Vehicle thermal management system, control method thereof, and vehicle

Abstract

The application provides a vehicle thermal management system and a control method thereof and a vehicle, wherein the system comprises: a cabin heat exchange module comprising an in-cabin evaporator; a heat pump heat exchange module comprising a compressor, a condenser heat exchanger and an evaporator heat exchanger capable of forming a refrigerant circulation, a first throttling element being arranged on a refrigerant flow path between the condenser heat exchanger and the evaporator heat exchanger, and a second throttling element being arranged on a refrigerant flow path between the condenser heat exchanger and the in-cabin evaporator; and a water side heat exchange module comprising a first out-cabin water path heat exchanger and a battery heat exchange structure, a first water pump being used to form a water circulation between the first out-cabin water path heat exchanger and the condenser heat exchanger, and a second water pump being used to form a water circulation between the battery heat exchange structure and the evaporator heat exchanger. The application realizes heat exchange coupling of the heat pump heat exchange module, the cabin heat exchange module and the water side heat exchange module, so that a corresponding cooling unit does not need to be respectively arranged for the cabin heat exchange module and the water side heat exchange module, and the overall vehicle cost is effectively reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of air conditioning technology, specifically relating to a vehicle thermal management system and its control method, and a vehicle. Background Technology

[0002] With the development of electric commercial vehicles, the development of thermal management systems for these vehicles has also become a priority. Currently, the thermal management systems of electric commercial vehicles mainly meet the requirements of individual components, without utilizing the system's waste heat. For example, the water temperature in the motor and electronic control cooling circuit can reach 60℃, and this heat is converted from the electrical energy of the power battery. This waste heat is directly dissipated into the external environment, reducing energy efficiency. Furthermore, the battery pack cooling unit and the air conditioning cooling system are two independent systems, increasing the overall vehicle cost. Additionally, some thermal management systems are incompatible with the original vehicle's HVAC layout, requiring the development of new HVAC air conditioning boxes, which further lengthens the development cycle of electric commercial vehicles.

[0003] To address the aforementioned issues with current electric commercial vehicles, it is necessary to develop a vehicle thermal management system for electric commercial vehicles. This system would enable comprehensive configuration and heat utilization of the entire vehicle system, thereby increasing driving range and reducing overall vehicle costs. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Therefore, the present invention provides a vehicle thermal management system and its control method, as well as a vehicle, which can solve the technical problem in the prior art that the vehicle thermal management system cabin cooling unit and the battery and motor electronic control cooling unit are independent of each other, resulting in high vehicle cost.

[0005] To address the above problems, the present invention provides a vehicle thermal management system, comprising:

[0006] The cabin heat exchange module includes an in-cabin evaporator;

[0007] A heat pump heat exchange module includes a compressor capable of forming a refrigerant cycle, a condensing heat exchanger, an evaporating heat exchanger, a first throttling element, and a second throttling element, wherein the first throttling element is located in the refrigerant flow path between the condensing heat exchanger and the evaporating heat exchanger, the second throttling element is located in the refrigerant flow path between the condensing heat exchanger and the in-cabin evaporator, and the evaporating heat exchanger and the in-cabin evaporator are connected in parallel;

[0008] The water-side heat exchange module includes a first external water circuit heat exchanger, a battery heat exchange structure, a first water pump, and a second water pump. The first water pump is used to form a water circulation between the first external water circuit heat exchanger and the condenser heat exchanger, and the second water pump is used to form a water circulation between the battery heat exchange structure and the evaporator heat exchanger.

[0009] In some embodiments, the water-side heat exchange module further includes:

[0010] The second external water circuit heat exchanger is used to drive water to flow sequentially through the evaporator heat exchanger, the second external water circuit heat exchanger, the battery heat exchange structure, and back to the evaporator heat exchanger.

[0011] In some embodiments, the water-side heat exchange module further includes:

[0012] The electric motor-controlled heat exchange structure includes a second water pump that drives water to flow sequentially through the evaporator heat exchanger, the second external water circuit heat exchanger, the electric motor-controlled heat exchange structure, and the battery heat exchange structure, and then back to the evaporator heat exchanger.

[0013] In some embodiments, the vehicle thermal management system further includes:

[0014] A six-way valve is provided, with its first port connected to the first inlet and outlet of the second external water heat exchanger, its second port connected to the first inlet and outlet of the motor-controlled heat exchange structure, its third port connected to the first inlet and outlet of the battery heat exchange structure, its fourth port connected to the second inlet and outlet of the battery heat exchange structure, its fifth port connected to the first inlet and outlet of the evaporator heat exchanger, and its sixth port connected to the outlet of the second water pump.

[0015] In some implementations...

[0016] The water path between the second port of the six-way valve and the electric motor-controlled heat exchange structure is the first water path, and the water path between the first port of the six-way valve and the second external water path heat exchanger is the second water path. The water-side heat exchange module also includes a third water pump, which is connected between the first water path and the second water path.

[0017] In some embodiments, the cabin heat exchange module further includes:

[0018] The cabin heating element, and the first water pump is also used to form a water circulation between the condenser heat exchanger and the cabin heating element.

[0019] In some embodiments, the vehicle thermal management system further includes:

[0020] An electric heating element is used to heat the water flowing out of the condenser heat exchanger.

[0021] In some embodiments, the vehicle thermal management system further includes:

[0022] An eight-way valve is provided, wherein the first port of the eight-way valve is connected to the first inlet and outlet of the condensing heat exchanger via the electric heating component, the first water pump, the second port of the eight-way valve is connected to the second inlet and outlet of the condensing heat exchanger, the third port of the eight-way valve is connected to the first inlet and outlet of the cabin heating core, the fourth port of the eight-way valve is connected to the second inlet and outlet of the cabin heating core, the fifth port of the eight-way valve is connected to the first inlet and outlet of the first external water heat exchanger, the sixth port of the eight-way valve is connected to the second inlet and outlet of the first external water heat exchanger, the seventh port of the eight-way valve is connected to the third port of the six-way valve, and the eighth port of the eight-way valve is connected to the fourth port of the six-way valve.

[0023] In some implementations...

[0024] The first external water heat exchanger and the second external water heat exchanger are stacked one after the other and share an external fan 7.

[0025] In some embodiments, the cabin heat exchange module further includes:

[0026] The cabin air supply duct is equipped with the cabin evaporator and cabin heating core. The cabin air supply duct is constructed with defrost vents, face vents and foot vents.

[0027] The present invention also provides a control method for controlling the above-mentioned vehicle thermal management system, comprising:

[0028] Obtain the system's operating mode;

[0029] Based on the acquired operating mode, the on / off state of the first and second throttling elements is controlled, the conduction of the ports of the six-way valve and / or eight-way valve is controlled, and the operation of the compressor, the first water pump, the second water pump, the third water pump, and the electric heating component is controlled.

[0030] In some implementations...

[0031] When the operating mode is the vehicle cabin heat pump cooling mode, the first throttling element is cut off and the second throttling element is turned on; the first and sixth ports of the eight-way valve are turned on, and the second and fifth ports are turned on; the compressor and the first water pump are turned on, and the second and third water pumps and the electric heating components are turned off; or...

[0032] When the operating mode is battery heat pump cooling mode, the first throttling element is turned on and the second throttling element is turned off; the first port and the sixth port of the eight-way valve are turned on, and the second port and the fifth port are turned on; the third port and the sixth port of the six-way valve are turned on, and the fourth port and the fifth port are turned on; the compressor, the first water pump, and the second water pump are operated; and the electric heating component and the third water pump are not operated.

[0033] When the operating mode is the battery ambient temperature cooling mode, the first and second throttling elements are cut off, the first and sixth ports, the second and third ports, and the fourth and fifth ports of the six-way valve are connected, the second water pump is operated, and the compressor, the first water pump, the electric heating component, and the third water pump are not operated; or...

[0034] When the operating mode is simultaneous heat pump cooling of the vehicle compartment and battery, the first and second throttling elements are controlled to be turned on, the first and sixth ports and the second and fifth ports of the eight-way valve are controlled to be turned on, the third and sixth ports and the fourth and fifth ports of the six-way valve are controlled to be turned on, the compressor, the first water pump, the second water pump, and the third water pump are controlled to operate, and the electric heating component is controlled to not operate; or...

[0035] When the operating mode is a mixed cooling mode for the vehicle compartment and battery, the first throttling element is cut off, the second throttling element is turned on, the first and sixth ports of the eight-way valve are turned on, the second and fifth ports are turned on, the first and sixth ports of the six-way valve are turned on, the second and third ports are turned on, and the fourth and fifth ports are turned on, the compressor, the first water pump, and the second water pump are operated, and the third water pump and the electric heating component are not operated; or...

[0036] When the operating mode is the synchronous cooling mode of the cabin, battery and motor control, the first throttling element and the second throttling element are controlled to be turned on, the first port and the sixth port and the second port and the fifth port of the eight-way valve are controlled to be turned on, the third port and the sixth port and the fourth port and the fifth port of the six-way valve are controlled to be turned on, the compressor, the first water pump, the second water pump and the third water pump are controlled to be turned on, and the electric heating component is controlled to be turned off.

