supplied from the battery module. In addition, the electric vehicle includes electrical components for controlling and managing the drive motor and a plurality of electronic convenience devices and charging the battery module.

[0006] On the other hand, since a large amount of heat is generated in the battery, electrical components, and the drive motor that serves as the main power source of the electric vehicle, effective cooling is required. Therefore, effective temperature management of the electrical components and the battery module is a very important issue.

[0007] Conventionally, a separate cooling system has been applied to regulate the temperature of the electrical components and the battery module, but it is necessary to increase the capacity of the cooling system according to the size of the electrical components and the battery module, which leads to space limitations. In addition, when the capacity of the cooling system is increased, the power required to operate the cooling system also increases.

[0008] Therefore, it is necessary to develop a technology for effectively utilizing waste heat generated by electrical components and regulating the temperature of the electrical components and the battery to maximize energy efficiency while ensuring the durability of the electrical components and the battery module in an electric vehicle.

[0009] The information included in this background art section is only for enhancing the understanding of the overall background of the present invention and cannot be regarded as an admission or any form of suggestion that this information constitutes prior art known to those skilled in the art. Summary of the Invention

[0010] (I) Technical problems to be solved

[0011] Aspects of the present invention are directed to providing a vehicle thermal management system that regulates the temperature of a battery module by using a chiller that exchanges heat between a refrigerant and a coolant, and that improves heating efficiency by utilizing waste heat generated by electrical components.

[0012] (II) Technical Solution

[0013] Aspects of the present invention are directed to providing a vehicle thermal management system that may include: a cooling device configured to include a first radiator, a first water pump, and a valve connected by a coolant pipeline, and to circulate coolant in the coolant pipeline to cool at least one electrical component disposed in the coolant pipeline; a battery cooling device configured to include a battery coolant pipeline connected to the valve, a second radiator and a second water pump connected by the battery coolant pipeline, and a battery module, and to circulate coolant to the battery module; a chiller connected to a first connection pipeline and a second connection pipeline, wherein the first connection pipeline is connected to the battery coolant pipeline between the second radiator and the battery module, and the second connection pipeline is connected to the valve, and the chiller is connected to a refrigerant pipeline of an air conditioner by a refrigerant connection pipeline to regulate the temperature of the coolant by exchanging heat between the coolant introduced into the chiller and the refrigerant selectively supplied from the air conditioner; a heater disposed in the coolant pipeline between the electrical component and the first radiator to heat the interior of the vehicle by utilizing the coolant supplied from the cooling device; and a branch pipeline having a first end connected to the coolant pipeline between the first radiator and the heater and a second end connected to the valve; and wherein a condenser included in the air conditioner is connected to the coolant pipeline to allow the coolant circulating in the cooling device to pass through.

[0014] The air conditioner may include: an evaporator connected to the refrigerant pipeline; a condenser disposed in the coolant pipeline between the first radiator and the heater to circulate coolant to perform heat exchange between the coolant and the refrigerant supplied through the refrigerant pipeline; a compressor connected between the evaporator and the condenser through the refrigerant pipeline; a sub-condenser disposed in the refrigerant pipeline between the condenser and the evaporator; a first expansion valve disposed in the refrigerant pipeline between the sub-condenser and the evaporator; and a second expansion valve disposed in the refrigerant connection pipeline.

[0015] When cooling the battery module with the refrigerant, the second expansion valve may expand the refrigerant introduced through the refrigerant connection pipeline to flow into the chiller.

[0016] A first end of the refrigerant connection pipeline may be connected to the refrigerant pipeline between the sub-condenser and the first expansion valve, and a second end of the refrigerant connection pipeline may be connected to the refrigerant pipeline between the evaporator and the compressor.

[0017] Each of the refrigerator and the condenser can be a water-cooled heat exchanger, and the auxiliary condenser can be an air-cooled heat exchanger.

[0018] It may further include: an air heater disposed on the opposite side of the evaporator, and a heater is placed between the air heater and the evaporator to selectively heat the outside air passing through the heater.

[0019] When the temperature of the coolant supplied to the heater is lower than the target temperature for internal heating, the air heater can be operated to raise the temperature of the outside air passing through the heater.

[0020] When cooling the battery module in the cooling mode of the vehicle, in the cooling device, through the operation of the first water pump, the coolant circulates in the coolant pipeline; the branch pipeline is closed through the operation of the valve; the first connection pipeline is opened, and the second connection pipeline is opened through the operation of the valve; the part of the battery coolant pipeline connected to the second radiator is closed through the operation of the valve; in the battery cooling device, through the operation of the second water pump, the coolant along the opened part of the battery coolant pipeline is used to supply the coolant passing through the refrigerator along the first connection pipeline and the second connection pipeline to the battery module; in the air conditioner, the refrigerant pipeline connecting the auxiliary condenser and the evaporator is opened through the operation of the first expansion valve; the refrigerant connection pipeline is opened through the operation of the second expansion valve; and the first expansion valve and the second expansion valve respectively expand the refrigerant supplied to the refrigerant pipeline and the refrigerant connection pipeline and supply the expanded refrigerant to the evaporator and the refrigerator.

[0021] The condenser can condense the refrigerant by heat exchange with the coolant, and the auxiliary condenser can further condense the refrigerant introduced from the condenser by heat exchange with the outside air.

[0022] When performing the dehumidification mode of the vehicle, the branch pipeline is opened through the operation of the valve; the first connection pipeline is closed; the second connection pipeline is closed through the operation of the valve; in the cooling device, based on the branch pipeline, the coolant pipeline connected to the first radiator and the valve is closed; through the operation of the first water pump, the coolant whose temperature has risen when passing through the electrical components is supplied to the heater along the opened coolant pipeline without passing through the first radiator; the coolant discharged from the heater is introduced into the valve along the opened coolant pipeline and the opened branch pipeline; the coolant introduced into the valve is supplied to the electrical components along the opened coolant pipeline; in the air conditioner, through the operation of the first expansion valve, the refrigerant circulates in the opened refrigerant pipeline; the first expansion valve expands the refrigerant so that the expanded refrigerant is supplied to the evaporator; and the second expansion valve closes the refrigerant connection pipeline.

[0023] When cooling the electrical components and the battery module by using a coolant, the branch pipeline is closed by the operation of the valve; the first connection pipeline is closed, and the second connection pipeline is closed by the operation of the valve; the cooling device and the battery cooling device respectively form independent closed loops by the operation of the valve; by the operation of the first water pump, the coolant cooled in the first radiator is supplied from the valve to the electrical components along the coolant pipeline; and by the operation of the second water pump, the coolant cooled in the second radiator is supplied from the valve to the battery module along the battery coolant pipeline.

[0024] When utilizing the waste heat of the electrical components in the heating mode of the vehicle, the branch pipeline is opened by the operation of the valve; the first connection pipeline is closed; the second connection pipeline is closed by the operation of the valve; in the cooling device, based on the branch pipeline, the coolant pipeline connected to the first radiator and the valve is closed; by the operation of the first water pump, the coolant whose temperature has risen when passing through the electrical components is supplied to the heater along the opened coolant pipeline without passing through the first radiator; the coolant discharged from the heater is introduced into the valve along the opened coolant pipeline and the opened branch pipeline; and the coolant introduced into the valve is supplied to the electrical components along the opened coolant pipeline.

