Refrigeration control method and vehicle

Abstract

The application provides a refrigeration control method and a vehicle. The refrigeration control method is used for a thermal management system of the vehicle. The thermal management system comprises a cooling liquid circuit and a refrigerant circuit. The refrigerant circuit comprises a condenser, a compressor, an evaporator and a first heat exchanger connected in series. The compressor comprises an air inlet and an air outlet. The air inlet is connected to the evaporator, and the air outlet is connected to the first heat exchanger and the condenser. The cooling liquid circuit comprises a cooling liquid branch. The cooling liquid branch passes through the first heat exchanger and comprises a first control valve located upstream of the first heat exchanger. The refrigeration control method comprises: in a refrigeration mode, acquiring a pressure at the air outlet of the compressor. According to the pressure at the air outlet of the compressor, the first control valve is controlled. If the pressure is greater than or equal to a first set pressure value, the first control valve is opened, so that the cooling liquid of the cooling liquid branch and the refrigerant of the refrigerant circuit exchange heat at the first heat exchanger. In this way, the condenser and the first heat exchanger exchange heat, and the heat exchange efficiency is high.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of automotive technology, and in particular to a refrigeration control method and a vehicle. Background Technology

[0002] With the gradual development of technology, new energy vehicles are increasingly coming into people's view. New energy vehicles are automobiles that use unconventional vehicle fuels as their power source. They typically have functions such as in-vehicle cooling and heating.

[0003] Some vehicles, when in cooling mode, rely solely on a single condenser to transfer heat from the vehicle's interior to the exterior. When the interior temperature is high, the heat dissipation rate is slow, resulting in low heat exchange efficiency and a poor user experience. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This application provides a refrigeration control method and a vehicle with high heat exchange efficiency.

[0005] This application provides a refrigeration control method for a vehicle's thermal management system. The thermal management system includes a coolant circuit and a refrigerant circuit. The refrigerant circuit includes a condenser, a compressor, an evaporator, and a first heat exchanger connected in series. The compressor includes an inlet and an outlet, the inlet being connected to the evaporator, and the outlet being connected to the first heat exchanger and the condenser. The coolant circuit includes a coolant branch. The coolant branch passes through the first heat exchanger and includes a first control valve located upstream of the first heat exchanger. The refrigeration control method includes:

[0006] In cooling mode, the pressure at the outlet of the compressor is obtained;

[0007] The first control valve is controlled according to the pressure at the outlet of the compressor;

[0008] If the pressure is greater than or equal to the first set pressure value, the first control valve is opened so that the coolant in the coolant branch and the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit can exchange heat at the first heat exchanger.

[0009] Further, the thermal management system includes a first air duct and a second air duct separated from each other, the evaporator is disposed in the first air duct, and the condenser is disposed in the second air duct; a first damper is disposed between the first air duct and the interior of the vehicle, on the air outlet side of the evaporator; a second damper is disposed between the second air duct and the exterior of the vehicle, on the air outlet side of the condenser; the refrigerant circuit includes a second control valve, the second control valve being disposed between the condenser and the evaporator; the cooling mode includes:

[0010] Obtain the internal temperature of the vehicle;

[0011] Based on the internal temperature of the vehicle, the second control valve, the first damper, and the second damper are controlled; if the internal temperature of the vehicle is greater than the set temperature, the second control valve is opened, and the first damper and the second damper are opened.

[0012] Further, before acquiring the pressure at the outlet of the compressor, the control method includes:

[0013] Obtain the internal temperature of the vehicle;

[0014] The first set pressure value is determined based on the internal temperature of the vehicle.

[0015] Further, determining the first set pressure value based on the internal temperature of the vehicle includes:

[0016] In the temperature-pressure mapping relationship, determine the temperature value closest to the interior temperature of the vehicle, and obtain the pressure value corresponding to the closest temperature value as the first set pressure value.

