Automobile heat management system adopting integrated heat exchange module

Abstract

The invention discloses an automobile heat management system adopting an integrated heat exchange module, which comprises an integrated valve plate, one side of the integrated valve plate is communicated with a nine-way water valve, a cold air water pump and a battery water pump, the other side of the integrated valve plate is provided with the integrated heat exchange module and a warm air water pump, and one end of the integrated heat exchange module is directly connected with a compressor. The integrated heat exchange module comprises a high-temperature heat exchange area, a medium-temperature heat exchange area and a low-temperature heat exchange area which are sequentially stacked, a top plate is installed on one side of the low-temperature heat exchange area, an expansion valve assembly is installed on the top plate, and the high-temperature heat exchange area and the low-temperature heat exchange area both communicate with the integrated valve plate. The compressor and the expansion valve assembly form a circulation flow path through a first heat exchange flow channel and a second heat exchange flow channel in the integrated heat exchange module. An external pipeline is not needed for connection, the production, manufacturing and detection cost of parts is greatly reduced, and the cost of a whole vehicle end mounting bracket, a connecting pipeline, bolts and working hours is greatly reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of automotive thermal management systems, and particularly to an automotive thermal management system using an integrated heat exchange module. Background Art

[0002] The thermal management system of electric vehicles affects the safety, endurance, energy consumption, and comfort of the whole vehicle, and has become one of the core technologies of new energy vehicles; with the development of new technologies such as wide-temperature heat pumps and R290 (propane) systems, the water-source heat pump system for new energy vehicles has begun to be promoted by the industry due to its high efficiency. The existing water-source architecture system includes at least two plate heat exchangers: a water-cooled condenser and a Chiller (battery cooler). At the same time, to improve the heat exchange efficiency of the R290 system, an intermediate heat exchanger (IHX) is added; since there are refrigerant and coolant channels inside each heat exchanger, and the water-cooled condenser has high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant while the Chiller has low-temperature and low-pressure refrigerant, all current heat exchangers exist independently and are connected by air-conditioning pipes and water pipes or their respective refrigerant flow channels or water flow channels. Due to the flammable and explosive characteristics of R290 (propane), the less the filling amount, the safer it is. Therefore, the filling amount of the refrigerant must be strictly controlled; traditional thermal management systems already have integrated module products to reduce the air-conditioning pipes and water pipes of the whole vehicle, so as to reduce the filling of refrigerant and coolant; however, there are still flow channel plates on the refrigerant side, and the compressor still needs to be connected to the condenser and the Chiller through air-conditioning pipes, which results in the need for separate independent production, assembly, welding, and inspection of the three heat exchangers at the supplier, especially the compressor also needs to be connected to the three heat exchangers at the same time; when assembled on the whole vehicle system or module, separate assembly and inspection are required again; and the connection of the three independent parts requires pipes and corresponding bolt brackets, increasing the cost of parts, and the relatively long pipes increase the filling amount of the refrigerant. Therefore, a heat exchanger module that can integrate the three heat exchangers together is needed to solve the above problems. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The present invention provides an automotive thermal management system using an integrated heat exchange module, which can solve the problem of complex installation structure and pipeline structure caused by the need for three independent heat exchangers in the existing automotive thermal management system.

[0004] To achieve the above object, the present invention provides the following technical solution: An automotive thermal management system using an integrated heat exchange module, including an integrated valve plate. On one side of the integrated valve plate, a nine-way water valve, a cold air water pump, and a battery water pump are connected and installed. On the other side of the integrated valve plate, an integrated heat exchange module and a warm air water pump are installed. One end of the integrated heat exchange module is directly connected and installed with a compressor. The integrated heat exchange module includes a high-temperature heat exchange area, a medium-temperature heat exchange area, and a low-temperature heat exchange area that are sequentially stacked. On one side of the low-temperature heat exchange area, a top plate is installed, and an expansion valve assembly is installed on the top plate. In the high-temperature heat exchange area, the medium-temperature heat exchange area, and the low-temperature heat exchange area, each is composed of stacked plates, and mutually alternating and independent first heat exchange channels and second heat exchange channels are formed between adjacent plates. The high-temperature heat exchange area and the low-temperature heat exchange area are both connected and communicated with the integrated valve plate. The compressor, together with the expansion valve assembly, forms a circulation flow path through the first heat exchange channels and the second heat exchange channels inside the integrated heat exchange module. The refrigerant in the compressor sequentially flows through the first heat exchange channels of the high-temperature heat exchange area and the medium-temperature heat exchange area and enters the expansion valve assembly, and then sequentially flows back to the compressor through the second heat exchange channels of the medium-temperature heat exchange area and the low-temperature heat exchange area. The second heat exchange channel of the high-temperature heat exchange area is connected and communicated with the warm air water pump and an external warm air core. The first heat exchange channel of the low-temperature heat exchange area is connected and communicated with the cold air water pump and an external cold air core. On one side of the integrated valve plate, there are also a first external joint for connecting the warm air core and the nine-way water valve, a second external joint for connecting the battery and the battery water pump, a third external joint for connecting the battery and the nine-way water valve, a fourth external joint and a fifth external joint for connecting the radiator and the nine-way water valve, a sixth external joint for connecting the motor and the nine-way water valve, and a seventh external joint for connecting the cold air core and the nine-way water valve. Therefore, there is no pipeline connection between the compressor and the integrated heat exchange module. The integrated heat exchange module is integrated with the integrated valve plate and also does not require pipeline connection. The integrated valve plate integrates multiple external joints and multiple water pumps, and the circuit is switched through the nine-way water valve to achieve multiple working modes of the thermal management system, with a small volume, few pipelines, and not easy to leak.