[0037] In some implementations...

[0038] When the operating mode is the vehicle cabin heat pump heating mode, the first throttling element is turned on and the second throttling element is turned off; the first and fourth ports and the second and third ports of the eight-way valve are turned on; the first and sixth ports and the second and fifth ports of the six-way valve are turned on; the compressor, the first water pump, and the second water pump are operated; and the third water pump and the electric heating component are not operated. Alternatively...

[0039] When the operating mode is the cabin electric heating mode, the first and second throttling elements are cut off, the first and fourth ports of the eight-way valve are connected, the second and third ports are connected, the first water pump and the electric heating component are operated, and the compressor, second water pump, and third water pump are not operated; or...

[0040] When the operating mode is battery heat pump heating mode, the first throttling element is turned on and the second throttling element is turned off; the first port and the eighth port of the eight-way valve are turned on, and the second port and the seventh port are turned on; the first water pump, the second water pump, and the compressor are operated; and the electric heating component and the third water pump are not operated. Alternatively...

[0041] When the operating mode is battery electric heating mode, the first and second throttling elements are cut off, the first and eighth ports of the eight-way valve are connected, and the second and seventh ports are connected. The first water pump and electric heating component are operated, while the second water pump, compressor, and third water pump are not operated; or...

[0042] When the operating mode is simultaneous electric heating of the vehicle cabin and battery, the first and second throttling elements are cut off, the first and eighth ports of the eight-way valve are connected, the second and third ports are connected, and the fourth and seventh ports are connected, the first water pump and the electric heating component are operated, and the second water pump, the compressor, and the third water pump are not operated; or...

[0043] When the operating mode is the simultaneous heat pump heating mode of the vehicle cabin and battery, the first throttling element is turned on and the second throttling element is turned off. The first port and the eighth port, the second port and the third port, and the fourth port and the seventh port of the eight-way valve are turned on. The first port and the sixth port, the second port and the fifth port of the six-way valve are turned on. The first water pump, the second water pump and the compressor are turned on. The third water pump and the electric heating component are turned off.

[0044] In some implementations...

[0045] When the operating mode is the cabin electric heating combined battery cooling mode, the first and second throttling elements are cut off, the first and fourth ports of the eight-way valve are connected, the second and third ports are connected, the first and sixth ports of the six-way valve are connected, the second and third ports are connected, and the fourth and fifth ports are connected. The first and second water pumps and the electric heating components are operated, while the compressor and the third water pump are not operated; or...

[0046] When the operating mode is the vehicle cabin heat pump heating and battery cooling mode, the first throttling element is turned on and the second throttling element is turned off; the first and fourth ports and the second and third ports of the eight-way valve are turned on; the third and sixth ports and the fourth and fifth ports of the six-way valve are turned on; the first water pump, the second water pump, and the compressor are operated; and the electric heating component and the third water pump are not operated. Alternatively...

[0047] When the operating mode is the vehicle cabin heat pump heating combined waste heat recovery mode, the first throttling element is turned on and the second throttling element is turned off, the first port and the fourth port of the eight-way valve are turned on, the second port and the third port are turned on, the first port and the sixth port of the six-way valve are turned on, the second port and the third port are turned on, and the fourth port and the fifth port are turned on, the first water pump, the second water pump and the compressor are turned off, and the electric heating component and the third water pump are turned off.

[0048] The present invention also provides a vehicle including the above-described vehicle thermal management system.

[0049] The present invention provides a vehicle thermal management system and control method thereof, and a vehicle, which have the following beneficial effects:

[0050] The heat pump heat exchange module uses a condenser heat exchanger and an evaporator heat exchanger to form water heat exchange with the water-side heat exchange module through the first water pump and the second water pump, respectively. At the same time, it can also form refrigerant circulation heat exchange with the evaporator in the cabin through the second throttling element. This realizes the heat exchange coupling between the heat pump heat exchange module, the cabin heat exchange module and the water-side heat exchange module. Therefore, it is not necessary to configure corresponding cooling units for the cabin heat exchange module and the water-side heat exchange module separately, which effectively reduces the overall vehicle cost.

[0051] The second external water heat exchanger can, in some cases, absorb heat from the external environment and use it to cool the motor and electronic control heat exchange structure, eliminating the need to operate the aforementioned compressor and thus achieving energy saving and consumption reduction. Furthermore, in some situations, the second water pump can create a water circulation system between the evaporator heat exchanger, the second external water heat exchanger, the motor and electronic control heat exchange structure, and the battery heat exchange structure. This circulating water can recover and transfer heat from the motor and electronic control heat exchange structure and the battery heat exchange structure to the evaporator heat exchanger, ultimately transferring the heat to the heat pump heat exchange module and improving its heating efficiency. Additionally, when the system is operating in heating mode, the second external water heat exchanger exchanges heat with its evaporator heat exchanger, effectively preventing frost formation on the external heat exchanger caused by directly using a refrigerant heat exchanger. Moreover, it eliminates the need for an air intake grille that can adjust airflow to the second external water heat exchanger, further reducing overall vehicle manufacturing costs.

[0052] It can make full use of the vehicle's existing HVAC platform, without the need to redevelop the cabin heat exchange module, thus saving the R&D cycle, reducing the cost of re-molding, and also reducing the overall vehicle weight.

[0053] By installing an electric heating element to heat the water flowing out of the condenser heat exchanger, this electrically heated heat can be pumped to the cabin's heating core to achieve efficient heating of the vehicle cabin. Specifically, when the outdoor ambient temperature is low (e.g., below -℃), the heating capacity of the heat pump heat exchange module decreases. At this time, the aforementioned electric heating element can be activated to achieve efficient heating and meet user needs.

[0054] By switching between different on / off modes of the aforementioned six-way valve and eight-way valve, multiple operating modes of the vehicle thermal management system can be switched, thereby greatly improving the versatility of the vehicle thermal management system. In addition, the combination of the aforementioned eight-way valve and six-way valve greatly reduces the number of valves in the system, which facilitates centralized management, facilitates after-sales maintenance, and further reduces the space occupied in the vehicle.

[0055] The vehicle thermal management system of this invention can greatly enrich the system operation modes, is compatible with the original vehicle's HVAC air conditioning box and engine coolant radiator, and can realize comprehensive thermal management of the vehicle compartment, battery, motor and electronic control, realize heat recovery of components such as battery and motor and electronic control, and improve the overall vehicle thermal management efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0056] To more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are merely exemplary, and those skilled in the art can derive other embodiments based on the provided drawings without creative effort.

[0057] The structures, proportions, sizes, etc. illustrated in this specification are only for the purpose of assisting those skilled in the art in understanding and reading the content disclosed herein, and are not intended to limit the conditions under which the present invention can be implemented. Therefore, they have no substantial technical significance. Any modifications to the structure, changes in the proportions, or adjustments to the size, without affecting the effects and objectives that the present invention can produce, should still fall within the scope of the technical content disclosed in the present invention.

[0058] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the principle structure of the vehicle thermal management system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0059] Figure 2 for Figure 1 The diagram shows the principle and structure of the vehicle thermal management system when it operates in the cabin heat pump cooling mode. The arrows in the diagram indicate the water circulation path or the refrigerant circulation path.

[0060] Figure 3 for Figure 1The diagram shows the principle structure of the vehicle thermal management system when it is running in battery heat pump cooling mode. The arrows in the diagram indicate the water circulation path or the refrigerant circulation path.

[0061] Figure 4 for Figure 1 The diagram shows the principle structure of the vehicle thermal management system when it operates in battery ambient temperature cooling mode. The arrows in the diagram indicate the water circulation path or the refrigerant circulation path.

[0062] Figure 5 for Figure 1 The diagram shows the principle structure of the vehicle thermal management system when the cabin and battery are in heat pump cooling mode. The arrows in the diagram indicate the water circulation path or the refrigerant circulation path.

[0063] Figure 6 for Figure 1 The diagram shows the principle and structure of the vehicle thermal management system when it operates in a hybrid cooling mode for the cabin and battery. The arrows in the diagram indicate the water circulation path or the refrigerant circulation path.

[0064] Figure 7 for Figure 1 The diagram shows the principle structure of the vehicle thermal management system when the cabin, battery and motor control are in synchronous cooling mode. The arrows in the diagram indicate the water circulation path or the refrigerant circulation path.

[0065] Figure 8 for Figure 1 The diagram shows the principle and structure of the vehicle thermal management system when it is operating in the cabin heat pump heating mode. The arrows in the diagram indicate the water circulation path or the refrigerant circulation path.

[0066] Figure 9 for Figure 1 The diagram shows the principle and structure of the vehicle thermal management system when the cabin is in electric heating mode. The arrows in the diagram indicate the water circulation path or the refrigerant circulation path.

[0067] Figure 10 for Figure 1 The diagram shows the principle structure of the vehicle thermal management system when it is running in battery heat pump heating mode. The arrows in the diagram indicate the water circulation path or the refrigerant circulation path.

