Cooling system for a motor vehicle and method for operating a cooling system

Abstract

The invention relates to a cooling system (2) for a motor vehicle for circulating a coolant, which cooling system comprises on the one hand a battery subcircuit (4) with a first coolant pump (6) and a battery (8) and on the other hand a heating subcircuit (10) for heating a passenger compartment of the motor vehicle, which heating subcircuit has a second coolant pump (12), a heating air radiator (14) and a coolant heater (16) for heating the coolant flowing in the heating subcircuit (10), wherein the cooling system (2) additionally has a chiller subcircuit (18) with a chiller (20), wherein the battery subcircuit (4) and / or the heating subcircuit (10) and / or the chiller subcircuit (18) can be connected to one another selectively by means of a multi-way valve (22, 38) of the cooling system (2) for the circulation of coolant. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for operating a cooling system (2) of a motor vehicle.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a cooling system for a motor vehicle and a method for operating the cooling system. Background Technology

[0002] Such cooling systems and methods of operation are known in numerous implementation variations from the prior art. Known cooling systems for motor vehicles include, on the one hand, a battery sub-circuit with a first coolant pump and a battery, and on the other hand, a heating sub-circuit for heating the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle, the heating sub-circuit having a second coolant pump, a heated air radiator, and a coolant heater for heating the coolant flowing in the heating sub-circuit. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This invention is based on this.

[0004] The objective of this invention is to improve a cooling system for a motor vehicle and a method for operating the cooling system.

[0005] The task is solved by a cooling system for motor vehicles according to the invention, characterized in that the cooling system additionally includes a cooler sub-circuit, wherein the battery sub-circuit and / or the heating sub-circuit and / or the cooler sub-circuit can be selectively interconnected by means of a multi-way valve of the cooling system to guide coolant. Furthermore, the task is solved by a method for operating the cooling system according to the invention.

[0006] The main advantage of this invention lies particularly in the improvement of the cooling system for motor vehicles and the method for operating the cooling system. Due to the construction of the cooling system for motor vehicles according to the invention and the method for operating the cooling system for motor vehicles, a very flexible distribution of heat flow in the cooling system for motor vehicles can be achieved in a form and manner that is simple in structure, manufacturing technology, circuit technology, and process technology. Therefore, the core functions of the cooling system according to the invention—namely, cooling the battery by means of a cooler, heating the passenger compartment by means of a coolant heater and a heated air radiator, and heating the battery by means of a coolant heater—can be achieved cost-effectively and efficiently.

[0007] In principle, the cooling system for motor vehicles according to the invention can be freely selected within a wide range of suitable limits in terms of type, mode of operation, materials, and size. In particular, the cooling system and method according to the invention can be advantageously used in motor vehicles constructed as electric vehicles. Electric vehicles are generally understood herein to be all motor vehicles in which the drive of the motor vehicle is achieved at least partially by means of a battery-powered electric motor. Accordingly, motor vehicles having so-called hybrid drive systems can also be understood as electric vehicles in the aforementioned sense.

[0008] A particularly advantageous improvement to the cooling system according to the invention specifies that the cooling system additionally includes a heat pump for air conditioning the passenger compartment, wherein the cooler is simultaneously constructed as a component of the heat pump. This allows heat from the environment and / or waste heat from the drivetrain sub-circuit to be transferred to the vehicle interior space, i.e., the passenger compartment, thus achieving efficient heating. For this purpose, multiple heat exchangers and coolant valves are typically required. This improvement is achieved here by the fact that the cooling system according to the invention achieves the aforementioned heat pump function by means of a cooler, thereby reducing the cost and consumption in the heat pump's coolant system, particularly by eliminating components within the heat pump.

[0009] According to another advantageous improvement of the cooling system of the invention, the multi-way valve is configured as a five-way valve, wherein the battery sub-circuit is connected to the first and second connectors of the five-way valve to guide coolant, the heating sub-circuit is connected to the first and third connectors of the five-way valve to guide coolant, and the cooler sub-circuit is connected to the fourth and fifth connectors of the five-way valve to guide coolant. On the one hand, this is a still very cost-effective variation of the cooling system according to the invention. On the other hand, by means of a multi-way valve configured as a five-way valve, the wiring technology required for the desired operating mode can be combined into a single multi-way valve in a form and manner that is particularly simple in structure and manufacturing technology.

