Degassing method and vehicle thermal management system

Abstract

The present invention belongs to the field of automobiles, and in particular, relates to a degassing method and a vehicle thermal management system. The first aspect of the present invention provides a degassing method for a vehicle thermal management system, which includes an auxiliary water tank, a first circulation loop and a second circulation loop. The first circulation loop is connected to the auxiliary water tank, and the second circulation loop is configured to be selectively connected or disconnected with the first circulation loop. The degassing method includes: determining that the vehicle thermal management system is in a degassing mode, controlling the first circulation loop and the second circulation loop to be disconnected; controlling the heat exchange medium in the auxiliary water tank to pass through the first circulation loop to perform a first-stage exhaust; after determining that the first-stage exhaust is completed, controlling the first circulation loop and the second circulation loop to be connected; controlling the heat exchange medium in the auxiliary water tank to pass through the second circulation loop to perform a second-stage exhaust. By using a two-stage exhaust method, the exhaust difficulty is reduced, the exhaust effect is guaranteed, and the normal operation of the vehicle thermal management system is guaranteed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the field of automobiles, and in particular relates to a degassing method and a vehicle thermal management system. Background Art

[0002] Traditional vehicles, powered by fuel-powered engines, primarily focus on cooling the engine and its peripherals. Thermal management systems typically rely on mechanical components like radiators, water pumps, and thermostats for natural cooling, resulting in generally low thermal management efficiency. While thermal management in new energy vehicles also aims to maintain optimal temperatures for core components, they require more precise temperature management and higher efficiency, placing more complex demands on thermal management systems than traditional fuel-powered vehicles.

[0003] Driven by the wave of electrification and intelligentization, the new energy vehicle industry is accelerating its development. With safety issues becoming increasingly prominent, automotive thermal management is also receiving increasing attention. However, due to the long pipes in new energy vehicles, gas can easily accumulate in the pipes during refueling. The pressure from the accumulated gas can cause the water pump to malfunction, rendering the entire thermal management system ineffective. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present invention provides a degassing method and a vehicle thermal management system. The degassing method is used in a vehicle thermal management system to solve the technical problem of filling and accumulating gas in the prior art.

[0005] A first aspect of the present invention provides a degassing method for a vehicle thermal management system, the vehicle thermal management system comprising an auxiliary water tank, a first circulation loop, and a second circulation loop, the first circulation loop being connected to the auxiliary water tank, and the second circulation loop being configured to be selectively connected to or disconnected from the first circulation loop;

[0006] Degassing methods include:

[0007] Determining that the vehicle thermal management system is in a degassing mode, and controlling the first circulation loop and the second circulation loop to be disconnected;

[0008] Controlling the heat exchange medium in the auxiliary water tank to pass through the first circulation loop to perform the first stage exhaust;

[0009] After determining that the first stage of exhaust is completed, controlling the first circulation loop to be connected to the second circulation loop;

[0010] Controlling the heat exchange medium in the auxiliary water tank to pass through the second circulation loop to perform the second stage exhaust;

[0011] The first circulation loop is provided with a motor module and a radiator, and the second circulation loop is provided with a battery module and a heat exchanger.

[0012] In an optional solution of the present invention, the auxiliary water tank includes an auxiliary water tank liquid inlet and an auxiliary water tank liquid outlet, the auxiliary water tank liquid inlet is located above the auxiliary water tank liquid outlet, and the degassing method further includes:

[0013] In the degassing mode, make sure that the liquid level of the auxiliary water tank is lower than the lower edge of the auxiliary water tank inlet.

[0014] In an optional solution of the present invention, determining that the first stage exhaust is completed includes:

[0015] Recording a first cycle duration as a first time node since the heat exchange medium begins to circulate through the first loop;

[0016] When the first cycle duration reaches a first preset duration, it is determined that the first stage exhaust is completed;

[0017] or

[0018] Read the liquid level value of the auxiliary water tank;

[0019] When the liquid level value of the auxiliary water tank does not decrease, it is determined that the first stage exhaust is completed.

[0020] In an optional solution of the present invention, the degassing method further comprises:

[0021] Determining that the completion of the second stage exhaust is a third time node, and controlling the vehicle thermal management system to wait for a third preset time period;

[0022] After the third preset time period, it is determined whether to inject heat exchange medium into the auxiliary water tank according to the liquid level value of the auxiliary water tank.