[0025] When heating the battery module, the cooling device is deactivated; the branch pipeline is closed by the operation of the valve; the first connection pipeline is opened, and the second connection pipeline is opened by the operation of the valve; based on the first connection pipeline, the battery coolant pipeline connected to the second radiator and the battery coolant pipeline connecting the second radiator and the valve are closed; and by the operation of the second water pump, the coolant passing through the battery module circulates along the opened first connection pipeline, the opened second connection pipeline and the opened battery coolant pipeline without passing through the second radiator.

[0026] The first end of the first connection pipeline is connected to the battery coolant pipeline between the second radiator and the battery module, and the second end of the first connection pipeline is connected to the refrigerator.

[0027] The first end of the second connection pipeline is connected to the valve, and the second end of the second connection pipeline is connected to the refrigerator.

[0028] At least one electrical component includes a motor or an electric power control unit (EPCU) or an inverter or an autonomous driving controller or an on-board charger (OBC).

[0029] The valve can be a six-way valve.

[0030] The battery cooling device further includes a first coolant heater disposed in the battery coolant pipeline between the battery module and the second radiator.

[0031] When heating the battery module, the first coolant heater is operated to heat the coolant supplied to the battery module along the battery coolant pipeline.

[0032] The second coolant heater is disposed in a heating pipeline between the third water pump and the heater, and when the temperature of the coolant supplied to the heater is lower than a target temperature, the second coolant heater is operated to heat the coolant supplied to the heater along the heating pipeline.

[0033] The first storage tank is disposed in a coolant pipeline between the first radiator and the valve, and the second storage tank is disposed in a battery coolant pipeline between the second radiator and the valve.

[0034] (III) Advantageous Effects

[0035] As described above, the vehicle thermal management system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention can adjust the temperature of the battery module according to the mode of the vehicle by using one chiller for heat exchange between the coolant and the refrigerant, and can heat the interior of the vehicle by using the coolant, thereby simplifying the entire system.

[0036] According to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the heating efficiency can also be improved by recovering waste heat from electrical components and using the waste heat for internal heating.

[0037] In addition, according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the performance of the battery module can be optimized by effectively controlling the temperature of the battery module, and the total driving distance of the vehicle can be increased by effective management of the battery module.

[0038] In addition, according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the condensation performance of the refrigerant can be increased by using the condenser and the sub-condenser to improve the cooling performance and reduce the power consumption of the compressor.

[0039] In addition, according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the manufacturing cost can be reduced, the weight can be reduced, and the space utilization rate can be improved by simplifying the entire system.

[0040] The method and apparatus of the present invention have other features and advantages that are obvious in or will be more detailedly described in the accompanying drawings and the detailed description of the present application. The accompanying drawings and the detailed description are used together to explain certain principles of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0041] Figure 1 A block diagram of a vehicle thermal management system according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention is shown.

[0042] Figure 2 An operating state diagram of a vehicle thermal management system according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention for cooling electrical components and a battery module by using a coolant is shown.

[0043] Figure 3Shows an operating state diagram of a vehicle thermal management system according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention in a cooling mode of the vehicle by using a refrigerant to cool a battery module.

[0044] Figure 4 Shows an operating state diagram of a vehicle thermal management system according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention performing a heating mode by using waste heat of an electrical component.

[0045] Figure 5 Shows an operating state diagram of a dehumidification mode of a vehicle thermal management system according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

[0046] Figure 6 Shows an operating state diagram of a vehicle thermal management system heating a battery module according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

[0047] It can be understood that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, but rather present a somewhat simplified representation of the various features showing the basic principles of the present invention. Specific design features of the present invention included herein, such as including specific dimensions, orientations, positions, and shapes, will be partially determined by a specific intended application and use environment.

[0048] In the drawings, reference numerals refer to the same or equivalent parts of the present invention. Detailed Description

[0049] Now, various embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail, examples of which are shown in the drawings and described below. Although the present invention will be described in conjunction with the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it should be understood that this specification is not intended to limit the present invention to those exemplary embodiments. On the other hand, the present invention is intended to cover not only the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, but also various alternatives, modifications, equivalent forms, and other embodiments that may be included within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

[0050] Various exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

[0051] The exemplary embodiments described in this specification and the configurations shown in the drawings are only the most preferred exemplary embodiments of the present invention, but do not limit the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, it should be understood that various equivalent forms and modified forms may be available to replace them at the time of filing this application.

[0052] To clarify the present invention, parts irrelevant to the description will be omitted, and throughout the specification, the same or similar elements are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0053] The dimensions and thicknesses of each element are arbitrarily shown in the drawings, but the present invention is not necessarily limited thereto, and in the drawings, for clarity, the thicknesses of layers, films, plates, regions, etc. are shown enlarged.

[0054] Throughout this specification and the appended claims, unless clearly described to the contrary, the word "comprising" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" will be understood to imply the inclusion of the stated elements but not the exclusion of any other elements.

[0055] In addition, the terms "… unit", "… mechanism", "… part", "… component", etc. used herein refer to units of inclusive components that perform at least one or more functions or operations.

[0056] Figure 1 A block diagram of a vehicle thermal management system according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention is shown.

[0057] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the vehicle thermal management system can regulate the temperature of the battery module 24 by using a chiller 30 that exchanges heat between a refrigerant and a coolant, and can recover the waste heat generated by the electrical component 15 for internal heating.

[0058] Such a thermal management system can be applied to an electric vehicle.

[0059] Referring to Figure 1 , the thermal management system can include a cooling device 10, a battery cooling device 20, a chiller 30, and a heater 40.

[0060] First, the cooling device 10 includes a first radiator 12, a first water pump 14, a valve V, and a first reservoir 16 connected by a coolant line 11.

[0061] The first radiator 12 is installed at the front of the vehicle, and a cooling fan 13 is installed behind the first radiator 12 to cool the coolant through the operation of the cooling fan 13 and heat exchange with external air.

[0062] In addition, the electrical component 15 can include a power control unit (EPCU) or a motor or an inverter or an autonomous driving controller or an on-board charger (OBC).

[0063] The electrical component 15 configured as described above can be disposed in the coolant line 11 to be cooled by water cooling.

[0064] Therefore, when recovering the waste heat of the electrical component 15 in the heating mode of the vehicle, the heat generated from the EPCU or the motor or the inverter or the autonomous driving controller or the OBC can be recovered.

[0065] In addition, the first reservoir 16 is provided on the coolant line 11 between the first radiator 12 and the first water pump 14. The coolant cooled in the first radiator 12 can be stored in the first reservoir 16.

[0066] The cooling device 10 can circulate the coolant in the coolant line 11 by the operation of the first water pump 14, so that the coolant is supplied to the electrical component 15 provided in the coolant line 11.

[0067] In addition, the cooling device 10 may further include a branch line 18.

[0068] The first end of the branch line 18 is connected to the coolant line 11 between the radiator 12 and the electrical component 15. The second end of the branch line 18 may be connected to the valve V.

[0069] When recovering the waste heat of the electrical component 15, the branch line 18 can be selectively opened or closed by the operation of the valve V, so that the coolant that has passed through the electrical component 15 can be re-supplied to the electrical component 15 without passing through the radiator 12.