[0010] An advantageous improvement to the aforementioned embodiment of the cooling system according to the invention specifies that the first connector of the five-way valve is connected to the input of the first coolant pump via a coolant ground connection; the output of the first coolant pump is connected to the input of the battery via a coolant ground connection; the output of the battery is connected to the second connector of the five-way valve via a coolant ground connection; the third connector of the five-way valve is connected to the input of the second coolant pump via a coolant ground connection; the output of the second coolant pump is connected to the input of the coolant heater via a coolant ground connection; the output of the coolant heater is connected to the input of the heated air radiator via a coolant ground connection; the output of the heated air radiator is connected to the first connector of the five-way valve and the input of the first coolant pump via a coolant ground connection; the fourth connector of the five-way valve is connected to the input of the cooler via a coolant ground connection; and the output of the cooler is connected to the fifth connector of the five-way valve via a coolant ground connection. In this way, the wiring technology for realizing the aforementioned core functions of the cooling system according to the invention is very simple and therefore cost-effective.

[0011] An advantageous improvement of the cooling system according to the last mentioned embodiment of the invention stipulates that the third connector of the five-way valve and the input of the second coolant pump are jointly connected to the input of the first coolant pump, the first connector of the five-way valve, and the output of the heated air radiator via a check valve, wherein the check valve enables coolant flow only in the direction toward the third connector of the five-way valve and the input of the second coolant pump. This effectively protects the cooling system according to the invention from, for example, dry operation and pressure shocks.

[0012] A particularly advantageous improvement to the cooling system according to the invention specifies that the cooling system additionally includes a drivetrain sub-circuit, which has a third coolant pump, power electronics, an electric motor, and a cooling air radiator for cooling the coolant flowing in the drivetrain sub-circuit. The drivetrain sub-circuit includes a bypass pipe that bypasses the cooling air radiator, and the battery sub-circuit and / or the heating sub-circuit and / or the cooler sub-circuit and / or the drivetrain sub-circuit are selectively interconnected by means of the aforementioned multi-port valve and additional multi-port valves of the cooling system to guide the coolant. In this way, the efficiency of the cooling system according to the invention is significantly improved. Therefore, the invention is provided not only with the aforementioned cost-reducing variant but also with a more efficient variant according to this improvement, without having to change the basic system. Only minor adaptations are required to convert the cost-reducing variant into a more efficient variant of the cooling system according to the invention.

[0013] An advantageous improvement to the aforementioned improvement of the cooling system according to the invention specifies that the multi-way valve and the additional multi-way valve are each configured as a five-way valve, wherein the battery sub-circuit is connected to the first and second connectors of the additional five-way valve to guide coolant, the heating sub-circuit is connected to the first and third connectors of the five-way valve and the second connector of the additional five-way valve to guide coolant, the cooler sub-circuit is connected to the fourth connector of the five-way valve and the third connector of the additional five-way valve to guide coolant, and the transmission sub-circuit is connected to the fifth connector of the five-way valve and the fourth and fifth connectors of the additional five-way valve to guide coolant. Thus, by means of two multi-way valves configured as five-way valves, it is possible to combine the wiring technology required for the desired operating mode in a particularly simple structural and manufacturing combination, which is also used in a more efficient variant of the cooling system according to the invention.

[0014] According to an advantageous improvement of the cooling system of the invention, as described in the last mentioned embodiment, the first connector of the five-way valve is connected to the second connector of the other five-way valve to guide coolant flow; the first connector of the other five-way valve is connected to the input of the first coolant pump to guide coolant flow; the output of the first coolant pump is connected to the input of the battery to guide coolant flow; the output of the battery is connected to the second connector of the five-way valve to guide coolant flow; the third connector of the five-way valve is connected to the input of the second coolant pump to guide coolant flow; the output of the second coolant pump is connected to the input of the coolant heater to guide coolant flow; the output of the coolant heater is connected to the input of the heated air radiator to guide coolant flow; and the output of the heated air radiator is connected to the second connector of the other five-way valve to guide coolant flow. The connector guides the coolant connection; the fourth connector of the five-way valve is connected to the input of the cooler; the output of the cooler is connected to the third connector of another five-way valve; the fourth connector of the other five-way valve is connected to the input of the cooling air radiator; the output of the cooling air radiator is connected to the input of the third cooling medium pump; the fifth connector of the other multi-way valve is connected to the input of the third cooling medium pump via the bypass line; the output of the third cooling medium pump is connected to the input of the power electronics device; the output of the power electronics device is connected to the input of the motor; and the output of the motor is connected to the fifth connector of the five-way valve. In this way, the wiring technology for implementing a more efficient variant of the cooling system according to the invention is very simple and therefore cost-effective.