[0068] Figure 11 for Figure 1 The diagram shows the principle structure of the vehicle thermal management system when it is in battery electric heating mode. The arrows in the diagram indicate the water circulation path or the refrigerant circulation path.

[0069] Figure 12 for Figure 1The diagram shows the principle structure of the vehicle thermal management system when the cabin and battery are simultaneously heated electrically. The arrows in the diagram indicate the water circulation path or the refrigerant circulation path.

[0070] Figure 13 for Figure 1 The diagram shows the principle structure of the vehicle thermal management system when the cabin and battery are heated by the heat pump at the same time. The arrows in the diagram indicate the water circulation path or the refrigerant circulation path.

[0071] Figure 14 for Figure 1 The diagram shows the principle and structure of the vehicle thermal management system when the cabin electric heating and battery cooling mode is in operation. The arrows in the diagram indicate the water circulation path or the refrigerant circulation path.

[0072] Figure 15 for Figure 1 The diagram shows the principle structure of the vehicle thermal management system when the cabin heat pump heating and battery cooling mode is in operation. The arrows in the diagram indicate the water circulation path or the refrigerant circulation path.

[0073] Figure 16 for Figure 1 The diagram shows the principle and structure of the vehicle thermal management system when operating the cabin heat pump heating combined waste heat recovery mode. The arrows in the diagram indicate the water circulation path or the refrigerant circulation path.

[0074] The reference numerals in the attached figures are as follows:

[0075] 101. Evaporator inside the cabin; 102. Heating core inside the cabin; 103. Air supply duct in the cabin;

[0076] 1031. Defrosting air vent; 1032. Face air vent; 1033. Foot air vent; 104. Cabin

[0077] Internal fan;

[0078] 201. Compressor; 2011. Gas-liquid separator; 202. Condensing heat exchanger; 203. Evaporating heat exchanger; 204. First throttling element; 205. Second throttling element;

[0079] 301. First external water circuit heat exchanger; 302. Battery heat exchange structure; 3031. First water pump; 3032. Second water pump; 304. Second external water circuit heat exchanger; 305. Motor-controlled heat exchange structure; 41. Six-way valve; 42. Eight-way valve; 5. Third water pump; 6. Electric heating component; 7. External fan. Detailed Implementation

[0080] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. The following description of at least one exemplary embodiment is merely illustrative and is in no way intended to limit the present invention or its application or use. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0081] It should be noted that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the exemplary embodiments according to this application. As used herein, the singular form is intended to include the plural form as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Furthermore, it should be understood that when the terms "comprising" and / or "including" are used in this specification, they indicate the presence of features, steps, operations, devices, components, and / or combinations thereof.

[0082] It should be understood that the term "and / or" used in this article is merely a description of the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A existing alone, A and B existing simultaneously, and B existing alone. Additionally, the character " / " in this article generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects have an "or" relationship.

[0083] Unless otherwise specifically stated, the relative arrangement, numerical expressions, and values ​​of the components and steps set forth in these embodiments do not limit the scope of the invention. It should also be understood that, for ease of description, the dimensions of the various parts shown in the drawings are not drawn to actual scale. Techniques, methods, and devices known to those skilled in the art may not be discussed in detail, but where appropriate, such techniques, methods, and devices should be considered part of the specification. In all examples shown and discussed herein, any specific values ​​should be interpreted as merely exemplary and not as limitations. Therefore, other examples of exemplary embodiments may have different values. It should be noted that similar reference numerals and letters in the following figures denote similar items; therefore, once an item is defined in one figure, it need not be further discussed in subsequent figures.

[0084] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the orientation or positional relationship indicated by directional terms such as "front, back, up, down, left, right", "horizontal, vertical, horizontal" and "top, bottom" is generally based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and is only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description. Unless otherwise stated, these directional terms do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation on the scope of protection of this invention; the directional terms "inner" and "outer" refer to the inner and outer contours relative to the outline of each component itself.

[0085] For ease of description, spatial relative terms such as "above," "on top of," "on the upper surface of," "above," etc., are used herein to describe the spatial positional relationship of a device or feature as shown in the figures to other devices or features. It should be understood that spatial relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations in use or operation beyond the orientation of the device as described in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures were inverted, a device described as "above" or "on top of" other devices or structures would subsequently be positioned as "below" or "under" other devices or structures. Thus, the exemplary term "above" can include both "above" and "below." The device may also be positioned in other different ways (rotated 90 degrees or in other orientations), and the spatial relative descriptions used herein will be interpreted accordingly.

[0086] Furthermore, it should be noted that the use of terms such as "first" and "second" to define components is merely for the purpose of distinguishing the corresponding components. Unless otherwise stated, the above terms have no special meaning and therefore should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection of this invention.

[0087] See also Figure 1 and Figure 16 As shown, according to an embodiment of the present invention, a vehicle thermal management system is provided, comprising:

[0088] The cabin heat exchange module (not labeled in the figure) includes an in-cabin evaporator 101, which is located in the cabin air supply duct 103;

[0089] The heat pump heat exchange module (not labeled in the figure) includes a compressor 201 capable of forming a refrigerant cycle, a condensing heat exchanger 202, an evaporating heat exchanger 203, a first throttling element 204, and a second throttling element 205. The first throttling element 204 is located in the refrigerant flow path between the condensing heat exchanger 202 and the evaporating heat exchanger 203, and the second throttling element 205 is located in the refrigerant flow path between the condensing heat exchanger 202 and the in-cabin evaporator 101. The evaporating heat exchanger 203 is connected in parallel with the in-cabin evaporator 101. The first throttling element 204 and the second throttling element 205 can both be electronic expansion valves.

[0090] The water-side heat exchange module (not labeled in the figure) includes a first external water circuit heat exchanger 301, a battery heat exchange structure 302 (which may specifically be a heat exchanger structure), a first water pump 3031, and a second water pump 3032. The first water pump 3031 is used to form a water circulation between the first external water circuit heat exchanger 301 and the condenser heat exchanger 202, and the second water pump 3032 is used to form a water circulation between the battery heat exchange structure 302 and the evaporator heat exchanger 203.

[0091] In this technical solution, the condenser heat exchanger 202 and evaporator heat exchanger 203 in the heat pump heat exchange module form water heat exchange with the water-side heat exchange module through the first water pump 3031 and the second water pump 3032, respectively. At the same time, the refrigerant circulation heat exchange with the cabin evaporator 101 can also be formed through the second throttling element 205. This realizes the heat exchange coupling between the heat pump heat exchange module, the cabin heat exchange module and the water-side heat exchange module, so that there is no need to configure corresponding cooling units for the cabin heat exchange module and the water-side heat exchange module separately, which effectively reduces the overall vehicle cost.

[0092] See details Figure 1 As shown, when the compressor 201 is running, the first water pump 3031 drives water to circulate between the condenser heat exchanger 202 and the first external water circuit heat exchanger 301. The first external water circuit heat exchanger 301 effectively cools the condenser heat exchanger 202. At the same time, the second water pump 3032 transfers the cooling energy at the evaporator heat exchanger 203 to the battery heat exchange structure 302 through the medium water, thereby forming a highly efficient cooling of the battery pack. When both the first throttling element 204 and the second throttling element 205 are in the conducting state, the in-cabin evaporator 101 and the evaporator heat exchanger 203 are connected in parallel, and the in-cabin evaporator 101 creates a cooling effect on the interior of the vehicle cabin.

[0093] Understandably, the cooling system for the vehicle cabin is refrigerant-based, while the cooling system for the battery pack is water-based. This simplifies the vehicle's structural design, prevents excessively long refrigerant lines, and saves on manufacturing costs.

[0094] In some embodiments, the water-side heat exchange module further includes: a second external water circuit heat exchanger 304 and a motor-controlled heat exchange structure 305 (specifically, a heat exchanger structure), wherein the second water pump 3032 is used to drive water to flow sequentially through the evaporator heat exchanger 203, the second external water circuit heat exchanger 304, the motor-controlled heat exchange structure 305, the battery heat exchange structure 302, and back to the evaporator heat exchanger 203.

[0095] In this technical solution, the second external water heat exchanger 304 can, in some cases, absorb heat from the external environment and use it to cool the motor-controlled heat exchange structure 305, eliminating the need to operate the aforementioned compressor 201, thereby achieving energy saving and consumption reduction. On the other hand, in some cases, since the second water pump 3032 can form a water circulation between the evaporator heat exchanger 203, the second external water heat exchanger 304, the motor-controlled heat exchange structure 305, and the battery heat exchange structure 302, the circulating water can be used to recover and transfer the heat in the motor-controlled heat exchange structure 305 and the battery heat exchange structure 302 to the evaporator heat exchanger 203, and then finally transfer the heat to the heat pump heat exchange module, improving the heating effect of the heat pump heat exchange module. In addition, when the system is in heating mode, the second external water heat exchanger 304 exchanges heat with its evaporative heat exchanger 203, which can effectively avoid the phenomenon of frost formation on the external heat exchanger caused by directly using a refrigerant heat exchanger. Furthermore, there is no need to set an air intake grille that can change the air volume for the second external water heat exchanger 304, which further reduces the overall vehicle manufacturing cost.