[0070] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the battery cooling device 20 includes a battery coolant line 21 connected to the valve V, a second radiator 22 connected through the battery coolant line 21, a second water pump 23, and a battery module 24.

[0071] The battery cooling device 20 can selectively circulate the coolant in the battery module 24 by the operation of the second water pump 23.

[0072] Here, the first water pump 14 and the second water pump 23 may be electric water pumps.

[0073] Meanwhile, the battery cooling device 20 may further include a first coolant heater 26, which is provided in the battery coolant line 21 between the battery module 24 and the second radiator 22.

[0074] When it is necessary to raise the temperature of the battery module 24, the first coolant heater 26 is turned on to heat the coolant circulating in the battery coolant line 21, so that the heated coolant can be supplied to the battery module 24.

[0075] The first coolant heater 26 may be an electric heater that operates by supplying power.

[0076] That is, when the temperature of the coolant supplied to the battery module 24 is lower than the target temperature, the first coolant heater 26 operates, so that the coolant circulating in the battery coolant line 21 can be heated.

[0077] Therefore, the coolant whose temperature has increased when passing through the first coolant heater 26 can be supplied to the battery module 24 to increase the temperature of the battery module 24.

[0078] That is, when increasing the temperature of the battery module 24, the first coolant heater 26 can be selectively operated.

[0079] Meanwhile, the second storage tank 27 is disposed in the battery coolant line 21 between the second radiator 22 and the valve V. The coolant cooled in the second radiator 22 can be stored in the second storage tank 27.

[0080] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the refrigerator 30 is connected to the first connection line 32 and the second connection line 34, where the first connection line 32 is connected to the battery coolant line 21 between the second radiator 22 and the battery module 24, and the second connection line 34 is connected to the valve V.

[0081] The refrigerator 30 is connected to the refrigerant line 51 of the air conditioner 50 through the refrigerant connection line 61.

[0082] As a result, the refrigerator 30 can adjust the temperature of the coolant by performing heat exchange between the coolant introduced into the refrigerator 30 and the refrigerant selectively supplied by the air conditioner 50. That is, the refrigerator 30 can be a water-cooled heat exchanger into which the coolant flows.

[0083] Here, the first end of the first connection line 32 is connected to the battery coolant line 21 between the second radiator 22 and the battery module 24. In addition, the second end of the first connection line 32 can be connected to the refrigerator 30.

[0084] The first end of the second connection line 34 is connected to the valve V. The second end of the second connection line 34 is connected to the refrigerator 30.

[0085] The first connection line 32 and the second connection line 34 can be selectively opened so that the coolant passing through the battery module 24 circulates through the battery coolant line 21 via the refrigerator 30 or the valve V without passing through the second radiator 22.

[0086] As a result, the refrigerator 30 can adjust the temperature of the coolant by performing heat exchange between the coolant selectively supplied via the first connection line 32 and the refrigerant selectively supplied by the air conditioner 50.

[0087] The heater 40 is disposed in the coolant line 11 between the electrical component 15 and the radiator 12 to heat the vehicle interior by using the coolant.

[0088] Therefore, when heating the vehicle interior, the high-temperature coolant passing through the electrical component 15 can be supplied to the heater 40.

[0089] That is, in the heating mode of the vehicle, by operating the first water pump 14, the high-temperature coolant passing through the electrical component 15 is supplied to the heater 40, thereby heating the interior of the vehicle.

[0090] The heater 40 can be disposed inside the HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) module included in the air conditioner 50.

[0091] Here, a second coolant heater 43 can be provided in the coolant pipeline 11 between the electrical component 15 and the heater 40 to selectively heat the coolant circulating in the coolant pipeline 11.

[0092] When the temperature of the coolant supplied to the heater 40 in the heating mode of the vehicle is lower than the target temperature, the second coolant heater 43 is in an on-operation state to heat the coolant circulating in the coolant pipeline 11, and the coolant with an increased temperature flows into the heater 40.

[0093] The second coolant heater 43 can be an electric heater that operates by supplying power.

[0094] On the other hand, in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the second coolant heater 43 is described as being provided in the coolant pipeline 11. However, it is not limited thereto, and an air heater 45 for raising the temperature of the external air flowing into the vehicle interior can be applied instead of the second coolant heater 43.

[0095] The air heater 45 can be installed at the rear of the heater 40 facing the vehicle interior within the HVAC module to selectively heat the external air passing through the heater 40.

[0096] That is, either the second coolant heater 43 or the air heater 45 can be applied to the heater 40.

[0097] In the heating mode of the vehicle, by operating the first water pump 14, the coolant with an increased temperature when passing through the electrical component 15 is supplied to the heater 40 configured as described above, thereby heating the interior of the vehicle.

[0098] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the air conditioner 50 includes an HVAC module, a condenser 53, a sub-condenser 54, a first expansion valve 55, an evaporator 56, and a compressor 59 connected by a refrigerant pipeline 51.

[0099] First, the HVAC module (not shown) includes: an evaporator 56 connected by a refrigerant pipeline 51; and an opening and closing door for controlling the external air to selectively introduce the heater 40 through the evaporator 56 according to the cooling mode, heating mode, and heating and dehumidifying mode of the vehicle.

[0100] That is, in the heating mode of the vehicle, the opening / closing door opens to allow outside air passing through the evaporator 56 to be introduced into the heater 40. Conversely, in the cooling mode of the vehicle, the opening / closing door closes the heater 40 side so that the outside air cooled when passing through the evaporator 56 directly flows into the vehicle.

[0101] Here, when the second coolant heater 43 is not provided in the coolant line 11, the air heater 45 provided in the HVAC module may be disposed on the opposite side of the evaporator 56, and the heater 40 is placed between the air heater 45 and the evaporator 56.

[0102] When the temperature of the coolant supplied to the heater 40 is lower than the target temperature for internal heating, the air heater 45 may be operated to raise the temperature of the outside air flowing into the heater 40.

[0103] On the other hand, when the second coolant heater 43 is not provided in the coolant line 11, the air heater 45 may be disposed within the HVAC module.

[0104] That is, in the thermal management system according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, only one of the second coolant heater 43 and the air heater 45 may be applied.

[0105] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the condenser 53 is connected to the refrigerant line 51 to allow refrigerant to pass therethrough. The condenser 53 is disposed on the coolant line 11 between the heater 40 and the radiator 12 so that the coolant circulating in the coolant line 11 passes through.

[0106] The condenser 53 may condense the refrigerant by exchanging heat with the coolant circulating in the coolant line 11. That is, the condenser 53 may be a water-cooled heat exchanger into which the coolant flows.

[0107] The condenser 53 configured as described above may exchange heat between the refrigerant supplied by the compressor 59 and the coolant supplied by the cooling device 10 to condense the refrigerant.

[0108] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the sub-condenser 54 may be disposed in the refrigerant line 51 between the condenser 53 and the evaporator 56.

[0109] Here, the sub-condenser 54 may further condense the refrigerant condensed in the condenser 53 by exchanging heat with the outside air. In other words, the sub-condenser 54 is installed in front of the first radiator 12 so that the refrigerant flowing into the sub-condenser 54 exchanges heat with the outside air.

[0110] As a result, the sub-condenser 54 may be an air-cooled heat exchanger that condenses the refrigerant by using the outside air.