[0015] An advantageous improvement to the cooling system according to the invention specifies that the third connector of the five-way valve and the inlet of the second coolant pump are jointly connected to the second connector of the other five-way valve and the outlet of the heated air radiator via a check valve, wherein the check valve enables coolant flow only in the direction toward the third connector of the five-way valve and the inlet of the second coolant pump. Thus, the cooling system according to the invention, according to a more efficient variant, is effectively protected from dry running and pressure surges, for example, by a cost-reducing variant.

[0016] In principle, the method for a cooling system for operating motor vehicles according to the present invention can also be freely chosen within a wide range of suitable limits.

[0017] An advantageous improvement to the method according to the invention specifies that, according to an operating mode set by means of the multi-way valve and the additional multi-way valve of the cooling system, the battery sub-circuit is connected to the cooler sub-circuit to guide coolant on the one hand, and the drivetrain sub-circuit is connected to the heating sub-circuit to guide coolant on the other hand. Preferably, the coolant flowing in the drivetrain sub-circuit flows through the cooling air radiator, and / or the coolant flowing in the heating sub-circuit is partially or completely guided in the bypass via an additional bypass line of the cooling system that bypasses the coolant heater and the heating air radiator. In this way, a first operating mode can be achieved, in which the battery sub-circuit and the cooler sub-circuit, as well as the drivetrain sub-circuit and the heating sub-circuit, are respectively connected. The first operating mode is advantageous in the case of very high external temperatures and / or high power output of the drivetrain, because the battery can be cooled by the cooler independently of the ambient temperature, while the waste heat of the drivetrain is discharged to the environment through the cooling air radiator.

[0018] Furthermore, this enables a second operating mode, which is advantageous under moderately cold external temperatures and moderate power output from the drivetrain, as the waste heat from the drivetrain can be directly used for efficient heating of the vehicle interior, i.e., the passenger compartment. Here, a multi-way valve is used to direct only a portion or all of the coolant flow from the drivetrain sub-circuit through the heating sub-circuit, i.e., heating. The battery can be cooled by a cooler during this period, if necessary.

[0019] According to another advantageous improvement of the method of the invention, based on an operating mode of the cooling system set by means of the multi-way valve and the additional multi-way valve, the battery sub-circuit is connected to the heating sub-circuit to guide coolant on the one hand, and the drivetrain sub-circuit is connected to the cooler sub-circuit to guide coolant on the other hand. Preferably, the coolant flowing in the drivetrain sub-circuit flows through the cooling air radiator, and / or the coolant flowing in the heating sub-circuit is partially or completely guided in the bypass via an additional bypass line of the cooling system that bypasses the coolant heater and the heating air radiator. Thus, a third operating mode can be achieved, in which the battery sub-circuit and the heating sub-circuit, as well as the drivetrain sub-circuit and the cooler sub-circuit, are respectively connected. The third operating mode is advantageous when the external temperature is low, i.e., when there is a heating requirement for the battery and / or the vehicle interior space, i.e., the passenger compartment, because in this operating mode the battery and the vehicle interior space can be heated by the coolant heater. Here, a multi-way valve is used so that only a portion of the coolant flow from the battery sub-circuit is guided through the heating sub-circuit, i.e., heating the heating sub-circuit.

[0020] Furthermore, with this improved design, the drivetrain sub-circuit and the cooler sub-circuit are connected so that waste heat from the drivetrain sub-circuit can be transferred to the coolant via the cooler and then to the vehicle interior, i.e., the passenger compartment. Here, the coolant is cooled to a temperature below ambient temperature in the cooler. Therefore, the coolant is reheated to ambient temperature as it flows through the radiator, i.e., the corresponding heat is extracted from the ambient air. Thus, as long as this improved design is applied to a cooling system with a heat pump, the third operating mode can utilize ambient heat and drivetrain heat in the form of a combined ambient heat pump and drivetrain heat pump, in addition to heating the battery and vehicle interior.

[0021] Furthermore, a fourth operating mode can be achieved using the aforementioned improvements. This fourth operating mode is advantageous when the external temperature is very low, i.e., when there is a heating requirement for the battery and / or the vehicle interior, i.e., the passenger compartment, because in this fourth operating mode, the battery and vehicle interior can be heated by the coolant heater. Here, a multi-way valve is used to guide only a portion of the coolant flow from the battery sub-circuit through the heating sub-circuit, i.e., to heat the heating sub-circuit. Additionally, the drivetrain sub-circuit and the cooler sub-circuit are connected to transfer waste heat from the drivetrain sub-circuit to the coolant via the cooler and then to the vehicle interior. Unlike the third operating mode, the coolant is bypassed and directly returned to the third coolant pump via a bypass line, passing alongside the cooling air radiator, by means of an additional multi-way valve. This third coolant pump is located upstream of the power electronics and the electric motor. This is necessary at very low ambient temperatures, below the minimum possible coolant temperature through the cooler, and thus prevents heat from being released from the coolant to the environment. Therefore, similar to the third operating mode, the fourth operating mode can utilize the heat from the transmission system in addition to heating the battery and the vehicle interior space, as long as this improvement is applied to a cooling system with a heat pump.