[0017] Further, controlling the first control valve based on the pressure at the outlet of the compressor includes:

[0018] If the pressure is greater than or equal to the first set pressure value and less than the second set pressure value, the opening of the first control valve is adjusted according to the real-time pressure at the outlet of the compressor; wherein, the greater the pressure at the outlet, the greater the opening of the first control valve; if the pressure is equal to the second set pressure value, the opening of the first control valve is at its maximum.

[0019] Furthermore, the thermal management system includes a condenser fan disposed on the air inlet side of the condenser, the condenser fan being used to supply air to the condenser; before controlling the first control valve according to the pressure at the outlet of the compressor, the refrigeration control method further includes:

[0020] Obtain the internal temperature of the vehicle;

[0021] The rotational speed of the condenser fan is determined based on the internal temperature of the vehicle and the pressure at the outlet of the compressor.

[0022] Further, determining the rotational speed of the condenser fan based on the internal temperature of the vehicle and the pressure at the outlet of the compressor includes:

[0023] The first set pressure value is determined based on the internal temperature of the vehicle.

[0024] If the pressure at the outlet of the compressor is less than the first set pressure value, the speed of the condenser fan is adjusted according to the pressure at the outlet of the compressor; wherein, the higher the pressure at the outlet of the compressor, the faster the speed of the condenser fan.

[0025] Furthermore, the thermal management system includes a temperature sensor and a condenser fan disposed on the air inlet side of the condenser. The temperature sensor is disposed on the condenser and is used to detect the surface temperature of the condenser; the condenser fan is used to supply air to the condenser; the refrigeration control method further includes:

[0026] The speed of the condenser fan is increased, and the temperature of the temperature sensor is obtained;

[0027] The speed of the condenser fan is adjusted according to the temperature change of the temperature sensor; if the temperature of the temperature sensor rises, the speed of the condenser fan is increased; if the temperature of the temperature sensor falls, the speed of the condenser fan is decreased.

[0028] Furthermore, after opening the first control valve when the pressure is greater than or equal to the first set pressure value, the refrigeration control method further includes:

[0029] If the pressure is less than the third set pressure value, the first control valve is closed.

[0030] This application provides a vehicle including a thermal management system and a controller. The thermal management system includes a coolant circuit and a refrigerant circuit. The refrigerant circuit includes a condenser, a compressor, an evaporator, and a first heat exchanger connected in series. The compressor includes an inlet and an outlet, the inlet being connected to the evaporator, and the outlet being connected to the first heat exchanger and the condenser. The coolant circuit includes a coolant branch. The coolant branch passes through the first heat exchanger and includes a first control valve located upstream of the first heat exchanger. The controller is used to execute the refrigeration control method as described in any of the above embodiments.

[0031] The refrigeration control method provided in this application can open the first control valve when the pressure at the compressor outlet is greater than or equal to a first set pressure value, so that the coolant in the coolant branch and the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit can exchange heat at the first heat exchanger. Thus, in refrigeration mode, the refrigerant from the compressor can be converted by the condenser and the first heat exchanger, making the refrigerant conversion more complete, the heat exchange efficiency higher, and the user experience better.

[0032] It should be understood that the above general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only, and do not limit this application. Attached Figure Description

[0033] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with this application and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of this application.

[0034] Figure 1 The diagram shown is a schematic representation of a vehicle thermal management system according to an exemplary embodiment of this application;

[0035] Figure 2 The diagram shown is a flowchart of a refrigeration control method according to an exemplary embodiment of this application;

[0036] Figure 3 As shown Figure 2 The first sub-flowchart of the refrigeration control method shown;

[0037] Figure 4 As shown Figure 2 The second sub-flowchart of the refrigeration control method shown;

[0038] Figure 5 As shown Figure 2 The third sub-flowchart of the refrigeration control method shown. Detailed Implementation

[0039] Exemplary embodiments will now be described in detail, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. When the following description relates to the drawings, unless otherwise indicated, the same numbers in different drawings denote the same or similar elements. The embodiments described in the following exemplary embodiments do not represent all embodiments consistent with this application. Rather, they are merely examples of apparatuses and methods consistent with some aspects of this application as detailed in the appended claims.