[0096] In some embodiments, the vehicle thermal management system further includes: a six-way valve 41, wherein the first port of the six-way valve 41 (e.g. Figure 1 (As indicated by ① in the text) is connected to the first inlet and outlet of the second external water circuit heat exchanger 304, and the second port of the six-way valve 41 (as indicated by ① in the text) is connected to the second inlet and outlet of the second external water circuit heat exchanger 304. Figure 1 (As indicated by ② in the text) is connected to the first inlet and outlet of the motor-controlled heat exchange structure 305, and the third port of the six-way valve 41 (as indicated by ② in the text) is connected to the first inlet and outlet of the motor-controlled heat exchange structure 305. Figure 1 (As indicated by ③ in the text) is connected to the first inlet and outlet of the battery heat exchange structure 302, and the fourth port of the six-way valve 41 (as indicated by ③ in the text) is connected to the first inlet and outlet of the battery heat exchange structure 302. Figure 1 (As indicated by ④ in the text) is connected to the second inlet and outlet of the battery heat exchange structure 302, and the fifth port of the six-way valve 41 (as indicated by ④ in the text) is connected to the second inlet and outlet of the battery heat exchange structure 302. Figure 1 (as indicated by ⑤ in the text) is connected to the first inlet and outlet of the evaporative heat exchanger 203, and the sixth port of the six-way valve 41 (as indicated by ⑤ in the text) is connected to the first inlet and outlet of the evaporative heat exchanger 203. Figure 1 (As indicated by ⑥ in the diagram) is connected to the outlet of the second water pump 3032.

[0097] In this technical solution, a six-way valve 41 is used to controllably connect various related pipelines, which can greatly reduce the difficulty of arranging and assembling the vehicle's water pipelines.

[0098] In some embodiments, the water path between the second port of the six-way valve 41 and the motor-controlled heat exchange structure 305 is the first water path, and the water path between the first port of the six-way valve 41 and the second external water exchanger 304 is the second water path. The water-side heat exchange module also includes a third water pump 5, which is connected between the first water path and the second water path.

[0099] In this technical solution, by setting a third water pump 5 between the first water circuit and the second water circuit, the drive motor can be cooled by the external ambient temperature in some cases without the need to operate the heat pump heat exchange module, which is energy-saving and environmentally friendly.

[0100] In some embodiments, the cabin heat exchange module further includes an in-cabin heating core 102, and the first water pump 3031 is also used to form a water circulation between the condenser heat exchanger 202 and the in-cabin heating core 102. The aforementioned in-cabin heating core 102 is specifically a heat exchanger in which internal water flows for heat exchange.

[0101] In this technical solution, when the compressor 201 is running, the first water pump 3031 can pump the water that has absorbed the heat of the high-temperature refrigerant at the condenser heat exchanger 202 to the cabin heating core 102, thereby achieving a heating effect in the cabin. It is understood that in this technical solution, the heat of the cabin heating core 102 indirectly comes from the heat pump heat exchange module, thus allowing the technical solution of this invention to fully utilize the vehicle's existing HVAC platform without the need to redevelop the cabin heat exchange module. This saves on R&D time, reduces the cost of re-molding, and also reduces the overall vehicle weight.

[0102] In some embodiments, the vehicle thermal management system further includes an electric heating element 6 for heating water flowing out of the condenser heat exchanger 202, the aforementioned electric heating element being, for example, a PTC heating element.

[0103] In this technical solution, an electric heating component 6 is used to heat the water flowing out of the condenser heat exchanger 202. This electrically heated heat is then pumped to the cabin heater core 102 to achieve efficient heating of the vehicle cabin. Specifically, when the outdoor ambient temperature is low (e.g., below -10°C), the heating capacity of the heat pump heat exchange module decreases. At this time, the aforementioned electric heating component 6 can be activated to achieve efficient heating and meet user needs.

[0104] In some embodiments, the vehicle thermal management system further includes: an eight-way valve 42, wherein the first port of the eight-way valve 42 (e.g., Figure 1 (as indicated by 'a' in the text) is connected to the first inlet and outlet of the condenser heat exchanger 202 via the electric heating component 6, the first water pump 3031, and the second port of the eight-way valve 42 (as indicated by 'a' in the text) Figure 1(as indicated by b in the text) is connected to the second inlet and outlet of the condenser heat exchanger 202, and the third port of the eight-way valve 42 (as indicated by b in the text) is connected to the second inlet and outlet of the condenser heat exchanger 202. Figure 1 (as indicated by c in the text) is connected to the first inlet and outlet of the cabin heating core 102, and the fourth port of the eight-way valve 42 (as indicated by c in the text) is connected to the first inlet and outlet of the cabin heating core 102. Figure 1 (as indicated by d in the text) is connected to the second inlet and outlet of the cabin heating core 102, and the fifth port of the eight-way valve 42 (as indicated by d in the text) is connected to the second inlet and outlet of the cabin heating core 102. Figure 1 (as indicated by e in the text) is connected to the first inlet and outlet of the first external water heat exchanger 301, and the sixth port of the eight-way valve 42 (as indicated by e in the text) is connected to the first inlet and outlet of the first external water heat exchanger 301. Figure 1 (as indicated by f in the text) is connected to the second inlet and outlet of the first external water heat exchanger 301, and the seventh port of the eight-way valve 42 (as indicated by f in the text) is connected to the second inlet and outlet of the first external water heat exchanger 301. Figure 1 The port indicated by g in the figure is connected to the third port of the six-way valve 41, and the eighth port of the eight-way valve 42 (as indicated by g in the figure) is connected to the third port of the six-way valve 41. Figure 1 (as indicated by h in the text) is connected to the fourth port of the six-way valve 41.

[0105] In this technical solution, an eight-way valve 42 is used to controllably connect various related pipelines, which greatly reduces the difficulty of arranging and assembling the vehicle's water piping. It is also understood that by switching between different on / off modes of the aforementioned six-way valve 41 and eight-way valve 42, multiple operating modes of the vehicle's thermal management system can be switched, thereby greatly improving the versatility of the vehicle's thermal management system. Furthermore, the combination of the aforementioned eight-way valve 42 and six-way valve 41 significantly reduces the number of valves in the system, facilitating centralized management, simplifying after-sales maintenance, and further reducing the space occupied by the system.

[0106] The vehicle thermal management system of this invention can greatly enrich the system operation modes, is compatible with the original vehicle's HVAC air conditioning box and engine coolant radiator, and can realize comprehensive thermal management of the vehicle compartment, battery, motor and electronic control, realize heat recovery of components such as battery and motor and electronic control, and improve the overall vehicle thermal management efficiency.

[0107] In some embodiments, the first external water heat exchanger 301 and the second external water heat exchanger 304 are stacked one after the other and share an external fan 7, thereby making the structure of the vehicle thermal management system of the present invention more compact.

[0108] In some embodiments, the cabin evaporator 101 and the cabin heating core 102 are both located in the cabin air supply duct 103. The cabin air supply duct 103 is constructed with a defrost vent 1031, a face vent 1032, and a foot vent 1033. Each of the aforementioned defrost vent 1031, face vent 1032, and foot vent 1033 is provided with a corresponding damper to flexibly select the airflow out of the cabin air supply duct 103.

[0109] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a control method for controlling the above-described vehicle thermal management system is also provided, comprising:

[0110] Obtain the system's operating mode;

[0111] Based on the acquired operating mode, the on / off state of the first throttling element 204 and the second throttling element 205 is controlled, the conduction of the ports of the six-way valve 41 and / or the eight-way valve 42 is controlled, and the operation of the compressor 201, the first water pump 3031, the second water pump 3032, the third water pump 5 and the electric heating component 6 is controlled.

[0112] See details Figure 2 As shown, when the operating mode is the vehicle cabin heat pump cooling mode, the first throttling element 204 is cut off, the second throttling element 205 is turned on, the first port and the sixth port of the eight-way valve 42 are turned on, the second port and the fifth port are turned on, the compressor 201 and the first water pump 3031 are turned on, and the second water pump 3032, the third water pump 5 and the electric heating component 6 are turned off. Specifically, in this mode, the refrigerant circulation system (i.e., the aforementioned heat pump heat exchange module, hereinafter the same) is turned on. The compressor 201 delivers high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant to the condenser heat exchanger 202 through the exhaust pipe. After releasing heat in the condenser heat exchanger 202, the refrigerant is throttled by the second throttling element 205 and then delivered to the cabin evaporator 101. After absorbing heat from the vehicle cabin in the cabin evaporator 101, the refrigerant flows back to the gas-liquid separator 2011 and then back to the compressor 201 to start a new cycle. The first water pump 3031 and the external fan 7 are turned on, and the af and be channels of the eight-way valve 42 are opened, forming a circulation of cooling water between the condenser heat exchanger 202 and the first external water circuit heat exchanger 301. This is used to transfer the heat released by the refrigerant in the condenser heat exchanger 202 to the air. This mode is suitable when the motor and electronic control system and the battery pack do not require cooling, and only the vehicle compartment requires cooling. The operating temperature range of this mode is 20℃-35℃. It is suitable for situations where the vehicle has just started and the battery pack temperature has not yet risen, requiring cooling only when the vehicle compartment needs cooling, or when the vehicle is running at a low speed and the battery output power is low, and the battery pack temperature has not risen to a state requiring cooling.