[0022] According to other advantageous modifications of the method of the invention, the coolant is simultaneously connected to the drivetrain sub-circuit and the cooler sub-circuit, preferably the battery sub-circuit, according to the operating mode set by the cooling system via the multi-way valve and the additional multi-way valve, and the coolant circulates independently of the battery sub-circuit, the drivetrain sub-circuit, and the cooler sub-circuit in the heating sub-circuit. In this way, a fifth operating mode can be achieved, in which battery temperature regulation is not required, thereby disconnecting the first coolant pump. The drivetrain generates usable waste heat for temperature regulation of the vehicle interior space, i.e., the passenger compartment, which is transferred to the heat pump, i.e., the heat pump's coolant system, via the cooler. Furthermore, whenever the drivetrain heat is insufficient, the vehicle interior space is additionally heated in the heating sub-circuit by means of a coolant heater.

[0023] Furthermore, this improved design enables a sixth operating mode in which the battery is heated by waste heat from the drivetrain, and the heating sub-circuit is heated by a coolant heater, for example, electrically heating the vehicle interior space, i.e., the passenger compartment.

[0024] According to another advantageous improvement of the method of the invention, the battery sub-circuit, cooler sub-circuit, drivetrain sub-circuit, and heating sub-circuit are interconnected to guide coolant according to the operating mode set by the multi-way valve and the additional multi-way valve of the cooling system. Preferably, the coolant flowing in the drivetrain sub-circuit flows through the cooling air radiator, and / or the coolant flowing in the heating sub-circuit is partially or completely guided in the bypass via an additional bypass line of the cooling system that bypasses the coolant heater and the heating air radiator. In this way, a seventh operating mode can be achieved, in which all sub-circuits of the cooling system according to the invention are interconnected. Here, firstly, the drivetrain sub-circuit and the heating sub-circuit are connected by a multi-way valve. Next, the additional multi-way valve connects the heating sub-circuit to the battery sub-circuit. Furthermore, a multi-way valve connects the battery sub-circuit to the cooler sub-circuit. Finally, the additional multi-way valve connects the cooler sub-circuit to the drivetrain sub-circuit. The seventh operating mode is advantageous in cold external temperatures and with high power output from the drivetrain, as the waste heat from the drivetrain can be directly and efficiently used to heat the battery and the vehicle interior, i.e., the passenger compartment. Here, a multi-way valve is used to direct only a portion or all of the coolant flow from the drivetrain sub-circuit through the heating sub-circuit, i.e., for heating. The residual heat in the coolant is then used to heat the battery. Attached Figure Description

[0025] The invention will now be described in more detail with the aid of the accompanying rough schematic diagram. Here, it is shown that:

[0026] Figure 1 A first embodiment of a cooling system according to the invention for performing the method according to the invention is shown in the method circuit diagram.

[0027] Figure 2 A second embodiment of the cooling system according to the invention for performing the method according to the invention is shown in the method circuit diagram.

[0028] Figure 3 This illustrates a second embodiment in the first operating mode.

[0029] Figure 4 This illustrates a second embodiment in the second operating mode.

[0030] Figure 5 This illustrates a second embodiment in the third operating mode.

[0031] Figure 6 The second embodiment in the fourth operating mode is shown.

[0032] Figure 7 The second embodiment in the fifth operating mode is shown.

[0033] Figure 8 The second embodiment in the sixth operating mode is shown, and

[0034] Figure 9 The second embodiment in the seventh operating mode is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0035] exist Figure 1 The first embodiment of a cooling system according to the invention for use in motor vehicles is presented.

[0036] The motor vehicle not presented in more detail is a motor vehicle constructed as an electric vehicle.

[0037] The cooling system 2 for circulating an unpresented coolant configured as a cooling liquid includes, on the one hand, a battery sub-circuit 4 having a first coolant pump 6 and a battery 8, and on the other hand, a heating sub-circuit 10 for heating the passenger compartment of the unpresented motor vehicle, the heating sub-circuit having a second coolant pump 12, a heated air radiator 14, and a coolant heater 16 configured as an electric PTC heater for heating the coolant flowing in the heating sub-circuit 10.