[0005] Preferably, the second heat exchange flow path in the high-temperature heat exchange area is communicated with the low-temperature cooling water inlet channel and the high-temperature cooling water outlet channel, and the first heat exchange flow path in the high-temperature heat exchange area is communicated with the high-temperature refrigerant inlet channel and the high-temperature refrigerant outlet channel; the first heat exchange flow path in the medium-temperature heat exchange area is communicated with the first medium-temperature heat exchange channels on both sides of the medium-temperature heat exchange area, and the second heat exchange flow path in the medium-temperature heat exchange area is communicated with the second medium-temperature heat exchange channels on both sides of the medium-temperature heat exchange area respectively; the first heat exchange flow path in the low-temperature heat exchange area is communicated with the cooling water inlet channel and the cooling water outlet channel, and the second heat exchange flow path in the low-temperature heat exchange area is communicated with the first transition channel and the second transition channel. The first transition channel is communicated with the outlet of the expansion valve assembly, and the second transition channel is communicated with one of the second medium-temperature heat exchange channels. The other second medium-temperature heat exchange channel is communicated with the low-temperature refrigerant outlet channel in the high-temperature heat exchange area; one of the first medium-temperature heat exchange channels is communicated with the high-temperature refrigerant outlet channel, and the other first medium-temperature heat exchange channel is communicated with the first direct-through channel in the low-temperature heat exchange area. The first direct-through channel is communicated with the inlet of the expansion valve assembly. By designing the internal channels of the high-temperature heat exchange area, the medium-temperature heat exchange area and the low-temperature heat exchange area, the three are integrated together, eliminating the need for external pipelines for connection, reducing the refrigerant filling amount, and solving the problem of the complex installation structure and pipeline structure caused by the existing three independent heat exchangers.

[0006] Preferably, a first partition board is arranged between the high-temperature heat exchange area and the medium-temperature heat exchange area, and a second partition board is arranged between the medium-temperature heat exchange area and the low-temperature heat exchange area. By arranging the first partition board and the second partition board, the three heat exchange areas can be separated, and the corresponding channels that need to be isolated can also be isolated.

[0007] Preferably, fins are installed in both the first heat exchange flow path and the second heat exchange flow path, which can improve the heat exchange efficiency.

[0008] Preferably, the expansion valve assembly includes a pressing block installed on the top plate and an expansion valve installed at one end of the pressing block. The first direct-through channel and the first transition channel are respectively communicated with the inner sides of both ends of the pressing block. The expansion valve is integrated onto the heat exchanger through the pressing block, and the pressing block can also act as a valve seat to limit the inlet and outlet, facilitating docking with the first direct-through channel and the first transition channel. At the same time, one end of the pressing block is connected to the integrated valve plate, which can improve the installation and fixing strength of the integrated heat exchange module.

[0009] Preferably, the cooling water outlet channel is communicated with the integrated valve plate through a first connecting elbow, and the low-temperature cooling water inlet channel is communicated with the integrated valve plate through a second connecting elbow. Through the first connecting elbow and the second connecting elbow, a firm and reliable connection between the integrated heat exchange module and the integrated valve plate can be achieved, with better pipeline sealing performance compared to conventional pipelines.

[0010] Preferably, a bottom plate is installed on the side of the high-temperature heat exchange area. An installation plate is connected to the outside of the bottom plate. The edge of the installation plate is connected to the compressor through a plurality of connecting columns. The connecting columns can be an integral structure with the compressor or a split structure. The compressor does not need to be provided with other installation brackets, and the connection structure is simple.

[0011] Preferably, a first communication seat communicating with the high-temperature refrigerant inlet passage and a second communication seat communicating with the low-temperature refrigerant outlet passage extend from the compressor. The first communication seat and the second communication seat are of an integral structure with the compressor, which can improve the connection strength between the compressor and the integrated heat exchange module and reduce the risk of leakage.