[0040] The terminology used in this application is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the application. Unless otherwise defined, the technical or scientific terms used in this application should be understood in their ordinary sense by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application pertains. The terms "first," "second," and similar terms used in this application specification and claims do not indicate any order, quantity, or importance, but are merely used to distinguish different components. Similarly, the terms "a" or "one," etc., do not indicate a quantity limitation, but rather indicate the presence of at least one. "A plurality" or "several" indicates two or more. Unless otherwise indicated, the terms "front," "rear," "lower," and / or "upper," etc., are for ease of description only and are not limited to a location or spatial orientation. The terms "comprising" or "including," etc., mean that the elements or objects preceding "comprising" or "including" encompass the elements or objects listed following "comprising" or "including" and their equivalents, and do not exclude other elements or objects. The terms "connected," "linked," etc., are not limited to physical or mechanical connections and can include electrical connections, whether direct or indirect.

[0041] The terminology used in this application is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the application. The singular forms “a,” “the,” and “the” used in this application and the appended claims are also intended to include the plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It should also be understood that the term “and / or” as used herein refers to and includes any or all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0042] This application provides a vehicle, which may be a new energy vehicle. The vehicle includes a thermal management system and a controller, the controller being connected to the thermal management system for executing a cooling control method.

[0043] See Figure 1 As shown, the thermal management system 10 includes a coolant circuit 11 and a refrigerant circuit 12. The coolant circuit 11 is as follows: Figure 1 As shown by the dashed line, refrigerant circuit 12 is as follows: Figure 1As shown by the solid lines, the refrigerant circuit 12 includes a condenser 13, a second control valve 14, an evaporator 15, a compressor 16, and a first heat exchanger 17 connected in series. The second control valve 14 is located between the condenser 13 and the evaporator 15. The compressor 16 includes an inlet 18 and an outlet 19. The inlet 18 is connected to the evaporator 15, and the outlet 19 is connected to the first heat exchanger 17 and the condenser 13. The first heat exchanger 17 and the condenser 13 are connected in series. A first sensor 20 is installed on the pipe connected to the inlet 18 of the compressor 16, and a second sensor 21 is installed on the pipe connected to the outlet 19 of the compressor 16. The first sensor 20 and the second sensor 21 can be temperature and pressure sensors, which can be used to detect pressure and temperature, thereby adjusting the speed of the compressor 16 according to the detected pressure and temperature. In this embodiment, the outlet 19 of the compressor 16 is connected to one end of the first heat exchanger 17, the other end of the first heat exchanger 17 is connected to one end of the condenser 13, the other end of the condenser 13 is connected to one end of the second control valve 14, the other end of the second control valve 14 is connected to one end of the evaporator 15, and the other end of the evaporator 15 is connected to the inlet 18 of the compressor 16. A controller is connected to the second control valve 14 and can control the opening and closing of the second control valve 14, as well as the degree of opening of the second control valve 14. The second control valve 14 can be a solenoid valve.

[0044] In some embodiments, the thermal management system 10 includes a first air duct 22 and a second air duct 23 that are separated from each other. An evaporator 15 is disposed within the first air duct 22, and a condenser 13 is disposed within the second air duct 23. This allows the evaporator 15 and the condenser 13 to be separated. A first damper 24 is provided between the first air duct 22 and the interior of the vehicle, on the air outlet side of the evaporator 15. The first damper 24 is closable between the first air duct 22 and the interior of the vehicle. The first damper 24 can be rotated to open, thereby establishing communication between the first air duct 22 and the interior of the vehicle. A second damper 25 is provided between the second air duct 23 and the exterior of the vehicle, on the air outlet side of the condenser 13. The second damper 25 is closable between the second air duct 23 and the exterior of the vehicle. The second damper 25 can be rotated to open, thereby establishing communication between the second air duct 23 and the exterior of the vehicle.