[0038] According to the invention, the cooling system 2 additionally has a cooler sub-circuit 18 with a cooler 20, wherein the battery sub-circuit 4 and / or the heating sub-circuit 10 and / or the cooler sub-circuit 18 can be selectively interconnected by means of a multi-way valve 22 of the cooling system 2 to guide the coolant.

[0039] Here, the cooling system 2 additionally has a heat pump for air conditioning the passenger cabin, which is not shown in more detail, wherein the cooler 20 is also configured as a component of the heat pump.

[0040] Here, the multi-way valve 22 is configured as a five-way valve, wherein the battery sub-circuit 4 is connected to the first and second connectors of the five-way valve 22 to guide the coolant, the heating sub-circuit 10 is connected to the first and third connectors of the five-way valve 22 to guide the coolant, and the cooler sub-circuit 18 is connected to the fourth and fifth connectors of the five-way valve 22 to guide the coolant.

[0041] Specifically, the first connector of the five-way valve 22 is connected to the input end of the first coolant pump 6 to guide the coolant to the ground; the output end of the first coolant pump 6 is connected to the input end of the battery 8 to guide the coolant to the ground; the output end of the battery 8 is connected to the second connector of the five-way valve 22 to guide the coolant to the ground; the third connector of the five-way valve 22 is connected to the input end of the second coolant pump 12 to guide the coolant to the ground; the output end of the second coolant pump 12 is connected to the input end of the coolant heater 16 to guide the coolant to the ground; the output end of the coolant heater 16 is connected to the input end of the heated air radiator 14 to guide the coolant to the ground; the output end of the heated air radiator 14 is connected to the first connector of the five-way valve 22 and the input end of the first coolant pump 6 to guide the coolant to the ground; the fourth connector of the five-way valve 22 is connected to the input end of the cooler 20 to guide the coolant to the ground; and the output end of the cooler 20 is connected to the fifth connector of the five-way valve 22 to guide the coolant to the ground.

[0042] Furthermore, the third connector of the five-way valve 22 and the input end of the second coolant pump 12 are connected together by means of a check valve 24 to guide coolant flow to the input end of the first coolant pump 6, the first connector of the five-way valve 22, and the output end of the heated air radiator 14. The check valve 24 enables coolant flow to occur only in the direction toward the third connector of the five-way valve 22 and the input end of the second coolant pump 12.

[0043] Here, the first embodiment corresponds to a cost-reducing variant according to the introduction of the specification, such that the related implementation scheme is described in the introduction of the specification.

[0044] The vehicle's transmission system is not operatively connected to the cooling system 2 according to the first embodiment. This transmission system includes power electronics, an electric motor, and a cooling system comprising a third coolant pump, power electronics, an electric motor, and a cooling air radiator for cooling the transmission system. This is in... Figure 1 The separation line is indicated by a wide dotted line, where the cooling system used for the aforementioned transmission system is... Figure 1 The drawing plane shows the cooling system 2 according to the first embodiment to the left of the dividing line between the dotted and dashed lines. Figure 1 It appears to the right of the dividing line between the dotted and dashed lines in the drawing plane.

[0045] exist Figures 2 to 9 A second embodiment of the cooling system according to the invention for performing the method according to the invention is presented. Identical or functional components are indicated using the same reference numerals as in the first embodiment.

[0046] Unlike the first embodiment, the cooling system 2 here additionally has a drivetrain sub-circuit 26, which includes a third coolant pump 28, a power electronics device 30, an electric motor 32, and a cooling air radiator 34 for cooling the coolant flowing in the drivetrain sub-circuit 26. The drivetrain sub-circuit 26 includes a bypass pipe 36 that bypasses the cooling air radiator 34. The battery sub-circuit 4 and / or the heating sub-circuit 10 and / or the cooler sub-circuit 18 and / or the drivetrain sub-circuit 26 are selectively interconnected by means of the aforementioned multi-way valve 22 and another multi-way valve 38 of the cooling system 2 to selectively guide the coolant.

[0047] The multi-way valve 22 and the other multi-way valve 38 are respectively configured as five-way valves. The battery sub-circuit 4 is connected to the first connector of the other five-way valve 38 and the second connector of the five-way valve 22 to guide the coolant. The heating sub-circuit 10 is connected to the first and third connectors of the five-way valve 22 and the second connector of the other five-way valve 38 to guide the coolant. The cooler sub-circuit 18 is connected to the fourth connector of the five-way valve 22 and the third connector of the other five-way valve 38 to guide the coolant. The transmission sub-circuit 26 is connected to the fifth connector of the five-way valve 22 and the fourth and fifth connectors of the other five-way valve 38 to guide the coolant.