[0023] In an optional solution of the present invention, determining that the second stage exhaust is completed includes:

[0024] Recording the second cycle duration as a second time point since the heat exchange medium begins to circulate through the second circulation loop;

[0025] When the second cycle duration reaches a second preset duration, it is determined that the second stage exhaust is completed;

[0026] or

[0027] Read the liquid level value of the auxiliary water tank;

[0028] When the liquid level value of the auxiliary water tank does not drop, it is determined that the second stage exhaust is completed.

[0029] In an optional solution of the present invention, determining whether to inject heat exchange medium into the auxiliary water tank according to the liquid level value of the auxiliary water tank includes:

[0030] When the liquid level of the auxiliary water tank is lower than the lower limit, the heat exchange medium is added to the auxiliary water tank to bring the liquid level of the auxiliary water tank to the upper limit.

[0031] A second aspect of the present invention provides a vehicle thermal management system, the vehicle thermal management system comprising an auxiliary water tank, a first circulation loop, a second circulation loop, and a control module;

[0032] The first circulation loop is connected to the auxiliary water tank and is provided with a pump group, a motor module, a first control valve and a radiator in sequence along the flow direction of the heat exchange medium;

[0033] The second circulation loop is connected to the first control valve and is provided with a third pump, a battery module and a heat exchanger in sequence along the flow direction of the heat exchange medium;

[0034] The control module is respectively connected to the pump group, the first control valve and the third pump signal, and is used to control the operation of the pump group and the third pump, and control the first control valve to connect or disconnect the first circulation loop and the second circulation loop;

[0035] The control module is configured to perform the above-described degassing method.

[0036] In an optional solution of the present invention, the first circulation loop is further provided with a second control valve and includes a first branch and a second branch arranged in parallel. The second control valve is arranged between the pump group and the auxiliary water tank and is connected to the control module signal so that the main trunk of the first circulation loop and the first branch and the second branch can be selectively connected or disconnected;

[0037] The pump group includes a first pump and a second pump, the first pump is arranged in the first branch, and the second pump is arranged in the second branch;

[0038] The motor module includes a first motor and a second motor. The first motor is arranged in a first branch, and the second motor is arranged in a second branch.

[0039] In an optional solution of the present invention, the first circulation loop is further provided with a power supply and distribution module, which is arranged in the first branch and located between the first pump and the first motor.

[0040] In an optional solution of the present invention, the first circulation loop further includes a third control valve and includes a third branch and a fourth branch arranged in parallel. The third control valve is arranged between the first control valve and the radiator and is signal-connected to the control module so that the main trunk of the first circulation loop and the third branch and the fourth branch can be selectively connected or disconnected.

[0041] The radiator is arranged on the fourth branch.

[0042] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0043] The vehicle thermal management system provided by the present invention includes a secondary water tank, a first circulation loop, and a second circulation loop. The second circulation loop is configured to be selectively connected or disconnected with the first circulation loop. The degassing method adopts a two-stage exhaust scheme. During the first stage of exhaust, the first and second circulation loops are disconnected, and the first stage of exhaust is mainly directed to the first circulation loop. During the second stage of exhaust, the second circulation loop is connected to the first circulation loop, and the second stage of exhaust is mainly directed to the second circulation loop. This two-stage exhaust method gradually discharges accumulated gas in the pipeline, reducing the load capacity requirements of the vehicle thermal management system, easing the exhaust difficulty, ensuring exhaust efficiency, and ensuring the normal operation of the vehicle thermal management system. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0044] In order to more clearly illustrate the specific embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the specific embodiments or the description of the prior art. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying any creative work.

[0045] Figure 1 A simplified schematic diagram of a vehicle thermal management system according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0046] Figure 2 A flowchart of a degassing method for a vehicle thermal management system according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0047] Figure 3 A flow chart of a degassing method for a vehicle thermal management system provided in accordance with an optional embodiment of the present invention;

[0048] Figure 4 A control block diagram of a vehicle heat pipe system provided by an optional embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0049] Reference numerals

[0050] 100. Auxiliary water tank;

[0051] 201, first control valve; 202, first pump; 203, second pump; 204, power supply and distribution module; 205, first motor; 206, second motor; 207, second control valve; 208, third control valve; 209, radiator; 210, first three-way valve; 211, second three-way valve;

[0052] 301, third pump; 302, battery module; 303, heat exchanger;

[0053] 400. Control module. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0054] In order to make the above and other features and advantages of the present invention more clear, the present invention is further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the specific embodiments given herein are for the purpose of explaining to those skilled in the art and are only exemplary and not restrictive.