[0045] In some embodiments, a third damper 26 is provided between the first air duct 22 and the exterior of the vehicle, on the air outlet side of the evaporator 15. The third damper 26 is closable between the first air duct 22 and the exterior of the vehicle; it can be rotated to open, thereby establishing communication between the first air duct 22 and the exterior of the vehicle. A fourth damper 27 is provided between the second air duct 23 and the interior of the vehicle, on the air outlet side of the condenser 13. The fourth damper 27 is closable between the second air duct 23 and the interior of the vehicle; it can be rotated to open, thereby establishing communication between the second air duct 23 and the interior of the vehicle. The controller can be connected to the first damper 24, the second damper 25, the third damper 26, and the fourth damper 27. By controlling these dampers, the air outlet side of the evaporator 15 in the first air duct 22 can be connected to at most one of the vehicle's interior or exterior. Similarly, the air outlet side of the condenser 13 in the second air duct 23 can be connected to at most one of the vehicle's interior or exterior.

[0046] In some embodiments, the thermal management system 10 includes a fifth damper 28 disposed between a first air duct 22 and a second air duct 23, the fifth damper 28 being rotatably disposed between the first air duct 22 and the second air duct 23. When the fifth damper 28 is in a first position, the first air duct 22 and the second air duct 23 are connected; when the fifth damper 28 is in a second position, the first air duct 22 and the second air duct 23 are not connected. Thus, when the ambient temperature is too cold or too hot, the fifth damper 28 can be opened to mix air. For example, when the ambient temperature is low, since the evaporator 15's cooling temperature is higher than the vehicle's interior temperature, the fifth damper 28 can be opened to use the cooling temperature of the evaporator 15 to heat the condenser 13, thereby reducing energy consumption.

[0047] In some embodiments, the thermal management system 10 includes a condenser fan 29 disposed on the air inlet side of the condenser 13 and an evaporator fan 30 disposed on the air inlet side of the evaporator 15. The condenser fan 29 and the evaporator fan 30 can be blowers. The evaporator fan 30 is disposed within a first air duct 22 and can deliver air from outside and / or inside the vehicle to the air inlet side of the evaporator 15; the evaporator fan 30 is used to supply air to the evaporator 15. The condenser fan 29 is disposed within a second air duct 23 and can deliver air from outside and / or inside the vehicle to the air inlet side of the condenser 13. The condenser fan 29 is used to supply air to the condenser 13. Thus, the evaporator fan 30 is disposed within the first air duct 22, and the condenser fan 29 is disposed within the second air duct 23, allowing the condenser 13 and the evaporator 15 to have independent air inlets for air intake.

[0048] In some embodiments, the coolant circuit 11 includes a first sub-coolant circuit 31, which includes a battery 32. Coolant can circulate in the first coolant circuit 11, passing through the battery 32 to cool or heat the battery 32, maintaining it within a suitable operating temperature range. The coolant may be a mixture of water and ethylene glycol.

[0049] In some embodiments, the coolant circuit 11 includes a second sub-coolant circuit 33, which includes a main coolant path 34 and a branch coolant path 35. The main coolant path 34 includes an electrical component 36. The electrical component 36 may include an on-board charger, a converter, an autonomous driving domain controller, a motor, or other structures. The coolant can circulate in the main coolant path 34, allowing it to pass through the electrical component 36, thereby cooling the electrical component 36. The branch coolant path 35 passes through a first heat exchanger 17 and includes a first control valve 37 located upstream of the first heat exchanger 17. The first control valve 37 may be a proportional valve. A controller is connected to the first control valve 37 and is used to control the opening and closing of the first control valve 37, and may also be used to control the degree of opening of the first control valve 37. When the first control valve 37 is in the open state, coolant can be supplied to the first heat exchanger 17 so that the coolant and refrigerant can exchange heat at the first heat exchanger 17; when the first control valve 37 is in the closed state, coolant does not flow through the first heat exchanger 17.