[0048] Specifically, the first connector of the five-way valve 22 is connected to the second connector of the other five-way valve 38 to guide the coolant ground; the first connector of the other five-way valve 38 is connected to the input end of the first coolant pump 6 to guide the coolant ground; the output end of the first coolant pump 6 is connected to the input end of the battery 8 to guide the coolant ground; the output end of the battery 8 is connected to the second connector of the five-way valve 22 to guide the coolant ground; the third connector of the five-way valve 22 is connected to the input end of the second coolant pump 12 to guide the coolant ground; the output end of the second coolant pump 12 is connected to the input end of the coolant heater 16 to guide the coolant ground; the output end of the coolant heater 16 is connected to the input end of the heated air radiator 14 to guide the coolant ground; the output end of the heated air radiator 14 is connected to the second connector of the other five-way valve 38 to guide the coolant ground; the five-way valve 22... The fourth connector of valve 2 is connected to the input end of the cooler 20 to guide the coolant. The output end of the cooler 20 is connected to the third connector of the other five-way valve 38 to guide the coolant. The fourth connector of the other five-way valve 38 is connected to the input end of the cooling air radiator 34 to guide the coolant. The output end of the cooling air radiator 34 is connected to the input end of the third cooling medium pump 28 to guide the coolant. The fifth connector of the other multi-way valve 38 is connected to the input end of the third cooling medium pump 28 via the bypass pipe 36 to guide the coolant. The output end of the third cooling medium pump 28 is connected to the input end of the power electronic device 30 to guide the coolant. The output end of the power electronic device 30 is connected to the input end of the motor 32 to guide the coolant. The output end of the motor 32 is connected to the fifth connector of the five-way valve 38 to guide the coolant.

[0049] Furthermore, the third connector of the five-way valve 22 and the input of the second coolant pump 12 are connected together via a check valve 24 to the second connector of the other five-way valve 38 and the output of the heated air radiator 14 to guide coolant flow, wherein the check valve 24 enables coolant flow only in the direction toward the third connector of the five-way valve 22 and the input of the second coolant pump 12.

[0050] The second embodiment corresponds here to a more effective variation according to the introduction of the specification, such that the relevant implementation described herein is referenced in the introduction of the specification.

[0051] The following uses Figures 1 to 9 The operation of the cooling system according to the invention based on the first and second embodiments and the method according to the invention are described in more detail. The coolant flows in the corresponding... Figures 3 to 9 The lines are presented with a larger line width than the rest, using solid and dashed lines, as well as arrows to indicate the direction of flow.

[0052] With the aid of a cost-reducing variant, namely the invention according to the first embodiment, the battery 8 can be cooled by the cooler 20 and / or the passenger compartment can be heated by the coolant heater 16 and the heated air radiator 14, and / or the battery 8 can be heated by the coolant heater 16, depending on the operating mode set by the multi-way valve 22 among the multiple operating modes of the cooling system 2. Accordingly, with the aid of the cost-reducing variant of the invention, namely the first embodiment, the core functions of the cooling system 2 can be performed with lower efficiency than in the second embodiment.

[0053] Furthermore, a more efficient variant of the present invention according to the second embodiment can achieve the following aspects:

[0054] According to the operating mode set by the multi-way valve 22 and the additional multi-way valve 38 among the multiple operating modes of the cooling system 2, the battery sub-circuit 4 is connected to the cooler sub-circuit 18 to guide the coolant, and the drivetrain sub-circuit 26 is connected to the heating sub-circuit 10 to guide the coolant. For example, the coolant flowing in the drivetrain sub-circuit 26 flows through the cooling air radiator 34, and / or the coolant flowing in the heating sub-circuit 10 is partially or completely guided in the bypass via an additional bypass line 40 of the cooling system 2 that bypasses the coolant heater 16 and the heating air radiator 14. See [reference needed] for this. Figure 3 and Figure 4 The first and second operating modes of the cooling system 2, as presented in the introduction of the instruction manual, are described.

[0055] It should be noted that the cooling system 2 according to the first embodiment also has an additional bypass pipe 40. See [link to relevant documentation] for details. Figure 1 .

[0056] According to the operating mode set by the multi-way valve 22 and the additional multi-way valve 38 of the cooling system 2, the battery sub-circuit 4 is connected to the heating sub-circuit 10 to guide the coolant, and the drivetrain sub-circuit 26 is connected to the cooler sub-circuit 18 to guide the coolant, for example, in such a connection that the coolant flowing in the drivetrain sub-circuit 26 flows through the cooling air radiator 34, and / or the coolant flowing in the heating sub-circuit 10 is partially or completely guided in the bypass via an additional bypass line 40 of the cooling system 2 that bypasses the coolant heater 16 and the heating air radiator 14. See also Figure 5 and Figure 6 The document presents the third and fourth operating modes of the cooling system 2 as described in the introduction section of the instruction manual.