[0111] Therefore, the sub-condenser 54 can further condense the refrigerant condensed in the condenser 53 to increase the re-cooling of the coolant, thereby improving the coefficient of performance (COP), which is a cooling capacity coefficient relative to the power required by the compressor.

[0112] The first expansion valve 55 is provided in the refrigerant pipeline 51 between the sub-condenser 54 and the evaporator 56. The first expansion valve 55 receives the refrigerant passing through the second condenser 54 to expand it.

[0113] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the first end of the refrigerant connection pipeline 61 is connected to the refrigerant pipeline 51 between the sub-condenser 54 and the first expansion valve 55. The second end of the refrigerant connection pipeline 61 can be connected to the refrigerant pipeline 51 between the evaporator 56 and the compressor 59.

[0114] Here, a second expansion valve 63 is provided in the refrigerant connection pipeline 61. When cooling the battery module 24 by heat exchange between the coolant and the refrigerant, the second expansion valve 63 can expand the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant connection pipeline 61 to introduce the refrigerant into the refrigerator 30.

[0115] In addition, when cooling the battery module 24 by using the refrigerant in the cooling mode of the vehicle, the second expansion valve 63 is operated to expand the refrigerant.

[0116] That is, the second expansion valve 63 can introduce the refrigerant discharged from the sub-condenser 54 into the refrigerator 30 in a state where the refrigerant is expanded to reduce the temperature of the refrigerant, so as to further reduce the temperature of the coolant passing through the inside of the refrigerator 30.

[0117] As a result, the coolant whose temperature is reduced when passing through the refrigerator 30 is introduced into the battery module 24, thereby cooling more effectively.

[0118] The compressor 59 is connected between the evaporator 56 and the condenser 53 through the refrigerant pipeline 51. The compressor 59 can compress the gaseous refrigerant and supply the compressed refrigerant to the condenser 53.

[0119] Here, the first expansion valve 55 and the second expansion valve 63 can be electronic expansion valves, which selectively expand the refrigerant while controlling the flow of the refrigerant through the coolant pipeline 51 or the refrigerant connection pipeline 61.

[0120] In addition, the valve V can be a six-way valve.

[0121] Hereinafter, reference will be made to Figures 2 to 6 The operation and function of the vehicle thermal management system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention configured as described above will be described in detail.

[0122] First, reference will be made to Figure 2 the operation of cooling the electrical component 15 and the battery module 24 by using the coolant cooled in the first radiator 12 and the second radiator 22 in a vehicle thermal management system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0123] Figure 2 The operation state diagrams of a vehicle thermal management system according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention for cooling an electrical component and a battery module by using a coolant are shown.

[0124] Reference is made to Figure 2 , the branch pipeline 18 is closed by the operation of the valve V. The first connection pipeline 32 is closed, and the second connection pipeline 34 is closed by the operation of the valve V.

[0125] Here, the cooling device 10 and the battery cooling device 20 can form independent closed loops, and by the operation of the valve V, each coolant circulates through each independent closed loop respectively.

[0126] In the current state, in the cooling device 10, the first water pump 14 is operated to cool the electrical component 15.

[0127] Therefore, the coolant cooled and stored in the first storage tank 16 in the first radiator 12 is supplied to the electrical component 15 through the operation of the valve V and the first water pump 14, while circulating through the coolant pipeline 11.

[0128] In the battery cooling device 20, the second water pump 23 is operated to cool the battery module 24.

[0129] Therefore, the coolant cooled and stored in the second storage tank 27 in the second radiator 22 is supplied to the battery module 24 through the operation of the valve V and the second water pump 23, while circulating through the battery coolant pipeline 21.

[0130] That is, each coolant cooled and stored in the first storage tank 16 and the second storage tank 27 in the first radiator 12 and the second radiator 22 circulates through the coolant pipeline 11 and the battery coolant pipeline 21 respectively through the operation of the first water pump 14 and the second water pump 23 to effectively cool the electrical component 15 and the battery module 24.

[0131] Since the cooling mode of the vehicle is deactivated, the air conditioner 50 does not operate.

[0132] On the other hand, although both the electrical component 15 and the battery module 24 are cooled by the coolant in the first radiator 12 and the second radiator 22 in the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the present invention is not limited thereto, and when one of the electrical component 15 and the battery module 24 is cooled separately, the first water pump 14, the second water pump 23, and the valve V can be selectively operated.

[0133] Reference will be made to Figure 3 Describe the operation of cooling the battery module 24 with refrigerant in the cooling mode of the vehicle.

[0134] Figure 3 The operation state diagram shows the vehicle thermal management system according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention cooling the battery module by using refrigerant in the cooling mode of the vehicle.

[0135] Refer to Figure 3 In the cooling device 10, through the operation of the first water pump 14, the coolant circulates in the coolant pipeline 11.

[0136] Here, the branch pipeline 18 is closed by the operation of the valve V. The first connection pipeline 32 is opened. The second connection pipeline 34 is opened by the operation of the valve V.

[0137] In addition, the part of the battery coolant pipeline 21 connected to the second radiator 22 is closed by operating the valve V.

[0138] In the current state, in the battery cooling device 20, the second water pump 23 is operated to cool the battery module 24.

[0139] Therefore, in the battery cooling device 20, by operating the second water pump 23, the coolant is supplied to the battery module 24 along the open part of the battery coolant pipeline 21 through the open first connection pipeline 32 and the second connection pipeline 34 by the refrigerator 30.

[0140] Here, the cooling device 10 and the battery cooling device 20 can form independent closed loops, and through the operation of the valve V, each coolant circulates through each independent closed loop respectively.

[0141] That is, by the operation of the valve V, the battery cooling device 20 is not connected to the coolant pipeline 11.

[0142] In the current state, the battery cooling device 20 can form a closed loop, and by operating the second water pump 23, the coolant independently circulates in the open first connection pipeline 32, the second connection pipeline 34, and the open battery coolant pipeline 21 through this closed loop.

[0143] That is, the coolant pipeline 11 and the battery coolant pipeline 21 form independent closed loops respectively through the operation of the valve V.

[0144] Thus, in the battery cooling device 20, the coolant of the refrigerator 30 can be supplied to the battery module 24 along the first connection pipeline 32, the second connection pipeline 34, and the battery coolant pipeline 21 by the operation of the second water pump 23.

[0145] The coolant introduced into the battery coolant pipeline 21 passes through the battery module 24 and then is introduced into the refrigerator 30 along the first connection pipeline 32.

[0146] That is, the coolant passing through the battery module 24 is introduced from the refrigerator 30 into the valve V along the open second connection pipeline 34. Thereafter, the coolant can be supplied to the battery module 24 while flowing along the battery coolant pipeline 21 by the operation of the second water pump 23.

[0147] Meanwhile, in the cooling device 10, the coolant circulates in the coolant pipeline 11 by the operation of the first water pump 14.

[0148] Therefore, the coolant cooled in the first radiator 12 can be provided to the condenser 53 after passing through the electrical component 15 and the heater 40 by the operation of the first water pump 14.

[0149] In the air conditioner 50, each component operates to cool the interior of the vehicle. Therefore, the refrigerant circulates along the refrigerant pipeline 51.