[0050] In some embodiments, the thermal management system 10 further includes a refrigerant branch 38, and the coolant circuit 11 includes a third sub-coolant circuit 39. The refrigerant branch 38 can be connected between the condenser 13 and the air inlet 18 of the compressor 16. The refrigerant branch 38 is connected in parallel with the evaporator 15. The refrigerant branch 38 includes a third control valve 40 and a second heat exchanger 41. The third control valve 40 is located upstream of the second heat exchanger 41, between the condenser 13 and the second heat exchanger 41. The controller can control the opening and closing of the third control valve 40 to connect and close the refrigerant branch 38. When the third control valve 40 is open, the refrigerant branch 38 is connected. At this time, the refrigerant flowing from the condenser 13 can flow to the third control valve 40 and pass through the second heat exchanger 41. The third sub-coolant circuit 39 passes through the second heat exchanger 41, allowing heat exchange between the coolant in the third sub-coolant circuit 39 and the refrigerant in the refrigerant branch 38.

[0051] In some embodiments, the third sub-coolant circuit 39 includes a heater 42 for heating the coolant. The heater 42 may be a high-pressure liquid heater. When the third control valve 40 is open and the heater 42 is open, the heated coolant flowing through the heater 42 exchanges heat with the refrigerant in the refrigerant branch 38 at the second heat exchanger 41. Under low-temperature conditions, the heated coolant through the heater 42 can be used to raise the temperature at the second heat exchanger 41, thereby heating the refrigerant circuit 12 and allowing the temperature inside the vehicle to gradually increase.

[0052] In some embodiments, the coolant circuit 11 includes a fourth sub-coolant circuit 43, which includes a radiator 44. The radiator 44 is used to cool the coolant. Optionally, the radiator 44 includes a water tank 45 and a cooling fan 46, which can be positioned directly opposite the water tank 45 to cool the coolant.

[0053] In some embodiments, the coolant circuit 11 includes a circuit control valve 47. A first sub-coolant circuit 31, a second sub-coolant circuit 33, a third sub-coolant circuit 39, and a fourth sub-coolant circuit 43 are connected to the circuit control valve 47. A controller is connected to the circuit control valve 47 and controls the first sub-coolant circuit 31, the second sub-coolant circuit 33, the third sub-coolant circuit 39, and the fourth sub-coolant circuit 43 to be selectively connected to each other by controlling the circuit control valve 47.

[0054] In this embodiment, the loop control valve 47 includes a first four-way valve 48 and a second four-way valve 49. One end of the first sub-coolant loop 31, the second sub-coolant loop 33, the third sub-coolant loop 39, and the fourth sub-coolant loop 43 is connected to the first four-way valve 48, and the other end is connected to the second four-way valve 49. The first four-way valve 48 and the second four-way valve 49 can be used to integrate the first sub-coolant loop 31, the second sub-coolant loop 33, the third sub-coolant loop, and the fourth sub-coolant loop 43, further reducing assembly time and lowering costs.

[0055] See Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, a cooling control method is used in the thermal management system 10 of a vehicle. The cooling control method includes steps S101 to S102.

[0056] In step S101, in cooling mode, the pressure at the outlet 19 of the compressor 16 is acquired. In cooling mode, the controller can acquire the pressure at the outlet 19 of the compressor 16 via the second sensor 21.

[0057] In step S102, the first control valve 37 is controlled according to the pressure at the outlet 19 of the compressor 16. This control valve 37 can be opened and closed, and its opening degree can also be controlled. If the pressure is greater than or equal to a first set pressure value, the first control valve 37 is opened to allow heat exchange between the coolant in the coolant branch 35 and the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit 12 at the first heat exchanger 17. At this time, the first heat exchanger 17 acts as a water-cooled condenser. Therefore, in cooling mode, the condenser 13 and the first heat exchanger 17 can be used to convert the refrigerant from the compressor 16, resulting in more complete refrigerant conversion, thus improving the cooling effect of the evaporator 15, increasing heat exchange efficiency, and enhancing the user experience.

[0058] See Figure 1 and Figure 3 As shown, in some embodiments, the cooling mode includes steps S201 to S202.

[0059] In step S201, the temperature inside the vehicle is acquired. Acquiring the temperature inside the vehicle may refer to acquiring the temperature inside the vehicle's passenger compartment.