[0055] In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential" and the like to indicate orientations or positional relationships based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be understood as limiting the present invention.

[0056] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of the technical features being referred to. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one such feature. In the description of the present invention, "plurality" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise specifically defined.

[0057] In the present invention, unless otherwise specified or limited, the terms "installed," "connected," "connect," "fixed," etc. should be understood in a broad sense. For example, they can refer to fixed connection, detachable connection, or integration; mechanical connection, electrical connection; direct connection, or indirect connection through an intermediate medium; internal communication between two components, or interaction between two components, unless otherwise specified. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention based on specific circumstances.

[0058] In the present invention, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, when a first feature is "above" or "below" a second feature, it may mean that the first and second features are in direct contact, or that the first and second features are in indirect contact through an intermediary. Furthermore, when a first feature is "above," "above," or "above" a second feature, it may mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply means that the first feature is at a higher level than the second feature. When a first feature is "below," "below," or "below" a second feature, it may mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply means that the first feature is at a lower level than the second feature.

[0059] Figure 1A simplified schematic diagram of a vehicle thermal management system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown. The vehicle thermal management system includes a secondary water tank 100, a first circulation loop, and a second circulation loop. The first circulation loop is connected to the secondary water tank 100, and the second circulation loop is configured to selectively connect or disconnect with the first circulation loop. As will be understood, the secondary water tank 100 is used to store heat exchange medium, while the first and second circulation loops allow the heat exchange medium to circulate and be directed to target equipment. Figure 2 A flow chart of a degassing method for a vehicle thermal management system provided by one exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0060] See also Figure 1 and Figure 2 A first aspect of the present invention provides a degassing method for a vehicle thermal management system, the degassing method comprising:

[0061] Step S1, determining that the vehicle thermal management system is in a degassing mode, and controlling the first circulation loop and the second circulation loop to be disconnected;

[0062] Step S2, controlling the heat exchange medium in the auxiliary water tank 100 to flow through the first circulation loop to perform the first stage exhaust;

[0063] Step S3: After determining that the first stage of exhaust is completed, controlling the first circulation loop to be connected to the second circulation loop;

[0064] Step S4 , controlling the heat exchange medium in the auxiliary water tank 100 to pass through the second circulation loop to perform the second stage of exhaust.

[0065] The first circulation loop is provided with a motor module and a radiator 209, and the second circulation loop is provided with a battery module 302 and a heat exchanger 303. It can be seen that the first circulation loop is mainly used to dissipate heat from the motor module, and the second circulation loop is mainly used to exchange heat with the battery module 302. The heat exchange medium is respectively directed to the radiator 209 and the heat exchanger 303 through the first and second circulation loops for heat exchange, thereby ensuring that the operating temperature of the power system composed of the motor module and the battery module 302 is appropriate.

[0066] As will be understood, the auxiliary water tank 100 includes an auxiliary water tank filling port located at the top of the auxiliary water tank 100. Heat exchange medium can be injected into the auxiliary water tank 100 through the auxiliary water tank filling port. As previously mentioned, the first circulation loop is connected to the auxiliary water tank 100. Accordingly, the auxiliary water tank 100 includes an auxiliary water tank inlet and an auxiliary water tank outlet to connect to the first circulation loop. The auxiliary water tank inlet is located higher than the auxiliary water tank outlet. The heat exchange medium flows out of the auxiliary water tank outlet to enter the first circulation loop and then flows back into the auxiliary water tank 100 through the auxiliary water tank inlet.

[0067] In step S1, after the system is powered on, it first determines whether the vehicle's thermal management system is in degassing mode. For example, a command can be sent through an input operation. The system then determines whether it is in degassing mode based on the command. In degassing mode, the first and second circulation loops are disconnected, making the two loops independent and independent of each other. This prevents the accumulated gas in the first and second circulation loops from intercommunication.