[0150] Here, the refrigerant pipeline 51 connecting the sub-condenser 54 and the evaporator 56 is opened by the operation of the first expansion valve 55. The refrigerant connection pipeline 61 is opened by the operation of the second expansion valve 63.

[0151] Therefore, the refrigerant passing through the sub-condenser 54 can circulate along the refrigerant pipeline 51 and the refrigerant connection pipeline 61.

[0152] Here, the first expansion valve 55 and the second expansion valve 63 can expand the refrigerant so that the expanded refrigerant is supplied to the evaporator 56 and the refrigerator 30 respectively.

[0153] The condenser 53 condenses the refrigerant by using the coolant flowing along the coolant pipeline 11. Moreover, the sub-condenser 54 can further condense the refrigerant introduced from the condenser 53 by exchanging heat with the external air.

[0154] Meanwhile, the coolant passing through the refrigerator 30 is introduced into the valve V along the open second connection pipeline 34.

[0155] After that, by the operation of the second water pump 23, the coolant circulates in the open battery coolant pipeline 21 to cool the battery module 24.

[0156] The coolant of the refrigerator 30 is cooled by heat exchange with the expanded refrigerant supplied to the refrigerator 30. The coolant cooled in the refrigerator 30 is supplied to the battery module 24. Therefore, the battery module 24 is cooled by the cooled coolant.

[0157] That is, the second expansion valve 63 expands some of the refrigerant passing through the sub-condenser 54 to supply the expanded refrigerant to the refrigerator 30 and opens the refrigerant connection pipeline 61.

[0158] Therefore, some of the refrigerant discharged from the sub-condenser 54 expands through the operation of the second expansion valve 63 and enters the low-temperature and low-pressure state, and flows into the refrigerator 30 connected to the refrigerant connection pipeline 61.

[0159] After that, the refrigerant flowing into the refrigerator 30 exchanges heat with the coolant, and then is introduced into the compressor 59 through the refrigerant connection pipeline 61.

[0160] In other words, the coolant whose temperature has risen due to cooling the battery module 24 is cooled by heat exchange with the low-temperature and low-pressure refrigerant in the refrigerator 30. The cooled coolant is supplied to the battery module 24 again through the opened first connection pipeline 32, the second connection pipeline 34, and the battery coolant pipeline 21.

[0161] That is, while repeating the above operations, the coolant can effectively cool the battery module 24.

[0162] On the other hand, the remaining refrigerant discharged from the sub-condenser 54 flows through the refrigerant pipeline 51 to cool the interior of the vehicle, and sequentially passes through the first expansion valve 55, the evaporator 56, the compressor 59, and the condenser 53.

[0163] Here, the outside air flowing into the HVAC module is cooled by the low-temperature refrigerant flowing into the evaporator 56 when passing through the evaporator 56.

[0164] In the current situation, the opening and closing door closes a part of the heater 40 to prevent the cooled outside air from passing through the heater 40. Therefore, the cooled outside air directly flows into the interior of the vehicle to cool the interior of the vehicle.

[0165] On the other hand, the refrigerant whose condensation amount increases when sequentially passing through the condenser 53 and the sub-condenser 54 can be expanded and supplied to the evaporator 56, so that the refrigerant evaporates at a lower temperature.

[0166] As a result, in the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the condenser 53 condenses the refrigerant, and the sub-condenser 54 further condenses the refrigerant, which is advantageous in forming the re-cooling of the refrigerant.

[0167] In addition, since the recooled refrigerant can evaporate at a lower temperature in the evaporator 56, the temperature of the outside air passing through the evaporator 56 can be further reduced, thereby improving the cooling performance and efficiency.

[0168] In the cooling mode of the vehicle, by repeating the above process, the refrigerant can cool the interior of the vehicle, and at the same time, the coolant can be cooled by heat exchange while passing through the refrigerator 30.

[0169] The low-temperature coolant cooled in the refrigerator 30 is introduced into the battery module 24. Therefore, the battery module 24 can be effectively cooled by the supplied low-temperature coolant.

[0170] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, reference will be made to Figure 4 Describe the operation of using the waste heat of the electrical component 15 without operating the air conditioner 50 in the heating mode of the vehicle.

[0171] Figure 4 The operation state diagram shows that the vehicle thermal management system according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention utilizes the waste heat of the electrical component to execute the heating mode.

[0172] Refer to Figure 4 , the thermal management system can heat the interior of the vehicle by utilizing the waste heat from the electrical component 15 without operating the air conditioner 50.

[0173] First, in the cooling device 10, the first water pump 14 is operated to circulate the coolant. In this case, the air conditioner 50 is deactivated.

[0174] Here, the branch pipeline 18 is opened by the operation of the valve V.

[0175] In addition, the first connection pipeline 32 is closed, and the second connection pipeline 34 is closed by the operation of the valve V.

[0176] Therefore, based on the branch pipeline 18, the part of the coolant pipeline 11 connected to the first radiator 12 and the part of the coolant pipeline 11 connecting the first radiator 12 and the first storage tank 16 are closed by the operation of the valve V.

[0177] That is, based on the branch pipeline 18, the parts of the coolant pipeline 11 connected to the first radiator 12, the first storage tank 16, and the valve V can be closed.

[0178] In the current state, by the operation of the first water pump 14, the coolant passing through the electrical component 15 can circulate along the opened branch pipeline 18 through the valve V and then along the opened part of the coolant pipeline 11 without passing through the first radiator 12.

[0179] At the same time, in the battery cooling device 20, the second water pump 23 is deactivated.

[0180] That is, the battery coolant pipeline 21 connecting the second water pump 23 and the battery module 24 is closed, and the operation of the battery cooling device 20 is deactivated.

[0181] Therefore, the coolant passing through the electrical component 15 continuously circulates along the open coolant pipeline 11 and the branch pipeline 18 without passing through the first radiator 12, and absorbs the waste heat of the electrical component 15, thereby increasing the temperature.

[0182] While repeating this operation, the coolant absorbs the waste heat from the electronic component 15 and can increase the temperature.

[0183] Through the operation of the first water pump 14, the coolant with an increased temperature when passing through the electrical component 15 is supplied to the heater 40 along the open coolant pipeline 11 without passing through the first radiator 12.

[0184] The coolant discharged from the heater 40 is introduced into the valve V along the open coolant pipeline 11 and the open branch pipeline 18.

[0185] The coolant introduced into the valve V is supplied to the electrical component 15 along the open coolant pipeline 11.

[0186] That is, the coolant passing through the electrical component 15 continues to circulate along the open coolant pipeline 11 and the branch pipeline 18 without passing through the first radiator 12, and absorbs the waste heat from the electrical component 15, thereby increasing its temperature.

[0187] The coolant with an increased temperature is introduced into the heater 40 along the coolant pipeline 11 without passing through the first radiator 12.

[0188] Here, when the temperature of the coolant circulating along the coolant pipeline 11 is lower than the target temperature, the second coolant heater 43 operates, so that the coolant circulating in the coolant pipeline 11 can be heated.

[0189] On the other hand, when the air heater 45 is used instead of the second coolant heater 43, the air heater 45 can be selectively operated according to the temperature of the external air passing through the heater 40.

[0190] That is, when the temperature of the external air passing through the heater 40 is lower than the target temperature, the air heater 45 can operate to heat the external air flowing into the vehicle interior.