[0060] In step S202, the second control valve 14, the first damper 24, and the second damper 25 are controlled according to the vehicle's interior temperature. If the vehicle's interior temperature is higher than the set temperature, the second control valve 14 is opened, and the first damper 24 and the second damper 25 are also opened. The set temperature can be a user-defined temperature. The refrigerant circuit 12 can be connected and closed by controlling the opening and closing of the second control valve 14. The amount of refrigerant flowing through the evaporator 15 can be controlled by controlling the opening degree of the second control valve 14. When the second control valve 14 is open, the refrigerant circuit 12 is connected, and the refrigerant can flow in the refrigerant circuit 12, allowing it to flow through the evaporator 15, compressor 16, first heat exchanger 17, condenser 13, and second control valve 14. At this time, the evaporator 15 can be used for cooling, which can lower the vehicle's interior temperature. The condenser 13 can be used for heating, which can raise the vehicle's interior temperature. Opening the first air damper 24 connects the first air duct 22 to the interior of the vehicle, allowing cold air from the evaporator 15 outlet to enter the vehicle interior. Opening the second air damper 25 connects the second air duct 23 to the exterior of the vehicle, allowing hot air from the condenser 13 outlet to exit the vehicle exterior. At this time, the third air damper 26 and the fourth air damper 27 can be closed.

[0061] In some embodiments, before acquiring the pressure at the outlet 19 of the compressor 16, the control method includes determining a first set pressure value based on the interior temperature of the vehicle. This allows for setting the first set pressure value to adapt to different interior temperatures of the vehicle, resulting in better adaptability.

[0062] In some embodiments, determining a first preset pressure value based on the vehicle's interior temperature includes: determining the temperature value closest to the vehicle's interior temperature in a temperature-pressure mapping relationship, and obtaining the pressure value corresponding to the closest temperature value as the first preset pressure value. The mapping relationships between different temperatures and different pressures can form multiple data sets. For example, data set [Temperature 1 - Pressure 1], data set [Temperature 2 - Pressure 2], ..., data set [Temperature N - Pressure N]. The temperature value closest to the current vehicle interior temperature can be compared and confirmed among multiple data sets. Temperature 1, Temperature 2, ..., Temperature N in the data set can be compared with the current vehicle interior temperature to confirm the temperature value closest to the current vehicle interior temperature. The pressure value corresponding to the closest temperature value can be obtained as the first preset pressure value. This allows for a faster comparison process, resulting in a faster acquisition of the first preset pressure value.

[0063] In some embodiments, controlling the first control valve 37 based on the pressure at the outlet 19 of the compressor 16 includes: if the pressure is greater than or equal to a first set pressure value and less than a second set pressure value, adjusting the opening of the first control valve 37 according to the real-time pressure at the outlet 19 of the compressor 16. The second set pressure value can be a fixed value, and its range can be between 24 bar and 26 bar. The higher the pressure at the outlet 19 of the compressor 16, the larger the opening of the first control valve 37. This increases the flow rate of the coolant through the first heat exchanger 17, thereby accelerating the heat exchange rate and reducing the pressure at the outlet 19 of the compressor 16. When the pressure equals the second set pressure value, the opening of the first control valve 37 is at its maximum. This allows the first control valve 37 to be adjusted to its maximum opening before the compressor 16 reaches a critical value, maximizing the flow rate of the coolant through the first heat exchanger 17, resulting in faster heat exchange and a quicker reduction in the pressure of the compressor 16, thus providing an explosion-proof effect.

[0064] In some embodiments, controlling the first control valve 37 based on the pressure at the outlet 19 of the compressor 16 includes closing the first control valve 37 if the pressure is less than a third preset pressure value. The third preset pressure value can be determined based on the interior temperature of the vehicle. The third preset pressure value can also be a fixed value, such as 1.8 bar, and this application does not impose any limitations. Closing the first control valve 37 when the pressure is less than the third preset pressure value allows the interior of the vehicle to maintain a comfortable temperature, thus improving the user experience.

[0065] In some embodiments, before controlling the first control valve 37 based on the pressure at the outlet 19 of the compressor 16, the refrigeration control method further includes: determining the rotational speed of the condenser fan 29 based on the interior temperature of the vehicle and the pressure at the outlet 19 of the compressor 16. A first set pressure value can be determined based on the interior temperature of the vehicle. The rotational speed of the condenser fan 29 can be determined based on the relationship between the pressure at the outlet 19 of the compressor 16 and the first set pressure value.