[0068] Furthermore, in degassing mode, the liquid level of auxiliary water tank 100 is determined to be below the lower edge of the auxiliary water tank inlet. As previously mentioned, the auxiliary water tank inlet is positioned higher than the auxiliary water tank outlet, allowing heat exchange medium to enter the first circulation loop through the auxiliary water tank outlet. The heat exchange medium then discharges accumulated gas within the tubes of the first circulation loop through the auxiliary water tank inlet. Maintaining the liquid level of auxiliary water tank 100 below the auxiliary water tank inlet exposes the auxiliary water tank inlet, preventing the formation of hydraulic pressure at the auxiliary water tank inlet that could hinder exhaust, thereby ensuring smooth exhaust.

[0069] In step S2 , when the first circulation loop and the second circulation loop are disconnected, the heat exchange medium is allowed to pass through the first circulation loop to discharge the accumulated gas in the first circulation loop. This exhaust process is the first stage exhaust.

[0070] It can be understood that since the first circulation loop and the second circulation loop are disconnected, the first stage exhaustion is only exhaustion of the first circulation loop.

[0071] In an optional embodiment, determining whether the first stage exhaust is completed in step S3 includes:

[0072] Step S31, recording a first cycle duration for a first time node starting from the heat exchange medium through the first circulation loop;

[0073] Step S32: When the first cycle duration reaches the first preset duration, it is determined that the first stage exhaust is completed.

[0074] Specifically, the first stage of exhaust is determined to be complete when the heat exchange medium circulates through the first circulation loop for a first preset time. It will be appreciated that if the heat exchange medium circulates through the first circulation loop for a sufficiently long time, the accumulated gas in the first circulation loop can be completely exhausted. The circulation time required to ensure effective exhaust can be pre-measured, and this value is referred to as the first preset time. Of course, the first preset time may vary for different vehicle models.

[0075] In another optional embodiment, determining whether the first stage exhaust is completed in step S3 includes:

[0076] Step S31 ′, reading the liquid level value of the auxiliary water tank 100;

[0077] Step S32 ′: if the liquid level of the auxiliary water tank 100 does not decrease, it is determined that the first stage of exhaust is completed.

[0078] It can be understood that during the exhaust process, the heat exchange medium in the auxiliary water tank 100 replaces the accumulated gas, and the space occupied by the accumulated gas in the pipeline is filled with the heat exchange medium. When the liquid level value in the auxiliary water tank 100 does not decrease, it can be determined that the space occupied by the accumulated gas in the pipeline has been filled with the heat exchange medium, so it can be determined that the first stage of exhaust is completed.

[0079] It can be understood that in step S3, when the first stage exhaust is completed, the first circulation loop and the second circulation loop are connected, in other words, the second circulation loop is connected in series with the first circulation loop, so as to prepare for the second stage exhaust.

[0080] In step S4, with the first and second circulation loops connected, the heat exchange medium in the first circulation loop is introduced into the second circulation loop to exhaust the second circulation loop. This process is referred to as the second stage of exhaust. During the second stage of exhaust, the heat exchange medium flows through both the first and second circulation loops. It is understandable that, in theory, the first stage of exhaust can be eliminated, and the first and second circulation loops can be exhausted simultaneously through the second stage of exhaust alone. Accordingly, the pressure of the accumulated gas in the circulation loops is higher, and the entire thermal management system needs to provide a greater load to drive the heat exchange medium to circulate through the circulation loops. Therefore, exhausting all circulation loops through only a single exhaust stage places a high load capacity on the vehicle thermal management system.

[0081] Therefore, in the present disclosure, the first stage exhaust is mainly aimed at the accumulated gas in the first circulation loop, and the second stage exhaust is mainly aimed at the accumulated gas in the second circulation loop. Through the two-stage exhaust method, the exhaust difficulty is reduced, the exhaust effect is guaranteed, and the normal operation of the vehicle thermal management system is guaranteed.