[0113] See details Figure 3As shown, when the operating mode is the battery heat pump cooling mode, the first throttling element 204 is turned on and the second throttling element 205 is turned off. The first port and the sixth port of the eight-way valve 42 are turned on, and the second port and the fifth port are turned on. The third port and the sixth port of the six-way valve 41 are turned on, and the fourth port and the fifth port are turned on. The compressor 201, the first water pump 3031, and the second water pump 3032 are turned on, while the electric heating component 6 and the third water pump 5 are turned off. In this mode, the refrigerant side circulation is as follows: the compressor 201 is turned on, and the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant is discharged into the condenser heat exchanger 202. The refrigerant that has completed heat exchange in the condenser heat exchanger 202 flows out of the condenser heat exchanger 202 and is throttled by the first throttling element 204 before flowing into the evaporator heat exchanger 203. After completing heat exchange in the evaporator heat exchanger 203, the refrigerant flows into the gas-liquid separator 2011, and then flows into the compressor 201 to start the next cycle.

[0114] Cooling water circulation: First water pump 3031 is activated, opening channels BE and AF of the eight-way valve 42. This transports the high-temperature cooling water from the condenser heat exchanger 202 to the first external water exchanger 301. After heat exchange, the cooling water returns to the condenser heat exchanger 202 for further heat exchange. Second water pump 3032 is activated, opening channels ④-⑤ and ③-⑥ of the six-way valve 41. This transports the low-temperature cooling water from the evaporator heat exchanger 203 to the battery heat exchange structure 302. After heat exchange in the battery heat exchange structure 302, the water flows back to the evaporator heat exchanger 203. This mode is suitable when the ambient temperature is approximately 35℃ or higher. During rapid battery charging, a large amount of heat is generated. The ambient temperature alone cannot lower the battery pack temperature to a safe charging temperature; a heat pump system is needed to lower the temperature of the battery heat exchange structure 302 to a suitable operating temperature.

[0115] See details Figure 4As shown, when the operating mode is the battery ambient temperature cooling mode, the first throttling element 204 and the second throttling element 205 are cut off, the first port and the sixth port, the second port and the third port, and the fourth port and the fifth port of the six-way valve 41 are connected, the second water pump 3032 is operated, and the compressor 201, the first water pump 3031, the electric heating component 6, and the third water pump 5 are not operated. Specifically, in this mode, the ambient temperature is lower than the battery pack operating temperature range, and the ambient temperature can be used to cool the battery pack. When the battery heat exchange structure 302 needs cooling, the second water pump 3032 is opened, and the channels ②-③, ④-⑤, and ①-⑥ of the six-way valve 41 are opened, transporting the cooling water to the second external water circuit heat exchanger 304. After exchanging heat with the environment, the water flows into the motor electronic control heat exchanger and then into the battery heat exchange structure 302. This mode operates within an outer ambient temperature range of approximately 15-35℃. It is mainly used when the vehicle is fast charging, as the battery temperature rises and needs to be cooled, or when the ambient temperature is 15-20℃ and the vehicle is driving at high speed, the cabin does not require cooling, but the battery temperature rises and needs to be cooled.

[0116] See details Figure 5 As shown, when the operating mode is the simultaneous heat pump cooling mode of the vehicle cabin and battery, the first throttling element 204 and the second throttling element 205 are controlled to be turned on, the first port and the sixth port, the second port and the fifth port of the eight-way valve 42 are controlled to be turned on, the third port and the sixth port, the fourth port and the fifth port of the six-way valve 41 are controlled to be turned on, the compressor 201, the first water pump 3031, the second water pump 3032 and the third water pump 5 are controlled to be turned off, and the electric heating component 6 is controlled to be turned off. Specifically, in this mode, the outer ambient temperature range is approximately above 35°C. The vehicle operates at continuous high speeds, requiring cooling for the cabin, battery, and motor / electronic control systems simultaneously. Since the external ambient temperature is higher than the normal operating temperature range of the battery pack, the battery pack cannot utilize the external environment for cooling and requires a refrigeration system. The motor / electronic control systems can utilize the external environment for cooling. In this mode, the refrigerant circulation is as follows: Compressor 201 starts, discharging high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant into the condenser heat exchanger 202. The refrigerant that has completed heat exchange in the condenser heat exchanger 202 flows out. One path flows through the first throttling element 204 and into the evaporator heat exchanger 203, while the other path flows through the second throttling element 205 and into the cabin evaporator 101. The refrigerant flowing out of the cabin evaporator 101 merges with the refrigerant flowing out of the evaporator heat exchanger 203, then flows into the gas-liquid separator 2011, and finally into the compressor 201 to start the next cycle.

[0117] Cooling water circulation: The first water pump 3031 is turned on, and the be and af channels of the eight-way valve 42 are opened, transporting the high-temperature cooling water in the condenser heat exchanger 202 to the first external water circuit heat exchanger 301. After heat exchange, the cooling water returns to the condenser heat exchanger 202 for further heat exchange. The second water pump 3032 is turned on, and the ④-⑤ and ③-⑥ channels of the six-way valve 41 are opened, transporting the low-temperature cooling water in the evaporator heat exchanger 203 to the battery heat exchange structure 302. After heat exchange in the battery heat exchange structure 302, the water flows back to the evaporator heat exchanger 203.

[0118] The third water pump 5 is turned on, which pumps the high-temperature cooling water in the motor and electronic control heat exchange structure 305 to the second external water circuit heat exchanger 304 to dissipate heat with the external environment, thereby reducing the temperature of the motor and electronic control system.

[0119] See details Figure 6 As shown, when the operating mode is a mixed cooling mode for the vehicle compartment and battery, the first throttling element 204 is cut off, the second throttling element 205 is turned on, the first port and the sixth port of the eight-way valve 42 are turned on, the second port and the fifth port are turned on, the first port and the sixth port of the six-way valve 41 are turned on, the second port and the third port are turned on, and the fourth port and the fifth port are turned on. The compressor 201, the first water pump 3031, and the second water pump 3032 are operated, while the third water pump 5 and the electric heating component 6 are not operated. Specifically, in this mode, the ambient temperature is 16-35℃, the vehicle is running at high speed continuously, the battery and motor are outputting high power and need to be cooled, and the vehicle compartment also has a cooling requirement. However, heat exchange with the outside ambient temperature can meet the cooling requirements of the battery, and it is not necessary to use the air conditioning system to cool the battery. In this mode, the refrigerant side circulation is as follows: the compressor 201 is turned on, and the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant is discharged into the condenser heat exchanger 202. The refrigerant that has completed heat exchange in the condenser heat exchanger 202 flows out of the condenser heat exchanger 202, flows through the second throttling element 205 and then flows into the cabin evaporator 101. After exchanging heat with the cabin environment in the cabin evaporator 101, it flows into the gas-liquid separator 2011 and finally flows into the compressor 201 to start the next cycle.

[0120] Cooling water circulation: The first water pump 3031 is turned on, and the be and af channels of the eight-way valve 42 are opened, transporting the high-temperature cooling water in the condenser heat exchanger 202 to the first external water exchanger 301. After heat exchange, the cooling water returns to the condenser heat exchanger 202 for further heat exchange. The second water pump 3032 is turned on, and the six-way valve 41 channels ⑥-①, ②-③, and ④-⑤ are opened, transporting the high-temperature cooling water in the battery heat exchange structure 302 to the second external water exchanger 304. In the second external water exchanger 304, the water exchanges heat with the external environment, flows through the motor and electronic control system, and then returns to the battery heat exchange structure 302.

[0121] See details Figure 7 As shown, when the operating mode is the synchronous cooling mode for the vehicle compartment, battery, and motor control system, the first throttling element 204 and the second throttling element 205 are controlled to conduct, the first port and the sixth port, and the second port and the fifth port of the eight-way valve 42 are controlled to conduct, the third port and the sixth port, and the fourth port and the fifth port of the six-way valve 41 are controlled to conduct, the compressor 201, the first water pump 3031, the second water pump 3032, and the third water pump 5 are controlled to operate, and the electric heating component 6 is controlled to not operate. Specifically, in this mode, the outer ambient temperature is above 35°C, the vehicle is running at high speed, the battery is continuously outputting high power, and the vehicle compartment, battery pack, and motor control system all need to be cooled. However, the external environment cannot simultaneously cool the battery pack and motor control system. The air conditioning system achieves simultaneous cooling of the battery pack and vehicle compartment, while the motor control system utilizes the external environment for cooling. In this mode, the refrigerant side circulation is as follows: the compressor 201 is turned on, and the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant is discharged into the condenser heat exchanger 202. The refrigerant that has completed heat exchange in the condenser heat exchanger 202 flows out of the condenser heat exchanger 202. One path flows through the first throttling element 204 and then flows into the evaporator heat exchanger 203. The other path flows through the second throttling element 205 and then flows into the in-cabin evaporator 101. After flowing out of the in-cabin evaporator 101, it merges with the refrigerant flowing out of the evaporator heat exchanger 203, and then flows into the gas-liquid separator 2011. Finally, it flows into the compressor 201 to start the next cycle.