[0191] When the temperature of the external air that has completed heat exchange with the high-temperature coolant when passing through the heater 40 is lower than the predetermined temperature or the target heating temperature, the air heater 45 operates.

[0192] When the air heater 45 operates, outside air can be heated while passing through the air heater 45, and thus introduced into the vehicle interior in a state where its temperature has risen.

[0193] At the same time, the high-temperature coolant supplied to the heater 40 exchanges heat with the outside air and is then introduced into the coolant pipeline 11.

[0194] Thereafter, the coolant is introduced along the open branch pipeline 18 into the valve V without passing through the first radiator 12.

[0195] The coolant introduced into the valve V is introduced again into the coolant pipeline 11 connected to the electrical component 15.

[0196] At the same time, the opening and closing door opens, allowing the outside air flowing into the HVAC module to pass through the heater 40.

[0197] As a result, when the outside air flowing in from the outside passes through the evaporator 56 to which refrigerant is not supplied, it flows into the interior in an uncooled temperature state. The introduced outside air is converted to a high-temperature state when passing through the heater 40 and is introduced into the vehicle interior, thereby achieving heating of the vehicle interior.

[0198] In other words, according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, when the above process is repeated, the waste heat generated by the electrical component 15 can be recovered and used for interior heating, thereby reducing power consumption and improving the overall heating efficiency.

[0199] At the same time, when the electrical component 15 overheats, the coolant pipeline 11 connected to the first radiator 12 is opened by the operation of the valve V, and the branch pipeline 18 is closed.

[0200] Therefore, by the operation of the first water pump 14, the coolant whose temperature has risen when passing through the electrical component 15 is cooled when passing through the first radiator 12 after passing through the heater 40 provided in the coolant pipeline 11, and is introduced again into the electrical component 15 by the operation of the first water pump 14.

[0201] That is, the coolant passing through the electrical component 15 absorbs waste heat from the electrical component 15, thereby increasing in temperature, and is supplied to the heater 40.

[0202] Thereafter, by the operation of the first water pump 14, the coolant passing through the heater 40 is cooled when passing through the first radiator 12.

[0203] The coolant that has completed cooling can recover waste heat when passing through the electrical component 15 and can effectively cool the electrical component 15 at the same time.

[0204] As a result, the coolant cooled in the first radiator 12 can be supplied to the electrical component 15, thereby preventing the electrical component 15 from overheating.

[0205] Reference will be made to Figure 5 describe the operation of the dehumidification mode of a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0206] Figure 5 The operation state diagram of the dehumidification mode of a vehicle thermal management system according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention is shown.

[0207] Here, the dehumidification mode is an operation mode when dehumidification of the vehicle interior is required in the heating mode of the vehicle.

[0208] Reference is made to Figure 5 , when the waste heat of the electrical component 15 is sufficient, the thermal management system can recover the waste heat of the electrical component 15 and use it for the internal heating of the vehicle.

[0209] First, in the cooling device 10, the first water pump 14 is operated to circulate the coolant. Here, the branch pipeline 18 is opened by the operation of the valve V.

[0210] In addition, the first connection pipeline 32 is closed, and the second connection pipeline 34 is closed by the operation of the valve V.

[0211] Therefore, based on the branch pipeline 18, the part of the coolant pipeline 11 connected to the first radiator 12 and the part of the coolant pipeline 11 connecting the first radiator 12 and the first storage tank 16 are closed by the operation of the valve V.

[0212] That is, based on the branch pipeline 18, the parts of the coolant pipeline 11 connected to the first radiator 12, the first storage tank 16, and the valve V can be closed.

[0213] In the current state, by the operation of the first water pump 14, the coolant passing through the electrical component 15 can circulate along the opened branch pipeline 18 after passing through the valve V, and then circulate along the opened part of the coolant pipeline 11 without passing through the first radiator 12.

[0214] At the same time, in the battery cooling device 20, the second water pump 23 is deactivated.

[0215] That is, the battery coolant pipeline 21 connecting the second water pump 23 and the battery module 24 is closed, and the operation of the battery cooling device 20 is deactivated.

[0216] Therefore, the coolant passing through the electrical component 15 continuously circulates along the opened coolant pipeline 11 and branch pipeline 18 without passing through the first radiator 12, and absorbs waste heat from the electrical component 15, thereby increasing the temperature.

[0217] When this operation is repeatedly performed, the coolant absorbs waste heat from the electrical component 15 and the temperature can be increased.

[0218] By operating the first water pump 14, the coolant whose temperature has risen when passing through the electrical component 15 is supplied to the heater 40 along the open coolant pipeline 11 without passing through the first radiator 12.

[0219] The coolant discharged from the heater 40 is introduced into the valve V along the open coolant pipeline 11 and the open branch pipeline 18.

[0220] The coolant introduced into the valve V is supplied to the electrical component 15 along the open coolant pipeline 11.

[0221] That is, the coolant passing through the electrical component 15 continues to circulate along the open coolant pipeline 11 and the branch pipeline 18 without passing through the first radiator 12, and absorbs waste heat from the electrical component 15, thereby increasing in temperature.

[0222] The coolant with increased temperature is introduced into the heater 40 along the coolant pipeline 11 without passing through the first radiator 12.

[0223] Here, when the temperature of the coolant circulating along the coolant pipeline 11 is lower than the target temperature, the second coolant heater 43 operates, so that the coolant circulating in the coolant pipeline 11 can be heated.

[0224] On the other hand, when the air heater 45 is used instead of the second coolant heater 43, the air heater 45 can be selectively operated according to the temperature of the external air passing through the heater 40.

[0225] That is, when the temperature of the external air passing through the heater 40 is lower than the target temperature, the air heater 45 can operate to heat the external air flowing into the vehicle interior.

[0226] When the temperature of the external air that has completed heat exchange with the high-temperature coolant when passing through the heater 40 is lower than the predetermined temperature or the target heating temperature, the air heater 45 operates.

[0227] When the air heater 45 operates, the external air can be heated when passing through the air heater 45 and thus introduced into the vehicle interior in a state of increased temperature.

[0228] At the same time, the high-temperature coolant supplied to the heater 40 exchanges heat with the external air and is then introduced into the coolant pipeline 11.

[0229] Thereafter, the coolant is introduced into the valve V along the open branch pipeline 18 without passing through the first radiator 12.

[0230] The coolant introduced into the valve V is introduced again into the coolant pipeline 11 connected to the electrical component 15.

[0231] Meanwhile, the opening / closing door opens, allowing the outside air flowing into the HVAC module to pass through the heater 40.

[0232] The introduced outside air is converted to a high-temperature state when passing through the heater 40 and is introduced into the vehicle interior, thereby heating the vehicle interior.

[0233] In other words, according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, by repeating the above process, the waste heat generated by the electrical component 15 can be recovered and used for internal heating, thereby reducing power consumption and improving the overall heating efficiency.

[0234] Meanwhile, in the air conditioner 50, each component operates to dehumidify the vehicle interior. Therefore, the refrigerant circulates along the refrigerant pipeline 51.

[0235] Here, the refrigerant pipeline 51 connecting the condenser 53 and the evaporator 56 is opened by the operation of the first expansion valve 55.

[0236] The refrigerant connection pipeline 61 is closed by the operation of the second expansion valve 63.