[0082] It can be understood that during the second stage of exhaust, the heat exchange medium fills the volume occupied by the accumulated gas in the second circulation loop. Therefore, the liquid level value of the auxiliary water tank 100 will be further reduced. Therefore, during the exhaust process, it is necessary to observe the liquid level value in the auxiliary water tank 100 in real time. When the liquid level value in the auxiliary water tank 100 is too low, it is necessary to add heat exchange medium to the auxiliary water tank 100 to ensure the exhaust effect.

[0083] In the present invention, the degassing method further comprises:

[0084] Step S5, determining that the third time node is reached after the second stage exhaust is completed, and controlling the vehicle thermal management system to wait for a third preset time period;

[0085] Step S6: After the third preset time period, determine whether to inject heat exchange medium into the auxiliary water tank 100 according to the liquid level value of the auxiliary water tank 100.

[0086] Specifically, after the second stage of exhaust is completed, the vehicle thermal management system waits for a third predetermined period of time for the heat exchange medium in the auxiliary water tank 100 to fully fill the circulation loop due to gravity. It is understood that during this process, the liquid level of the auxiliary water tank 100 will decrease. Therefore, the determination of whether to inject heat exchange medium into the auxiliary water tank 100 based on the liquid level of the auxiliary water tank 100 in step S6 includes:

[0087] When the liquid level of the auxiliary water tank 100 is lower than the lower limit, the heat exchange medium is replenished into the auxiliary water tank 100 to bring the liquid level of the auxiliary water tank 100 to the upper limit.

[0088] It should be noted that the outer shell of the auxiliary water tank 100 is provided with an upper limit scale line and a lower limit scale line. When the liquid level value of the auxiliary water tank 100 is lower than the lower limit scale line, it is below the lower limit. At this time, it indicates that the heat exchange medium in the auxiliary water tank 100 is insufficient and it is difficult to ensure normal operation requirements. Preferably, the heat exchange medium is injected into the auxiliary water tank 100 until the upper limit scale line is reached, that is, the upper limit, to ensure that there is sufficient heat exchange medium in the auxiliary water tank 100.

[0089] It should be noted that the determination of completion of the second stage exhaust mentioned in step S5 includes:

[0090] Step S51, recording a second cycle duration for a second time node starting from the heat exchange medium through the second circulation loop;

[0091] Step S52, when the second cycle duration reaches a second preset duration, it is determined that the second stage exhaust is completed; or

[0092] Step S51 ′, reading the liquid level value of the auxiliary water tank 100;

[0093] In step S52 ′, when the liquid level of the auxiliary water tank 100 does not drop, it is determined that the second stage of exhaust is completed.

[0094] It can be understood that steps S51 to S52 and steps S31 to S32 are based on the same reason to determine that exhaust is complete, and steps S51 ′ to S52 ′ and steps S31 ′ to S32 ′ are based on the same reason to determine that exhaust is complete, and are not repeated here.

[0095] In this disclosure, the vehicle thermal management system also includes a control module. A first circulation loop is connected to the auxiliary water tank 100 and includes, in sequence, a pump assembly, a motor module, a first control valve 201, and a radiator 209 along the flow direction of the heat exchange medium. A second circulation loop is connected to the first control valve 201 and includes, in sequence, a third pump 301, a battery module 302, and a heat exchanger 303 along the flow direction of the heat exchange medium. A control module 400 is signal-connected to the pump assembly, the first control valve 201, and the third pump 301, respectively. It controls the operation of the pump assembly and the third pump 301, and controls the first control valve 201 to connect or disconnect the first and second circulation loops.

[0096] The control module 400 is configured to execute the above-mentioned degassing method, which will not be repeated here.

[0097] Figure 3 A flow chart of a degassing method for a vehicle thermal management system provided by an optional embodiment of the present invention is presented. Figure 4 A control block diagram of a vehicle heat pipe system provided by an optional embodiment of the present invention is shown. Figure 1 、 Figure 3 and Figure 4 In step S1, the control module 400 controls the first control valve 201 to disconnect the first circulation loop and the second circuit. In step S2, the control module 400 controls the pump group to extract the heat exchange medium from the auxiliary water tank 100 to circulate in the first circulation loop to perform the first stage of exhaust. In an optional embodiment, the pump group is controlled to operate for a first preset time to determine that the first stage of exhaust is completed. In a specific application, the first preset time is 10 minutes. Of course, the first preset time can be adaptively adjusted according to different vehicle models. In another optional embodiment, the first stage of exhaust is determined to be completed based on the liquid level value of the auxiliary water tank 100 no longer decreasing. The liquid level value in the auxiliary water tank 100 can be obtained by a liquid level meter set in the auxiliary water tank 100.