[0066] See Figure 1 and Figure 4 As shown, in some embodiments, the rotational speed of the condenser fan 29 is determined based on the internal temperature of the vehicle and the pressure at the outlet 19 of the compressor 16, including steps S301 to S302.

[0067] In step S301, a first set pressure value is determined based on the temperature inside the vehicle.

[0068] In step S302, if the pressure at the outlet 19 of the compressor 16 is less than the first set pressure value, the speed of the condenser fan 29 is adjusted according to the pressure at the outlet 19 of the compressor 16. Specifically, the higher the pressure at the outlet 19 of the compressor 16, the faster the speed of the condenser fan 29. Thus, by adjusting the speed of the condenser fan 29 according to the pressure at the outlet 19 of the compressor 16, the condenser fan 29 can rotate faster when the pressure is high, improving the heat exchange efficiency of the condenser 13 and thereby reducing the pressure at the outlet 19 of the compressor 16.

[0069] See Figure 1 and Figure 5 As shown, in some embodiments, the thermal management system 10 includes a temperature sensor (not shown) and a condenser fan 29 disposed on the air inlet side of the condenser 13. The temperature sensor is disposed on the condenser 13 and is used to detect the surface temperature of the condenser 13. The refrigeration control method further includes steps S401 to S402.

[0070] In step S401, the rotational speed of the condenser fan 29 is increased, and the temperature of the temperature sensor is obtained.

[0071] In step S402, the rotational speed of the condenser fan 29 is adjusted based on the temperature changes detected by the temperature sensor. If the temperature sensor temperature rises, the rotational speed of the condenser fan 29 is increased. If the temperature sensor temperature decreases, the rotational speed of the condenser fan 29 is decreased. When the rotational speed of the condenser fan 29 increases and the temperature sensor temperature rises, the rotational speed of the condenser fan 29 can be increased; when the rotational speed of the condenser fan 29 increases and the temperature sensor temperature remains unchanged, the rotational speed of the condenser fan 29 can be kept constant; when the rotational speed of the condenser fan 29 increases and the temperature sensor temperature decreases, the rotational speed of the condenser fan 29 can be decreased. By controlling the rotational speed of the condenser fan 29, the pressure at the outlet 19 of the compressor 16 can be maintained at a suitable level, resulting in better cooling performance of the evaporator 15 and increased user comfort.

[0072] Other embodiments of this application will readily occur to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the specification and practice of the application disclosed herein. This application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of this application that follow the general principles of this application and include common knowledge or customary techniques in the art not disclosed herein. The specification and examples are to be considered exemplary only, and the true scope and spirit of this application are indicated by the following claims.

[0073] It should be understood that this application is not limited to the precise structure described above and shown in the accompanying drawings, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from its scope. The scope of this application is limited only by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A refrigeration control method, characterized in that, A thermal management system for a vehicle includes a coolant circuit, a refrigerant circuit, and a refrigerant branch; the refrigerant circuit includes a condenser, a second control valve, a compressor, an evaporator, and a first heat exchanger connected in series; the second control valve is disposed between the condenser and the evaporator; the compressor includes an inlet and an outlet, the inlet being connected to the evaporator, and the outlet being connected to the first heat exchanger and the condenser; the coolant circuit includes a third sub-coolant circuit and a coolant branch; the coolant branch passes through the first heat exchanger and includes a first control valve located upstream of the first heat exchanger; The refrigerant branch is connected between the condenser and the compressor inlet, and is connected in parallel with the evaporator; the refrigerant branch includes a second heat exchanger and a third control valve, the third control valve being located upstream of the second heat exchanger; the third sub-coolant circuit passes through the second heat exchanger; the third sub-coolant circuit is connected to the coolant branch; the refrigeration control method includes: In cooling mode, the pressure at the outlet of the compressor is obtained; The first control valve is controlled according to the pressure at the outlet of the compressor; If the pressure is greater than or equal to the first set pressure value, the first control valve is opened so that the coolant in the coolant branch and the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit exchange heat at the first heat exchanger, thereby reducing the pressure at the outlet of the compressor.