[0122] Cooling water circulation: First water pump 3031 is activated, opening channels BE and AF of eight-way valve 42, transporting high-temperature cooling water from condenser heat exchanger 202 to first external water exchanger 301. After heat exchange, the cooling water returns to condenser heat exchanger 202 for further heat exchange. Second water pump 3032 is activated, opening channels ④-⑤ and ③-⑥ of six-way valve 41, transporting low-temperature cooling water from evaporator heat exchanger 203 to battery heat exchange structure 302. After heat exchange in battery heat exchange structure 302, the water flows back to evaporator heat exchanger 203. Third water pump 5 is activated, transporting high-temperature cooling water from motor and electronic control heat exchange structure 305 to second external water exchanger 304 for heat dissipation.

[0123] See details Figure 8As shown, when the operating mode is the vehicle cabin heat pump heating mode, the first throttling element 204 is turned on and the second throttling element 205 is turned off. The first and fourth ports and the second and third ports of the eight-way valve 42 are turned on, and the first and sixth ports and the second and fifth ports of the six-way valve 41 are turned on. The compressor 201, the first water pump 3031, and the second water pump 3032 are operated, while the third water pump 5 and the electric heating component 6 are not operated. Specifically, this mode mainly uses water circulation to transfer the heat generated by the refrigerant system to the HVAC air conditioning unit to achieve vehicle cabin heating, while simultaneously transferring heat from the atmosphere to the refrigerant system through water circulation. The refrigerant, after passing through compressor 201, is delivered to condenser heat exchanger 202. After circulating and exchanging heat with the water circuit, it flows out of condenser heat exchanger 202, then is throttled by the first throttling element 204 and flows into evaporator heat exchanger 203. After circulating and exchanging heat with the water circuit, it flows out, then passes through gas-liquid separator 2011 and flows back into compressor 201, completing one cycle of the refrigerant system. The first water pump 3031 is turned on, and the ad and bc channels of the eight-way valve 42 are opened, transferring the heat from condenser heat exchanger 202 to the cabin heater core 102 via water circulation, and then exchanging heat with the cabin air to achieve cabin heating. The second water pump 3032 is activated, opening channels ①-⑥ and ②-⑤ of the six-way valve 41. This sends the low-temperature cooling water from the evaporative heat exchanger 203 to the second external water circuit heat exchanger 304, allowing the cooling water to absorb heat from the environment. The water then flows through the motor-controlled heat exchange structure 305 to recover heat from the motor and control system, before returning to the evaporative heat exchanger 203, completing the heat exchange cycle on the evaporative side. This mode can meet the heating needs of the vehicle cabin while recovering heat from the motor and control system, achieving energy savings. This mode is suitable for ambient temperatures of -10℃ to 15℃, where the vehicle cabin requires heating, and where the battery's heat output is sufficient to meet its operating temperature requirements after the vehicle has been driven for a period of time, eliminating the need for external heating or cooling.

[0124] See details Figure 9As shown, when the operating mode is the vehicle cabin electric heating mode, the first throttling element 204 and the second throttling element 205 are cut off, the first port and the fourth port of the eight-way valve 42 are connected, and the second port and the third port are connected. The first water pump 3031 and the electric heating component 6 are operated, while the compressor 201, the second water pump 3032, and the third water pump 5 are not operated. Specifically, this mode is suitable when the ambient temperature is below -10℃, the heat pump operating efficiency is low, the heat pump heating cannot meet the heat demand of the vehicle cabin, and the vehicle has been running for a period of time, the temperature inside the battery pack has reached a suitable operating temperature, and no additional heat heating is needed, but the vehicle cabin still has a continuous heating demand, so the electric heating component 6 can only be turned on. In this mode, the electric heating element 6 is turned on, the first water pump 3031 is turned on, and the ad and bc channels of the eight-way valve 42 are opened. The water pump transports the cooling water heated by the electric heating element 6 to the cabin heating core 102, and then the heat is released into the cabin by the cabin fan 104 (e.g., a blower) to realize the heating function of the cabin. The cooled water after heat exchange returns to the electric heating element 6 under the action of the first water pump 3031 to start the next cycle.

[0125] See details Figure 10 As shown, when the operating mode is the battery heat pump heating mode, the first throttling element 204 is turned on and the second throttling element 205 is turned off. The first port and the eighth port of the eight-way valve 42 are turned on, and the second port and the seventh port are turned on. The first water pump 3031, the second water pump 3032 and the compressor 201 are operated, while the electric heating component 6 and the third water pump 5 are not operated. Specifically, in this mode, the refrigerant side circulation is as follows: the compressor 201 is turned on, and the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant is discharged into the condenser heat exchanger 202. The refrigerant that has completed heat exchange in the condenser heat exchanger 202 flows out of the condenser heat exchanger 202 and is throttled by the first throttling element 204 before flowing into the evaporator heat exchanger 203. After completing heat exchange in the evaporator heat exchanger 203, it flows into the gas-liquid separator 2011, and then flows into the compressor 201 to start the next cycle.

[0126] Cooling water circulation: First water pump 3031 is activated, opening the AH and BG channels of the eight-way valve 42, transporting the high-temperature cooling water from the condenser heat exchanger 202 to the battery heat exchange structure 302. After heat exchange, the cooling water returns to the condenser heat exchanger 202 for further heat exchange. Second water pump 3032 is activated, opening the ①-⑥ and ②-⑤ channels of the six-way valve 41, transporting the low-temperature cooling water from the evaporator heat exchanger 203 to the second external water circuit heat exchanger 304. After exchanging heat with the environment, the cooling water enters the motor control system and then flows back to the evaporator heat exchanger 203. This mode is suitable for low-temperature weather, with an external ambient temperature range of -10℃ to 10℃. After vehicle startup, the battery cannot immediately reach high-efficiency output and needs to be preheated to a suitable operating temperature.

[0127] See details Figure 11 As shown, when the operating mode is battery electric heating mode, the first throttling element 204 and the second throttling element 205 are cut off, the first port and the eighth port of the eight-way valve 42 are connected, and the second port and the seventh port are connected. The first water pump 3031 and the electric heating component 6 are operated, while the second water pump 3032, the compressor 201, and the third water pump 5 are not operated. Specifically, this mode is suitable for ambient temperatures below -10℃, where the heat pump operating efficiency is low, and the heat pump cannot provide enough heat to heat the battery pack, so only the electric heating component 6 can be used. When the electric heating component 6 is turned on, the first water pump 3031 is turned on, and the ah and bg channels of the eight-way valve 42 are opened, so that the cooling water forms a circulation between the battery heat exchange structure 302 and the condenser heat exchanger 202.

[0128] See details Figure 12 As shown, when the operating mode is simultaneous electric heating of the vehicle compartment and battery, the first throttling element 204 and the second throttling element 205 are cut off, the first port and the eighth port, the second port and the third port, and the fourth port and the seventh port of the eight-way valve 42 are connected, the first water pump 3031 and the electric heating component 6 are operated, and the second water pump 3032, the compressor 201, and the third water pump 5 are not operated. Specifically, this mode is suitable for low-temperature conditions, with an ambient temperature of -10℃. When the vehicle has just started operating, both the vehicle compartment and the battery pack have a heating requirement, but the heat pump has low operating efficiency and is insufficient to provide enough heat to meet the heating requirements of the vehicle compartment and the battery. Therefore, the electric heating component 6 is used instead. When the electric heating element 6 is activated, the first water pump 3031 is turned on, and the BC, AH, and GD channels of the eight-way valve 42 are opened. The high-temperature cooling water in the electric heating element 6 flows into the battery heat exchange structure 302 to heat the battery pack, and then flows through the eight-way valve 42 into the cabin heater core 102 to heat the cabin. After flowing out of the cabin heater core 102, the water returns to the electric heating element 6.

[0129] See details Figure 13As shown, when the operating mode is the simultaneous heat pump heating mode for the vehicle cabin and battery, the first throttling element 204 is turned on and the second throttling element 205 is turned off. The first port and eighth port, the second port and third port, and the fourth port and seventh port of the eight-way valve 42 are turned on. The first port and sixth port, and the second port and fifth port of the six-way valve 41 are turned on. The first water pump 3031, the second water pump 3032, and the compressor 201 are operated, while the third water pump 5 and the electric heating component 6 are not operated. Specifically, this mode operates when the ambient temperature is between -10℃ and 15℃. When the vehicle is just starting to run, both the vehicle cabin and the battery pack require heating. The air conditioning system can simultaneously meet the heating needs of both the vehicle cabin and the battery pack, and can also recover some heat from the motor and electronic control system. In this mode, the refrigerant side circulation is as follows: the compressor 201 is turned on, and the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant is discharged into the condenser heat exchanger 202. After the refrigerant completes heat exchange in the condenser heat exchanger 202, it flows out of the condenser heat exchanger 202, is throttled by the first throttling element 204, and flows into the evaporator heat exchanger 203. After completing heat exchange in the evaporator heat exchanger 203, it flows into the gas-liquid separator 2011, and then flows into the compressor 201 to start the next cycle.