[0098] It is understood that in step S3, after determining that the first stage of exhaust is complete, the control module 400 controls the first control valve 201 to connect the first circulation loop with the second circulation loop to prepare for the second stage of exhaust. In step S4, when the first circulation loop is connected to the second circulation loop, the control module 400 controls the third pump 301 to start to perform the second stage of exhaust.

[0099] See also Figure 1In a specific application, the first control valve 201 is a four-way electrically controlled valve. The main trunk of the first circulation loop is connected to ports 3 and 4 of the four-way electrically controlled valve, and the main trunk of the second circulation loop is connected to ports 1 and 2 of the four-way electrically controlled valve. In step S1, the control module 400 controls ports 3 and 4 of the four-way electrically controlled valve to connect, and ports 1 and 2 to disconnect. At this time, the first circulation loop is disconnected from the second circulation loop. In step S3, the control module 400 controls ports 1 and 4 of the four-way electrically controlled valve to connect, and ports 2 and 3 to connect. At this time, the second circulation loop is connected in series with the first circulation loop.

[0100] It is understood that in step S31, the first preset duration is the operating duration of the pump group, and in step S51, the second preset duration is the duration during which the third pump 301 begins operating and operates with the pump group. In an optional embodiment, the third pump 301 is controlled to operate for the second preset duration to determine the completion of the second stage of exhaust. In a specific application, the second preset duration is 10 minutes. Of course, the second preset duration can be adaptively adjusted depending on the vehicle model. In another optional embodiment, the completion of the first stage of exhaust is determined when the liquid level in the auxiliary water tank 100 no longer decreases.

[0101] In step S5, the vehicle thermal management system is controlled to wait for a third preset time period, that is, the time period for shutting down the pump group and the third pump 301. The system may even be powered off and wait for the third preset time period. In a specific application, the third preset time period is 30 minutes, which can of course be adjusted adaptively according to the situation.

[0102] Furthermore, the first circulation loop is also provided with a second control valve 207 and includes a first branch and a second branch arranged in parallel. The second control valve 207 is arranged between the pump group and the auxiliary water tank 100 and is connected to the control module 400 signal so that the main road of the first circulation loop and the first branch and the second branch can be selectively connected or disconnected.

[0103] The pump group includes a first pump 202 and a second pump 203. The first pump 202 is arranged in the first branch, and the second pump 203 is arranged in the second branch.

[0104] The motor module includes a first motor 205 and a second motor 206 . The first motor 205 is arranged in a first branch, and the second motor 206 is arranged in a second branch.

[0105] It can be understood that new energy vehicles include four-wheel drive models, and the front and rear wheels of four-wheel drive new energy vehicles are both equipped with motors for driving. Therefore, the motor module includes a first motor 205 and a second motor 206. A branch is provided in the first circulation loop to match the first motor 205 and the second motor 206 for dissipating heat, and they are the first branch and the second branch respectively. Correspondingly, the pump group includes a first pump 202 and a second pump 203. The first pump 202 and the second pump 203 extract heat exchange medium from the auxiliary water tank 100 and introduce it into the first branch and the second branch respectively to dissipate heat for the first motor 205 and the second motor 206.

[0106] In the present disclosure, the second control valve 207 is located at the intersection of the first branch, the second branch and the main trunk of the first circulation loop, and is set upstream of the pump group between the auxiliary water tank 100 and the pump group. The control module 400 controls the on and off of the second control valve 207, thereby controlling the selective connection or disconnection between the main trunk of the first circulation loop and the first branch and the second branch.

[0107] Furthermore, the first circulation loop also includes a third control valve 208 and includes a third branch and a fourth branch arranged in parallel. The third control valve 208 is arranged between the first control valve 201 and the radiator 209 and is signal-connected to the control module 400 to selectively connect or disconnect the main trunk of the first circulation loop from the third branch and the fourth branch. The radiator 209 is arranged in the fourth branch.