[0237] Here, the first expansion valve 55 can expand the refrigerant supplied from the sub-condenser 54 to the refrigerant pipeline 51 and supply the expanded refrigerant to the evaporator 56.

[0238] Therefore, the expanded refrigerant supplied to the evaporator 56 by the operation of the first expansion valve 55 is supplied to the compressor 59 along the refrigerant pipeline 51 after heat exchange with the outside air passing through the evaporator 56.

[0239] That is, the refrigerant passing through the evaporator 56 can be supplied to the compressor 59. Then, the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant compressed by the compressor 59 is introduced into the condenser 53.

[0240] Here, the opening / closing door opens so that the outside air introduced into the HVAC module and passing through the evaporator 56 passes through the heater 40.

[0241] That is, the outside air introduced into the HVAC module is dehumidified by the refrigerant in the low-temperature state of the evaporator 56 when passing through the evaporator 56. Next, the outside air is converted to a high-temperature state when passing through the heater 40 and is introduced into the vehicle interior to heat and dehumidify the vehicle interior.

[0242] The operation of heating the battery module 24 will be described with reference to Figure 6 the operation of the case where the battery module 24 is heated.

[0243] Figure 6 The operation state diagram of the vehicle thermal management system heating the battery module according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention is shown.

[0244] Reference Figure 6 The cooling device 10 and the air conditioner 50 are deactivated.

[0245] The branch pipeline 18 is closed by the operation of the valve V. The first connection pipeline 32 is opened. The second connection pipeline 34 is opened by the operation of the valve V.

[0246] In addition, by the operation of the valve V, the portion of the battery coolant pipeline 21 connected to the second radiator 22 is closed.

[0247] That is, based on the first connection pipeline 32, the battery coolant pipeline 21 connected to the second radiator 22 and the battery coolant pipeline 21 connecting the second radiator 22 and the valve V are closed.

[0248] In the current state, the second water pump 23 operates to raise the temperature of the battery module 24.

[0249] As a result, in the battery cooling device 20, by the operation of the second water pump 23, the coolant along the open portion of the battery coolant pipeline 21 supplies the coolant of the refrigerator 30 to the battery module 24 through the open first connection pipeline 32 and the second connection pipeline 34.

[0250] Here, the coolant passing through the battery module 24 can be circulated along the open first connection pipeline 32, the second connection pipeline 34, and the battery coolant pipeline 21 by the operation of the second water pump 23 without passing through the second radiator 22.

[0251] The first coolant heater 26 operates to heat the coolant supplied to the battery module 24 along the open battery coolant pipeline 21.

[0252] Therefore, the temperature of the coolant circulating in the battery coolant pipeline 21 rises when passing through the first coolant heater 26. Therefore, the coolant whose temperature rises when passing through the first coolant heater 26 can be supplied to the battery module 24 to raise the temperature of the battery module 24.

[0253] As a result, according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, by repeating the above process, the temperature of the battery module 24 can be rapidly raised, thereby effectively managing the temperature of the battery module 24.

[0254] Therefore, according to the vehicle thermal management system according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention as described above, the temperature of the battery module 24 can be adjusted according to the vehicle mode by using one refrigerator 30 for heat exchange between the coolant and the refrigerant, and the interior of the vehicle can be heated by using the coolant, thereby simplifying the entire system.

[0255] According to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the heating efficiency can also be improved by recovering waste heat from the electrical component 15 and using the waste heat for internal heating.

[0256] In addition, according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the performance of the battery module 24 can be optimized by effectively controlling the temperature of the battery module 24, and the total driving distance of the vehicle can be increased through the effective management of the battery module 24.

[0257] The present invention also improves the condensation performance of the refrigerant by using the condenser 53 and the sub-condenser 54, thereby improving the cooling performance and reducing the power consumption of the compressor 59.

[0258] In addition, the entire system can be simplified to reduce the manufacturing cost and weight, and improve the space utilization rate.

[0259] In various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the controller is connected to at least one element of the thermal management system to control the operation of the element.

[0260] Furthermore, the terms "controller", "control unit", or "control device" refer to a hardware device including a memory and a processor, the processor being configured to execute one or more steps interpreted as an algorithmic structure. The memory stores the algorithmic steps, and the processor executes the algorithmic steps to perform one or more processes of the method according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention. The controller according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention can be implemented by a non-volatile memory and a processor, where the non-volatile memory is configured to store an algorithm for controlling the operation of various components of the vehicle or data for storing software commands for executing the algorithm, and the processor is configured to utilize the data stored in the memory to perform the operations described above. The memory and the processor can be separate chips. Optionally, the memory and the processor can be integrated in a single chip. The processor can be implemented as one or more processors.

[0261] The controller or control unit can be at least one microprocessor operated by a predetermined program, and the predetermined program can include a series of commands for implementing the methods included in the foregoing various exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

[0262] The present invention can also be implemented as computer-readable code on a computer-readable recording medium. The computer-readable recording medium is any data storage device that can store data readable by a computer system. Examples of the computer-readable recording medium include a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid-state disk (SSD), a silicon disk drive (SDD), a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a CD-ROM, a magnetic tape, a floppy disk, an optical data storage device, etc., and carrier implementations (e.g., transmission through the Internet).

[0263] In various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, each of the above operations may be performed by a controller, and the controller may be constituted by a plurality of controllers or an integrated single controller.

[0264] For the sake of convenient explanation and the accurate definition in the appended claims, with reference to the positions of the features of the exemplary embodiments shown in the figures, the terms "upper", "lower", "inner", "outer", "above", "below", "upward", "downward", "front", "rear", "back", "inner side", "outer side", "inward", "outward", "inside", "outside", "within", "beyond", "forward" and "backward" are used to describe these features. It will be further understood that the term "connected" or its derivatives refer to both direct connection and indirect connection.

[0265] For purposes of illustration and description, the foregoing description of specific exemplary embodiments of the present invention is presented. These descriptions are not intended to be exhaustive of the present invention or to limit the present invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously, many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The exemplary embodiments are chosen and described to explain certain principles of the present invention and its practical applications so that others skilled in the art may implement and utilize the various exemplary embodiments of the present invention and their various alternative forms and modifications. The scope of the present invention is intended to be defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A vehicle thermal management system, characterized in that, comprising: A cooling device, including a first radiator, a first water pump and a valve connected by a coolant pipeline, and circulating coolant in the coolant pipeline to cool at least one electrical component disposed in the coolant pipeline; A battery cooling device, including a battery coolant pipeline connected to the valve, a second radiator, a second water pump and a battery module connected by the battery coolant pipeline, and circulating the coolant to the battery module; A refrigerator, connected to a first connection pipeline and a second connection pipeline, the first connection pipeline being connected to the battery coolant pipeline between the second radiator and the battery module, and the second connection pipeline being connected to the valve, and the refrigerator being connected to the refrigerant pipeline of the air conditioner through a refrigerant connection pipeline to adjust the temperature of the coolant by heat exchange between the coolant introduced into the refrigerator and the refrigerant selectively supplied from the air conditioner; A heater, disposed in the coolant pipeline between the at least one electrical component and the first radiator to heat the interior of the vehicle by using the coolant supplied by the cooling device; and A branch pipeline, with a first end connected to the coolant pipeline between the first radiator and the heater, and a second end connected to the valve; and wherein, a condenser included in the air conditioner is connected to the coolant pipeline to allow the coolant circulating the cooling device to pass through.