2. The refrigeration control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The thermal management system includes a first air duct and a second air duct that are separated from each other. The evaporator is disposed in the first air duct and the condenser is disposed in the second air duct. A first air damper is provided between the first air duct and the interior of the vehicle, on the air outlet side of the evaporator. A second air damper is provided between the second air duct and the exterior of the vehicle, on the air outlet side of the condenser; the cooling mode includes: Obtain the internal temperature of the vehicle; Based on the internal temperature of the vehicle, the second control valve, the first damper, and the second damper are controlled; if the internal temperature of the vehicle is greater than the set temperature, the second control valve is opened, and the first damper and the second damper are opened.

3. The refrigeration control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, Before acquiring the pressure at the outlet of the compressor, the control method includes: Obtain the internal temperature of the vehicle; The first set pressure value is determined based on the internal temperature of the vehicle.

4. The refrigeration control method according to claim 3, characterized in that, Determining the first set pressure value based on the internal temperature of the vehicle includes: In the temperature-pressure mapping relationship, determine the temperature value closest to the interior temperature of the vehicle, and obtain the pressure value corresponding to the closest temperature value as the first set pressure value.

5. The refrigeration control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The step of controlling the first control valve based on the pressure at the outlet of the compressor includes: If the pressure is greater than or equal to the first set pressure value and less than the second set pressure value, the opening of the first control valve is adjusted according to the real-time pressure at the outlet of the compressor; wherein, the greater the pressure at the outlet, the greater the opening of the first control valve; if the pressure is equal to the second set pressure value, the opening of the first control valve is at its maximum.

6. The refrigeration control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The thermal management system includes a condenser fan disposed on the air inlet side of the condenser, the condenser fan being used to supply air to the condenser; before controlling the first control valve based on the pressure at the outlet of the compressor, the refrigeration control method further includes: Obtain the internal temperature of the vehicle; The rotational speed of the condenser fan is determined based on the internal temperature of the vehicle and the pressure at the outlet of the compressor.

7. The refrigeration control method according to claim 6, characterized in that, Determining the rotational speed of the condenser fan based on the internal temperature of the vehicle and the pressure at the outlet of the compressor includes: The first set pressure value is determined based on the internal temperature of the vehicle. If the pressure at the outlet of the compressor is less than the first set pressure value, the speed of the condenser fan is adjusted according to the pressure at the outlet of the compressor; wherein, the higher the pressure at the outlet of the compressor, the faster the speed of the condenser fan.

8. The refrigeration control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The thermal management system includes a temperature sensor and a condenser fan located on the air inlet side of the condenser. The temperature sensor is located on the condenser and is used to detect the surface temperature of the condenser. The condenser fan is used to supply air to the condenser. The refrigeration control method further includes: The speed of the condenser fan is increased, and the temperature of the temperature sensor is obtained; The speed of the condenser fan is adjusted according to the temperature change of the temperature sensor; if the temperature of the temperature sensor rises, the speed of the condenser fan is increased; if the temperature of the temperature sensor falls, the speed of the condenser fan is decreased.

9. The refrigeration control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, If the pressure is greater than or equal to the first set pressure value, after opening the first control valve, the refrigeration control method further includes: If the pressure is less than the third set pressure value, the first control valve is closed.

10. A vehicle, characterized in that, The system includes a thermal management system and a controller. The thermal management system includes a coolant circuit and a refrigerant circuit. The refrigerant circuit includes a condenser, a compressor, an evaporator, and a first heat exchanger connected in series. The compressor includes an inlet and an outlet, the inlet being connected to the evaporator and the outlet being connected to the first heat exchanger and the condenser. The coolant circuit includes a coolant branch. The coolant branch passes through the first heat exchanger and includes a first control valve located upstream of the first heat exchanger. The controller is used to execute the refrigeration control method as described in any one of claims 1-9.

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