[0108] It should be noted that the third branch is merely a pipeline and is not connected to any other equipment. It serves as an auxiliary pipeline in the vehicle thermal system and will not be described in detail here. Secondly, third control valve 208 is located at the junction of the third branch, the fourth branch, and the main trunk of the first circulation loop, and downstream of first control valve 201. Control module 400 selectively connects or disconnects the main trunk of the first circulation loop with the third and fourth branches by controlling the opening and closing of third control valve 208.

[0109] In a specific application, both the second control valve 207 and the third control valve 208 are three-way electrically controlled valves. Port 2 of the three-way valves is connected to the main trunk of the first circulation loop, while ports 1 and 3 are connected to the branch circuit. The main trunk and the branch circuit are connected and disconnected by connecting and disconnecting ports 1 and 2, and ports 3 and 2. In step S1, in the degassing mode, port 2 of both three-way electrically controlled valves is connected to ports 1 and 3, ensuring that the first circulation loop is open and ready for degassing.

[0110] For a four-wheel drive new energy vehicle, in step S2, both first pump 202 and second pump 203 are activated simultaneously to perform the first stage of exhaust. As previously mentioned, the present disclosure employs a two-stage exhaust degassing method, which places low demands on the vehicle's thermal management system's load capacity. Therefore, during the entire exhaust process, first pump 202, second pump 203, and third pump 301 do not need to operate at maximum power. Each pump can even operate at 0.8 times its rated power to ensure effective exhaust, thus facilitating exhaust.

[0111] It is understandable that the control module 400 controls the opening of each control valve to control the flow of the heat exchange medium in the circulation loop, which will not be explained here.

[0112] Furthermore, the first circulation loop is further provided with a power supply and distribution module 204 , which is arranged in the first branch and located between the first pump 202 and the first motor 205 .

[0113] It should be noted that the power supply and distribution module 204 primarily provides power distribution and includes a battery distribution unit, a voltage converter, and an onboard charger. A detailed description is omitted here. The power supply and distribution module 204 is located in the first branch, where heat exchange medium is introduced via the first pump 202 and dissipated via the radiator 209.

[0114] It should be noted that the control module 400 includes but is not limited to: a general-purpose processor, a special-purpose processor, a conventional processor, a digital signal processor DSP, multiple microprocessors, one or more microprocessors associated with a DSP core, a controller, a microcontroller, an application-specific integrated circuit ASIC, a field-programmable gate array FPGA circuit, any other type of integrated circuit IC and a state machine, etc.

[0115] See also Figure 1 In the illustrated embodiment, the first circulation loop is further provided with a first three-way valve 210 and a second three-way valve 211. The first three-way valve 210 and the second three-way valve 211 are both located at the intersection of the branch road and the main road, and mainly play a connecting role, which will not be described in detail here.

[0116] It should be noted that the heat exchange medium can be water or a mixture of water and antifreeze, and is not specifically limited here.

[0117] Furthermore, those skilled in the art should understand that if all or part of the sub-modules involved in the products provided by the embodiments of the present invention are combined or replaced by fusion, simple changes, mutual transformation, etc., such as the components are placed and moved; or the products they constitute are set as one piece; or are designed to be detachable; all the combined components can form equipment / devices / systems with specific functions, and using such equipment / devices / systems to replace the corresponding components of the present invention also falls within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0118] In the description of this specification, the reference terms "one embodiment", "some embodiments", "example", "specific example", or "some examples" mean that the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described in conjunction with the embodiment or example are included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. In this specification, the schematic representations of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Moreover, the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described can be combined in any one or more embodiments or examples in a suitable manner. In addition, those skilled in the art can combine and combine different embodiments or examples described in this specification and features of different embodiments or examples without contradiction.