[0130] Cooling water circulation: The first water pump 3031 is turned on, and the ah, bc, and dg channels of the eight-way valve 42 are opened, transporting the high-temperature cooling water in the condenser heat exchanger 202 to the battery heat exchange structure 302 and the cabin heating core 102. After the heat exchange in the cabin heating core 102 is completed, the cooling water returns to the condenser heat exchanger 202. The second water pump 3032 is turned on, and the ①-⑥ and ②-⑤ channels of the six-way valve 41 are opened, transporting the low-temperature cooling water in the evaporator heat exchanger 203 to the second external water circuit heat exchanger 304. After exchanging heat with the environment, the cooling water enters the motor control system to recover heat from the motor control system, and then flows back to the evaporator heat exchanger 203.

[0131] See details Figure 14As shown, when the operating mode is the cabin electric heating composite battery cooling mode, the first throttling element 204 and the second throttling element 205 are controlled to cut off, the first port and the fourth port of the eight-way valve 42 are controlled to be connected, the second port and the third port are controlled to be connected, the first port and the sixth port, the second port and the third port, and the fourth port and the fifth port of the six-way valve 41 are controlled to be connected, the first water pump 3031, the second water pump 3032 and the electric heating component 6 are controlled to operate, and the compressor 201 and the third water pump 5 are controlled not to operate. Specifically, this mode operates in an ambient temperature of -10℃. The vehicle is running at high speed. Due to the low ambient temperature, the cabin cannot be heated by the air conditioning heat pump; only the electric heating element 6 can be used. Simultaneously, the motor and electronic control system, along with the battery pack, experience continuous high-power output, causing internal temperature rise and requiring simultaneous cooling. The cooling water circulation is as follows: First water pump 3031 is activated, opening channels AD and BC of the eight-way valve 42, transporting the high-temperature cooling water from the electric heating element 6 to the cabin heater core 102. After heat exchange in the cabin heater core 102, the cooling water returns to the electric heating element 6. Second water pump 3032 is activated, opening channels ⑥-①, ②-③, and ④-⑤ of the six-way valve 41, transporting the high-temperature cooling water from the battery heat exchange structure 302 to the second external water exchanger 304. In the second external water exchanger 304, heat is exchanged with the external environment, and after flowing through the motor and electronic control heat exchange structure 305, it returns to the battery heat exchange structure 302.

[0132] See details Figure 15 As shown, when the operating mode is the vehicle cabin heat pump heating and battery cooling mode, the first throttling element 204 is turned on and the second throttling element 205 is turned off. The first and fourth ports and the second and third ports of the eight-way valve 42 are turned on, and the third and sixth ports and the fourth and fifth ports of the six-way valve 41 are turned on. The first water pump 3031, the second water pump 3032, and the compressor 201 are operated, while the electric heating component 6 and the third water pump 5 are not operated. Specifically, this mode operates in an ambient temperature of 0℃-15℃. With the vehicle running at high speed, the heat generated by the battery pack is sufficient to meet the heating needs of the vehicle cabin, and the heat pump recovers the heat from the battery pack. In this mode, the refrigerant side circulation is as follows: the compressor 201 is turned on, and the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant is discharged into the condenser heat exchanger 202. After the refrigerant completes heat exchange in the condenser heat exchanger 202, it flows out of the condenser heat exchanger 202, is throttled by the first throttling element 204, and flows into the evaporator heat exchanger 203. After completing heat exchange in the evaporator heat exchanger 203, it flows into the gas-liquid separator 2011, and then flows into the compressor 201 to start the next cycle.

[0133] Cooling water circulation: The first water pump 3031 is turned on, and the AD and BC channels of the eight-way valve 42 are opened, transporting the high-temperature cooling water in the condenser heat exchanger 202 to the cabin heater core 102. After heat exchange is completed in the cabin heater core 102, the cooling water returns to the condenser heat exchanger 202. The second water pump 3032 is turned on, and the ⑥-③ and ④-⑤ channels of the six-way valve 41 are opened, transporting the high-temperature cooling water in the battery heat exchange structure 302 to the evaporator heat exchanger 203. After heat exchange with the refrigerant side in the evaporator heat exchanger 203, the water flows back to the battery heat exchange structure 302.

[0134] See details Figure 16 As shown, when the operating mode is the vehicle cabin heat pump heating combined waste heat recovery mode, the first throttling element 204 is turned on and the second throttling element 205 is turned off. This controls the first and fourth ports, and the second and third ports of the eight-way valve 42 to be connected. It also controls the first and sixth ports, the second and third ports, and the fourth and fifth ports of the six-way valve 41 to be connected. This controls the operation of the first water pump 3031, the second water pump 3032, and the compressor 201, while preventing the electric heating component 6 and the third water pump 5 from operating. Specifically, this mode operates in an ambient temperature of 5℃-15℃. The vehicle is traveling in urban areas at a speed of approximately 60km / h. The vehicle cabin requires heating, while the battery and motor control systems require cooling. However, the heat generated by the battery and motor control systems is insufficient to meet the cabin's heating needs, requiring the absorption of some heat from the environment. In this mode, the refrigerant side circulation is as follows: the compressor 201 is turned on, and the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant is discharged into the condenser heat exchanger 202. After the refrigerant completes heat exchange in the condenser heat exchanger 202, it flows out of the condenser heat exchanger 202, is throttled by the first throttling element 204, and flows into the evaporator heat exchanger 203. After completing heat exchange in the evaporator heat exchanger 203, it flows into the gas-liquid separator 2011, and then flows into the compressor 201 to start the next cycle.

[0135] Cooling water circulation: The first water pump 3031 is turned on, and the AD and BC channels of the eight-way valve 42 are opened, transporting the high-temperature cooling water in the condenser heat exchanger 202 to the cabin heater core 102. After heat exchange is completed in the cabin heater core 102, the cooling water returns to the condenser heat exchanger 202. The second water pump 3032 is turned on, and the ⑥-①, ②-③, and ④-⑤ channels of the six-way valve 41 are opened, transporting the low-temperature cooling water in the evaporator heat exchanger 203 to the second external water exchanger 304. In the second external water exchanger 304, heat is exchanged with the external environment. After flowing through the motor control system to recover heat, it flows into the battery heat exchange structure 302 to recover heat from the battery pack, and then flows back to the evaporator heat exchanger 203.

[0136] According to embodiments of the present invention, a vehicle, particularly an electric commercial vehicle, is also provided, including the vehicle thermal management system described above.

[0137] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the protection scope of the present invention. The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention. It should be noted that for those skilled in the art, several improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the technical principles of the present invention, and these improvements and modifications should also be considered within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A vehicle thermal management system, characterized in that, include: The vehicle compartment heat exchange module includes an in-cabin evaporator (101); the heat pump heat exchange module includes a compressor (201) capable of forming a refrigerant cycle, a condensing heat exchanger (202), an evaporating heat exchanger (203), a first throttling element (204), and a second throttling element (205), wherein the first throttling element (204) is located on the refrigerant flow path between the condensing heat exchanger (202) and the evaporating heat exchanger (203), and the second throttling element (205) is located between the condensing heat exchanger (202) and the in-cabin evaporator (101). The refrigerant flow path is connected between the evaporator heat exchanger (203) and the in-cabin evaporator (101); the water-side heat exchange module includes a first external water circuit heat exchanger (301), a battery heat exchange structure (302), a first water pump (3031), and a second water pump (3032), wherein the first water pump (3031) is used to form a water circulation between the first external water circuit heat exchanger (301) and the condenser heat exchanger (202), and the second water pump (3032) is used to connect the battery heat exchange structure (302) and the evaporator heat exchanger. A water circulation is formed between (203); the water-side heat exchange module also includes: a second external water circuit heat exchanger (304), a motor-controlled heat exchange structure (305), and a second water pump (3032) for driving water to flow sequentially through the evaporator heat exchanger (203), the second external water circuit heat exchanger (304), the motor-controlled heat exchange structure (305), and the battery heat exchange structure (302) and back to the evaporator heat exchanger (203); it also includes: a six-way valve (41), the first port of the six-way valve (41) being connected to the second external water circuit heat exchanger (304). The first inlet and outlet of the six-way valve (41) are connected, the second port of the six-way valve (41) is connected to the first inlet and outlet of the electric motor heat exchange structure (305), the third port of the six-way valve (41) is connected to the first inlet and outlet of the battery heat exchange structure (302), the fourth port of the six-way valve (41) is connected to the second inlet and outlet of the battery heat exchange structure (302), the fifth port of the six-way valve (41) is connected to the first inlet and outlet of the evaporator heat exchanger (203), and the sixth port of the six-way valve (41) is connected to the outlet of the second water pump (3032).