2. The thermal management system according to claim 1, characterized in that, the air conditioner includes: An evaporator, connected to the refrigerant pipeline; The condenser, disposed in the coolant pipeline between the first radiator and the heater to circulate coolant to perform heat exchange between the coolant and the refrigerant supplied through the refrigerant pipeline; A compressor, connected between the evaporator and the condenser through the refrigerant pipeline; An auxiliary condenser, disposed in the refrigerant pipeline between the condenser and the evaporator; A first expansion valve, disposed in the refrigerant pipeline between the auxiliary condenser and the evaporator; and A second expansion valve, disposed in the refrigerant connection pipeline.

3. The thermal management system according to claim 2, characterized in that, when cooling the battery module with the refrigerant, the second expansion valve expands the refrigerant introduced through the refrigerant connection pipeline to flow into the refrigerator.

4. The thermal management system according to claim 2, characterized in that, wherein, a first end of the refrigerant connection pipeline is connected to the refrigerant pipeline between the auxiliary condenser and the first expansion valve, and wherein, a second end of the refrigerant connection pipeline is connected to the refrigerant pipeline between the evaporator and the compressor.

5. The thermal management system according to claim 4, characterized in that, each of the refrigerator and the condenser is a water-cooled heat exchanger, and the auxiliary condenser is an air-cooled heat exchanger.

6. The thermal management system according to claim 2, characterized in that, Further comprising: An air heater, disposed on the opposite side of the evaporator, with a heater placed between the air heater and the evaporator to selectively heat the outside air passing through the heater.

7. The thermal management system according to claim 6, wherein, When the temperature of the coolant supplied to the heater is lower than the target temperature for internal heating, the air heater is operated to raise the temperature of the outside air passing through the heater.

8. The thermal management system according to claim 2, wherein, When cooling the battery module in the cooling mode of the vehicle, In the cooling device, through the operation of the first water pump, the coolant circulates in the coolant pipeline; The branch pipeline is closed through the operation of the valve; The first connection pipeline is opened, and the second connection pipeline is opened through the operation of the valve; The portion of the battery coolant pipeline connected to the second radiator is closed through the operation of the valve; In the battery cooling device, through the operation of the second water pump, along the open portion of the battery coolant pipeline to supply the coolant passing through the chiller along the first connection pipeline and the second connection pipeline to the battery module; In the air conditioner, the refrigerant pipeline connecting the sub-condenser and the evaporator is opened through the operation of the first expansion valve; The refrigerant connection pipeline is opened through the operation of the second expansion valve; and The first expansion valve and the second expansion valve respectively expand the refrigerant supplied to the refrigerant pipeline and the refrigerant connection pipeline, and supply the expanded refrigerant to the evaporator and the chiller.

9. The thermal management system according to claim 8, wherein, The condenser condenses the refrigerant by exchanging heat with the coolant, and the sub-condenser further condenses the refrigerant introduced from the condenser by exchanging heat with the outside air.

10. The thermal management system according to claim 2, wherein, When performing the dehumidification mode of the vehicle, The branch pipeline is opened through the operation of the valve; The first connection pipeline is closed; The second connection pipeline is closed through the operation of the valve; In the cooling device, based on the branch pipeline, the coolant pipeline connected to the first radiator and the valve is closed; Through the operation of the first water pump, the coolant whose temperature has risen when passing through the at least one electrical component is supplied to the heater along the open coolant pipeline without passing through the first radiator; The coolant discharged from the heater is introduced into the valve along the open coolant pipeline and the open branch pipeline; The coolant introduced into the valve is supplied to the at least one electrical component along the open coolant pipeline; In the air conditioner, through the operation of the first expansion valve, the refrigerant circulates in the open refrigerant pipeline; The first expansion valve expands the refrigerant so that the expanded refrigerant is supplied to the evaporator; And The second expansion valve closes the refrigerant connection pipeline.

11. The thermal management system according to claim 1, wherein, when cooling the at least one electrical component and the battery module by using the coolant, the branch pipeline is closed by the operation of the valve; the first connection pipeline is closed, and the second connection pipeline is closed by the operation of the valve; the cooling device and the battery cooling device respectively form independent closed loops by the operation of the valve; by the operation of the first water pump, the coolant cooled in the first radiator is supplied from the valve to the at least one electrical component along the coolant pipeline; and by the operation of the second water pump, the coolant cooled in the second radiator is supplied from the valve to the battery module along the battery coolant pipeline.

12. The thermal management system according to claim 1, wherein, when utilizing the waste heat of the at least one electrical component in the heating mode of the vehicle, the branch pipeline is opened by the operation of the valve; the first connection pipeline is closed; the second connection pipeline is closed by the operation of the valve; in the cooling device, based on the branch pipeline, the coolant pipeline connected to the first radiator and the valve is closed; by the operation of the first water pump, the coolant whose temperature has risen when passing through the at least one electrical component is supplied to the heater along the opened coolant pipeline without passing through the first radiator; the coolant discharged from the heater is introduced into the valve along the opened coolant pipeline and the opened branch pipeline; and the coolant introduced into the valve is supplied to the at least one electrical component along the opened coolant pipeline.

13. The thermal management system according to claim 1, wherein, when heating the battery module, the cooling device is deactivated; the branch pipeline is closed by the operation of the valve; the first connection pipeline is opened, and the second connection pipeline is opened by the operation of the valve; based on the first connection pipeline, the battery coolant pipeline connected to the second radiator and the battery coolant pipeline connecting the second radiator and the valve are closed; and by the operation of the second water pump, the coolant passing through the battery module circulates along the opened first connection pipeline, the opened second connection pipeline and the opened battery coolant pipeline without passing through the second radiator.

14. The thermal management system according to claim 1, wherein, the first end of the first connection pipeline is connected to the battery coolant pipeline between the second radiator and the battery module, and the second end of the first connection pipeline is connected to the refrigerator.

15. The thermal management system according to claim 1, wherein, the first end of the second connection pipeline is connected to the valve, and the second end of the second connection pipeline is connected to the refrigerator.

16. The thermal management system according to claim 1, wherein, The at least one electrical component includes a motor or an electric power control unit, i.e., an EPCU, or an inverter, or an autonomous driving controller, or an on-board charger, i.e., an OBC.

17. The thermal management system according to claim 1, wherein, the battery cooling device further includes a first coolant heater disposed in the battery coolant pipeline between the battery module and the second radiator.

18. The thermal management system according to claim 17, wherein, when heating the battery module, the first coolant heater is operated to heat the coolant supplied to the battery module along the battery coolant pipeline.

19. The thermal management system according to claim 1, wherein, wherein, a second coolant heater is disposed in the coolant pipeline between the at least one electrical component and the heater, and when the temperature of the coolant supplied to the heater is lower than a target temperature, the second coolant heater is operated to heat the coolant supplied to the heater along the coolant pipeline.

20. The thermal management system according to claim 1, wherein, wherein, a first storage tank is disposed in the coolant pipeline between the first radiator and the valve, and wherein, a second storage tank is disposed in the battery coolant pipeline between the second radiator and the valve.

Images