[0057] Furthermore, according to the operating mode set by the multi-way valve 22 and the additional multi-way valve 38 of the cooling system 2, the drivetrain sub-circuit 26 and the cooler sub-circuit 18, or the battery sub-circuit 4, the drivetrain sub-circuit 26 and the cooler sub-circuit 18, are connected to guide the coolant, and the coolant circulates independently of the battery sub-circuit 4, the drivetrain sub-circuit 10 and the cooler sub-circuit 18 in the heating sub-circuit 10. See also... Figure 7 and Figure 8 The fifth and sixth operating modes of the cooling system 2, as described in the introduction of the instruction manual, are presented.

[0058] Furthermore, according to the operating mode set by the multi-way valve 22 and the additional multi-way valve 38 of the cooling system 2, the battery sub-circuit 4, the cooler sub-circuit 18, the drivetrain sub-circuit 26, and the heating sub-circuit 10 are interconnected to guide the coolant, for example, in such a way that the coolant flowing in the drivetrain sub-circuit 26 flows through the cooling air radiator 34, and / or the coolant flowing in the heating sub-circuit 10 is partially or completely guided in the bypass via an additional bypass pipe 40 of the cooling system 2 that bypasses the coolant heater 16 and the heating air radiator 14. See [reference needed] for this. Figure 9 The seventh operating mode of the cooling system 2, as described in the introduction of the instruction manual, is presented.

[0059] Regarding the above-described embodiments and the mentioned operating modes of the method according to the invention based on the first and second embodiments, reference is again made to the embodiments related thereto in the introduction of the specification.

[0060] Due to the construction of the cooling system 2 according to the invention and the method for operating the cooling system 2, the very flexible distribution of heat flow in the cooling system 2 of a motor vehicle, i.e., an electric vehicle, can be achieved in a form and manner that is simple in structure, manufacturing technology, circuit technology, and process technology. Thus, the core functions of the cooling system 2, namely, cooling the battery 8 by means of the cooler 20, heating the passenger compartment by means of the coolant heater 16 and the heated air radiator 14, and heating the battery 8 by means of the coolant heater 16, can be achieved cost-effectively and efficiently. Additionally, the efficiency of the cooling system 2 according to the second embodiment is significantly improved compared to the efficiency of the lower-cost first embodiment. Therefore, the invention can be provided not only in a cost-reducing variant but also in a more efficient variant without changing the underlying system. Only slight adaptation is required to convert the cost-reducing variant into a more efficient variant of the cooling system 2.

[0061] However, the present invention is not limited to the present embodiments. For example, the present invention can also be advantageously applied to other types of motor vehicles.

[0062] List of reference numerals

[0063] 2 Cooling System

[0064] 4 battery sub-circuit

[0065] 6 First coolant pump

[0066] 8 batteries

[0067] 10 Heating Sub-Circuit

[0068] 12 Second Coolant Pump

[0069] 14 Heated Air Radiator

[0070] 16 Coolant Heater

[0071] 18 Cooler Sub-circuit

[0072] 20 Cooler

[0073] 22-way valve

[0074] 24 Check Valve

[0075] 26 Transmission System Sub-Circuit

[0076] 28 Third Coolant Pump

[0077] 30 power electronic devices

[0078] 32 electric motors

[0079] 34 Cooling air radiator

[0080] 36 Bypass pipe

[0081] 38 Other multi-way valves

[0082] 40. Additional bypass piping

Claims

1. A cooling system (2) for a motor vehicle, for circulating coolant, the cooling system comprising, on one hand, a battery sub-circuit (4) having a first coolant pump (6) and a battery (8) and on the other hand, a heating sub-circuit (10) for heating the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle, the heating sub-circuit having a second coolant pump (12), a heated air radiator (14) and a coolant heater (16), the coolant heater being used to heat the coolant flowing in the heating sub-circuit (10), the cooling system (2) additionally having a cooler sub-circuit (18) with a cooler (20), and the battery sub-circuit (4) and / or the heating sub-circuit (10) and / or the cooler sub-circuit (18) being selectively interconnected by means of a multi-way valve (22) of the cooling system (2), characterized in that, The multi-way valve (22) is configured as a five-way valve, wherein the battery sub-circuit (4) is connected to the first and second connectors of the five-way valve to guide the coolant, the heating sub-circuit (10) is connected to the first and third connectors of the five-way valve to guide the coolant, and the cooler sub-circuit (18) is connected to the fourth and fifth connectors of the five-way valve to guide the coolant. The first connector of the five-way valve is connected to the input of the first coolant pump (6) to guide the coolant, the output of the first coolant pump (6) is connected to the input of the battery (8) to guide the coolant, and the output of the battery (8) is connected to the second connector of the five-way valve to guide the coolant. The third connector of the valve is connected to the input end of the second coolant pump (12) to guide the coolant. The output end of the second coolant pump (12) is connected to the input end of the coolant heater (16) to guide the coolant. The output end of the coolant heater (16) is connected to the input end of the heated air radiator (14) to guide the coolant. The output end of the heated air radiator (14) is connected to the first connector of the five-way valve and the input end of the first coolant pump (6) to guide the coolant. The fourth connector of the five-way valve is connected to the input end of the cooler (20) to guide the coolant. The output end of the cooler (20) is connected to the fifth connector of the five-way valve to guide the coolant.