[0119] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described above, it will be understood that the above embodiments are illustrative and are not to be construed as limitations on the present invention. A person skilled in the art may change, modify, replace and modify the above embodiments within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A degassing method for a vehicle thermal management system, characterized in that: The vehicle thermal management system includes a subsidiary water tank, a first circulation loop, and a second circulation loop, wherein the first circulation loop is connected to the subsidiary water tank, and the second circulation loop is configured to be selectively connected to or disconnected from the first circulation loop, and the subsidiary water tank includes a subsidiary water tank liquid inlet and a subsidiary water tank liquid outlet, wherein the subsidiary water tank liquid inlet is located above the subsidiary water tank liquid outlet; The degassing method comprises: determining that the vehicle thermal management system is in a degassing mode, and controlling the first circulation loop and the second circulation loop to be disconnected; In the degassing mode, determining that the liquid level of the auxiliary water tank is lower than the lower edge of the liquid inlet of the auxiliary water tank; controlling the heat exchange medium in the auxiliary water tank to pass through the first circulation loop to perform first-stage exhaust; After determining that the first stage exhaust is completed, controlling the first circulation loop and the second circulation loop to be connected; controlling the heat exchange medium in the auxiliary water tank to pass through the second circulation loop to perform second-stage exhaust; The first circulation loop is provided with a motor module and a radiator, and the second circulation loop is provided with a battery module and a heat exchanger.

2. The degassing method for a vehicle thermal management system according to claim 1, characterized in that: Determining that the first-stage exhaust is complete includes: Recording a first cycle duration as a first time node from the start of the heat exchange medium passing through the first circulation loop; When the first cycle duration reaches a first preset duration, determining that the first stage exhaust is completed; or Reading the liquid level value of the auxiliary water tank; When the liquid level value of the auxiliary water tank does not decrease, it is determined that the first stage exhaust is completed.

3. The degassing method for a vehicle thermal management system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The degassing method further comprises: Determining that a third time point is reached after the second stage of exhaust is completed, and controlling the vehicle thermal management system to wait for a third preset time period; After the third preset time period, it is determined whether to inject heat exchange medium into the auxiliary water tank according to the liquid level value of the auxiliary water tank.

4. The degassing method for a vehicle thermal management system according to claim 3, characterized in that: Determining that the second-stage exhaust is complete includes: Recording a second cycle duration as a second time point from the start of the heat exchange medium passing through the second circulation loop; When the second cycle duration reaches a second preset duration, determining that the second stage exhaust is completed; or Reading the liquid level value of the auxiliary water tank; When the liquid level value of the auxiliary water tank does not drop, it is determined that the second stage exhaust is completed.

5. The degassing method for a vehicle thermal management system according to claim 3, characterized in that: The determining whether to inject heat exchange medium into the auxiliary water tank according to the liquid level value of the auxiliary water tank includes: When the liquid level of the auxiliary water tank is lower than the lower limit, the auxiliary water tank is replenished with heat exchange medium to bring the liquid level of the auxiliary water tank to the upper limit.

6. A vehicle thermal management system, characterized in that: The vehicle thermal management system includes an auxiliary water tank, a first circulation loop, a second circulation loop and a control module; The first circulation loop is connected to the auxiliary water tank and is provided with a pump group, a motor module, a first control valve and a radiator in sequence along the flow direction of the heat exchange medium; The second circulation loop is connected to the first control valve and is provided with a third pump, a battery module and a heat exchanger in sequence along the flow direction of the heat exchange medium; The control module is respectively connected to the pump group, the first control valve and the third pump by signal, and is used to control the operation of the pump group and the third pump, and control the first control valve to connect or disconnect the first circulation loop and the second circulation loop; The control module is configured to perform the degassing method according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. The vehicle thermal management system according to claim 6, characterized in that: The first circulation loop is further provided with a second control valve and includes a first branch and a second branch arranged in parallel. The second control valve is arranged between the pump group and the auxiliary water tank and is signal-connected to the control module so that the main trunk of the first circulation loop can be selectively connected or disconnected with the first branch and the second branch. The pump group includes a first pump and a second pump, the first pump is arranged in the first branch, and the second pump is arranged in the second branch; The motor module includes a first motor and a second motor. The first motor is arranged in the first branch, and the second motor is arranged in the second branch.

8. The vehicle thermal management system according to claim 7, characterized in that: The first circulation loop is further provided with a power supply and distribution module, which is arranged in the first branch and located between the first pump and the first motor.

9. The vehicle thermal management system according to claim 6, characterized in that: The first circulation loop further includes a third control valve and includes a third branch and a fourth branch arranged in parallel. The third control valve is arranged between the first control valve and the radiator and is signal-connected to the control module so that the main trunk of the first circulation loop and the third branch and the fourth branch can be selectively connected or disconnected. The radiator is arranged on the fourth branch.

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