2. The vehicle thermal management system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The water path between the second port of the six-way valve (41) and the electric motor heat exchange structure (305) is the first water path, and the water path between the first port of the six-way valve (41) and the second external water exchanger (304) is the second water path. The water-side heat exchange module also includes a third water pump (5), which is connected between the first water path and the second water path.

3. The vehicle thermal management system according to claim 2, characterized in that, The vehicle cabin heat exchange module also includes: The cabin heating core (102) and the first water pump (3031) are also used to form a water circulation between the condenser heat exchanger (202) and the cabin heating core (102).

4. The vehicle thermal management system according to claim 3, characterized in that, Also includes: An electric heating element (6) is used to heat water flowing out of the condenser heat exchanger (202).

5. The vehicle thermal management system according to claim 4, characterized in that, Also includes: An eight-way valve (42) is provided. The first port of the eight-way valve (42) is connected to the first inlet and outlet of the condensing heat exchanger (202) via the electric heating component (6) and the first water pump (3031). The second port of the eight-way valve (42) is connected to the second inlet and outlet of the condensing heat exchanger (202). The third port of the eight-way valve (42) is connected to the first inlet and outlet of the cabin heating core (102). The fourth port of the eight-way valve (42) is connected to the second inlet and outlet of the cabin heating core (102). The fifth port of the eight-way valve (42) is connected to the first inlet and outlet of the first external water circuit heat exchanger (301). The sixth port of the eight-way valve (42) is connected to the second inlet and outlet of the first external water circuit heat exchanger (301). The seventh port of the eight-way valve (42) is connected to the third port of the six-way valve (41). The eighth port of the eight-way valve (42) is connected to the fourth port of the six-way valve (41).

6. The vehicle thermal management system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first external water heat exchanger (301) and the second external water heat exchanger (304) are stacked one after the other and share a common external fan (7).

7. The vehicle thermal management system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The vehicle cabin heat exchange module also includes: The cabin air supply duct (103) is provided with the cabin evaporator (101) and cabin heating core (102) both located in the cabin air supply duct (103). The cabin air supply duct (103) is constructed with a defrost vent (1031), a face vent (1032) and a foot vent (1033).

8. A control method for controlling a vehicle thermal management system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, include: Obtain the system's operating mode; According to the obtained operating mode, control the on / off state of the first throttling element (204) and the second throttling element (205), control the switching of the port of the six-way valve (41) and / or the eight-way valve (42), and control the operation of the compressor (201), the first water pump (3031), the second water pump (3032), the third water pump (5) and the electric heating component (6).

9. The control method according to claim 8, characterized in that, When the operating mode is the cabin heat pump cooling mode, the first throttling element (204) is cut off and the second throttling element (205) is turned on. The first port and the sixth port of the eight-way valve (42) are turned on, and the second port and the fifth port are turned on. The compressor (201) and the first water pump (3031) are turned on, and the second water pump (3032), the third water pump (5), and the electric heating component (6) are turned off; or, When the operating mode is the battery heat pump cooling mode, the first throttling element (204) is turned on and the second throttling element (205) is turned off. The first port and the sixth port of the eight-way valve (42) are turned on, and the second port and the fifth port are turned on. The third port and the sixth port of the six-way valve (41) are turned on, and the fourth port and the fifth port are turned on. The compressor (201), the first water pump (3031), and the second water pump (3032) are turned on. The electric heating component (6) and the third water pump (5) are turned off. When the operating mode is the battery ambient temperature cooling mode, the first throttling element (204) and the second throttling element (205) are cut off, the first port and the sixth port, the second port and the third port, and the fourth port and the fifth port of the six-way valve (41) are connected, the second water pump (3032) is operated, and the compressor (201), the first water pump (3031), the electric heating component (6), and the third water pump (5) are not operated; or, When the operating mode is the simultaneous heat pump cooling mode for the vehicle cabin and battery, the first throttling element (204) and the second throttling element (205) are turned on, the first port and the sixth port, the second port and the fifth port of the eight-way valve (42) are turned on, the third port and the sixth port, the fourth port and the fifth port of the six-way valve (41) are turned on, the compressor (201), the first water pump (3031), the second water pump (3032), and the third water pump (5) are turned on, and the electric heating component (6) is turned off; or, When the operating mode is a mixed cooling mode for the vehicle compartment and battery, the first throttling element (204) is cut off and the second throttling element (205) is turned on. The first port and the sixth port of the eight-way valve (42) are turned on, and the second port and the fifth port are turned on. The first port and the sixth port, the second port and the third port, and the fourth port and the fifth port of the six-way valve (41) are turned on. The compressor (201), the first water pump (3031), and the second water pump (3032) are turned on. The third water pump (5) and the electric heating component (6) are turned off. Alternatively, When the operating mode is the synchronous cooling mode of the cabin, battery and motor control, the first throttling element (204) and the second throttling element (205) are turned on, the first port and the sixth port of the eight-way valve (42) are turned on, the second port and the fifth port are turned on, the third port and the sixth port of the six-way valve (41) are turned on, the fourth port and the fifth port are turned on, the compressor (201), the first water pump (3031), the second water pump (3032) and the third water pump (5) are turned on, and the electric heating component (6) is turned off.

10. The control method according to claim 8, characterized in that, When the operating mode is the cabin heat pump heating mode, the first throttling element (204) is turned on and the second throttling element (205) is turned off; the first port and the fourth port of the eight-way valve (42) are turned on and the second port and the third port are turned on; the first port and the sixth port of the six-way valve (41) are turned on and the second port and the fifth port are turned on; the compressor (201), the first water pump (3031), and the second water pump (3032) are operated; and the third water pump (5) and the electric heating component (6) are not operated; or, When the operating mode is the cabin electric heating mode, the first throttling element (204) and the second throttling element (205) are cut off, the first port and the fourth port of the eight-way valve (42) are connected, the second port and the third port are connected, the first water pump (3031) and the electric heating component (6) are operated, and the compressor (201), the second water pump (3032), and the third water pump (5) are not operated; or, When the operating mode is the battery heat pump heating mode, the first throttling element (204) is turned on and the second throttling element (205) is turned off. The first port and the eighth port of the eight-way valve (42) are turned on and the second port and the seventh port are turned on. The first water pump (3031), the second water pump (3032) and the compressor (201) are turned on, and the electric heating component (6) and the third water pump (5) are turned off. Or, When the operating mode is battery electric heating mode, the first throttling element (204) and the second throttling element (205) are cut off, the first port and the eighth port of the eight-way valve (42) are connected, and the second port and the seventh port are connected. The first water pump (3031) and the electric heating component (6) are operated, and the second water pump (3032), the compressor (201), and the third water pump (5) are not operated; or, When the operating mode is the simultaneous electric heating mode of the cabin and battery, the first throttling element (204) and the second throttling element (205) are cut off, the first port and the eighth port, the second port and the third port, and the fourth port and the seventh port of the eight-way valve (42) are connected, the first water pump (3031) and the electric heating component (6) are operated, and the second water pump (3032), the compressor (201), and the third water pump (5) are not operated; or, When the operating mode is the simultaneous heat pump heating mode of the cabin and battery, the first throttling element (204) is turned on and the second throttling element (205) is turned off. The first port and the eighth port, the second port and the third port, and the fourth port and the seventh port of the eight-way valve (42) are turned on. The first port and the sixth port, and the second port and the fifth port of the six-way valve (41) are turned on. The first water pump (3031), the second water pump (3032), and the compressor (201) are turned on. The third water pump (5) and the electric heating component (6) are turned off.

11. The control method according to claim 8, characterized in that, When the operating mode is the cabin electric heating composite battery cooling mode, the first throttling element (204) and the second throttling element (205) are cut off, the first port and the fourth port of the eight-way valve (42) are connected, the second port and the third port are connected, the first port and the sixth port of the six-way valve (41) are connected, the second port and the third port are connected, and the fourth port and the fifth port are connected, the first water pump (3031), the second water pump (3032) and the electric heating component (6) are operated, and the compressor (201) and the third water pump (5) are not operated; or, When the operating mode is the cabin heat pump heating and battery cooling mode, the first throttling element (204) is turned on and the second throttling element (205) is turned off. The first port and the fourth port of the eight-way valve (42) are turned on, and the second port and the third port are turned on. The third port and the sixth port of the six-way valve (41) are turned on, and the fourth port and the fifth port are turned on. The first water pump (3031), the second water pump (3032) and the compressor (201) are turned on. The electric heating component (6) and the third water pump (5) are turned off. Or, When the operating mode is the cabin heat pump heating composite waste heat recovery mode, the first throttling element (204) is turned on and the second throttling element (205) is turned off, the first port and the fourth port of the eight-way valve (42) are turned on and the second port and the third port are turned on, the first port and the sixth port of the six-way valve (41) are turned on and the second port and the third port are turned on and the fourth port and the fifth port are turned on, the first water pump (3031), the second water pump (3032) and the compressor (201) are turned on, and the electric heating component (6) and the third water pump (5) are turned off.

12. A vehicle, characterized in that, The vehicle thermal management system includes any one of claims 1 to 7.

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