2. The cooling system (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cooling system (2) additionally has a heat pump for air conditioning the passenger cabin, wherein the cooler (20) is also constructed as a component of the heat pump.

3. The cooling system (2) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The third connector of the five-way valve and the input of the second coolant pump (12) are connected together by means of a check valve (24) to guide coolant to the input of the first coolant pump (6), the first connector of the five-way valve and the output of the heated air radiator (14), wherein the check valve (24) enables coolant to flow only in the direction toward the third connector of the five-way valve and the input of the second coolant pump (12).

4. The cooling system (2) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The cooling system (2) additionally has a drivetrain sub-circuit (26) having a third coolant pump (28), a power electronics device (30), an electric motor (32), and a cooling air radiator (34) for cooling the coolant flowing in the drivetrain sub-circuit (26). The drivetrain sub-circuit (26) includes a bypass line (36) that bypasses the cooling air radiator (34), and the battery sub-circuit (4) and / or the heating sub-circuit (10) and / or the cooler sub-circuit (18) and / or the drivetrain sub-circuit (26) are selectively interconnected by means of the aforementioned multi-way valve (22) and another multi-way valve (38) of the cooling system (2) to guide the coolant.

5. The cooling system (2) according to claim 4, characterized in that, The additional multi-way valve (38) is configured as an additional five-way valve, wherein the battery sub-circuit (4) is connected to the first and second connectors of the additional five-way valve to guide coolant, the heating sub-circuit (10) is connected to the first and third connectors of the five-way valve and the second connector of the additional five-way valve to guide coolant, the cooler sub-circuit (18) is connected to the fourth connector of the five-way valve and the third connector of the additional five-way valve to guide coolant, and the transmission sub-circuit (26) is connected to the fifth connector of the five-way valve and the fourth and fifth connectors of the additional five-way valve to guide coolant.

6. The cooling system (2) according to claim 5, characterized in that, The first connector of the five-way valve is connected to the second connector of the other five-way valve to guide the coolant. The first connector of the other five-way valve is connected to the input end of the first coolant pump (6) to guide the coolant. The output end of the first coolant pump (6) is connected to the input end of the battery (8) to guide the coolant. The output end of the battery (8) is connected to the second connector of the five-way valve to guide the coolant. The third connector of the five-way valve is connected to the input end of the second coolant pump (12) to guide the coolant. The output end of the second coolant pump (12) is connected to the input end of the coolant heater (16) to guide the coolant. The output end of the coolant heater (16) is connected to the input end of the heated air radiator (14) to guide the coolant. The output end of the heated air radiator (14) is connected to the second connector of the other five-way valve to guide the coolant. The fourth connector of the five-way valve... The head is connected to the input end of the cooler (20) to guide the coolant, the output end of the cooler (20) is connected to the third connector of the other five-way valve to guide the coolant, the fourth connector of the other five-way valve is connected to the input end of the cooling air radiator (34) to guide the coolant, the output end of the cooling air radiator (34) is connected to the input end of the third coolant pump (28) to guide the coolant, the fifth connector of the other five-way valve is connected to the input end of the third coolant pump (28) via the bypass pipe (36), the output end of the third coolant pump (28) is connected to the input end of the power electronics device (30) to guide the coolant, the output end of the power electronics device (30) is connected to the input end of the motor (32) to guide the coolant, and the output end of the motor (32) is connected to the fifth connector of the five-way valve to guide the coolant.

7. The cooling system (2) according to claim 6, characterized in that, The third connector of the five-way valve and the input of the second coolant pump (12) are connected together by means of a check valve (24) to guide coolant to the second connector of the other five-way valve and the output of the heated air radiator (14), wherein the check valve (24) enables coolant flow only in the direction toward the third connector of the five-way valve and the input of the second coolant pump (12).

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