[0012] Preferably, the first transition passage and the second transition passage are arranged side by side on one side of the low-temperature heat exchange area, and the cooling water inlet passage and the cooling water outlet passage are arranged side by side on the other side of the low-temperature heat exchange area. The plates in the low-temperature heat exchange area include first low-temperature heat exchange plates and second low-temperature heat exchange plates that are stacked in an interleaved manner. A first partition rib is provided at a position between the first transition passage and the second transition passage on the first low-temperature heat exchange plate. A second partition rib that cooperates with the first partition rib is provided at a position between the cooling water inlet passage and the cooling water outlet passage on the second low-temperature heat exchange plate. The first partition rib is embedded in the groove in the middle of the second partition rib. By providing the first partition rib and the second partition rib, U-shaped and opposite flow channels can be respectively formed on the first heat exchange flow channel and the second heat exchange flow channel in the low-temperature heat exchange area, which can improve the heat exchange efficiency between the cooling water and the low-temperature and low-pressure refrigerant. At the same time, the first transition passage and the second transition passage can be centrally arranged near the expansion valve, which is convenient for forming a loop.

[0013] Preferably, prominent marking parts are provided on the edges of the plates, the first partition plate and the second partition plate, and the positions of the marking parts on the high-temperature heat exchange area, the medium-temperature heat exchange area, the low-temperature heat exchange area, the first partition plate and the second partition plate are all different. By setting the marking parts at different positions, the high-temperature heat exchange area, the medium-temperature heat exchange area, the low-temperature heat exchange area, the first partition plate and the second partition plate can be quickly distinguished, which is convenient for preventing misinstallation during installation.

[0014] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are:

[0015] An integrated heat exchange module is adopted. The integrated heat exchange module integrates the high-temperature heat exchange area, the medium-temperature heat exchange area and the low-temperature heat exchange area together through the design of the internal channels of the three, and at the same time integrates the expansion valve onto the heat exchanger to form a three-in-one heat exchanger integrated module, integrating all the compressor, water-cooled condenser, intermediate heat exchanger, EXV, and chiller in the refrigerant circuit. There is no air-conditioning pipeline, and the refrigerant is directly filled at the factory without the need for the client to fill it. The filling amount of R290 refrigerant can also be controlled to the extreme, reducing the connection interfaces and significantly reducing the leakage risk. The installation brackets, connecting pipelines, bolts and labor costs at the vehicle end are greatly reduced, with smaller flow resistance and higher efficiency. Description of the Drawings

[0016] Figure 1 Is the overall three-dimensional structure diagram of the present invention;

[0017] Figure 2 Is the overall three-dimensional structure diagram of the present invention;

[0018] Figure 3 Is the three-dimensional structure diagram of the integrated heat exchange module of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 4 Is the top view structure diagram of the integrated heat exchange module of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 5 Is Figure 4 The sectional view taken along the A-A direction of;

[0021] Figure 6 Is the exploded three-dimensional structure diagram of the integrated heat exchange module of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 7 Is the schematic diagram of the refrigerant flow circuit of the integrated heat exchange module of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 8 Is the schematic diagram of the cooling water flow circuit of the integrated heat exchange module of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 9 Is the three-dimensional structure diagram of the first low-temperature heat exchange plate of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 10 Is the three-dimensional structure diagram of the second low-temperature heat exchange plate of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 11 Is the overall circuit schematic diagram of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 12 Is the schematic diagram of the first and second working modes of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 13 Is the schematic diagram of the third working mode of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 14 Schematic diagram of the fourth working mode of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 15 Schematic diagram of the fifth working mode of the present invention.

[0031] Reference numerals:

[0032] 1. Integrated valve plate, 2. Integrated heat exchange module, 3. Nine-way water valve, 4. Compressor, 5. Cold air water pump, 6. Expansion valve, 8. Warm air water pump, 9. First connecting elbow, 10. Second connecting elbow, 11. Second communication seat, 12. Connecting column, 14. First communication seat, 16. Fins, 17. Compression block, 18. Marking part, 19. Top plate, 21. First external joint, 22. Seventh external joint, 23. Second external joint, 24. Battery water pump, 25. Sixth external joint, 26. Fifth external joint, 27. Fourth external joint, 28. Third external joint, 31. Mounting plate, 119. First partition board, 110. Second partition board, 112. High-temperature cooling water outlet channel, 113. High-temperature refrigerant outlet channel, 114. Low-temperature refrigerant outlet channel, 115. Low-temperature cooling water inlet channel, 116. High-temperature refrigerant inlet channel, 117. Bottom plate, 122. First medium-temperature heat exchange channel, 123. Second medium-temperature heat exchange channel, 131. Cooling water inlet channel, 132. Cooling water outlet channel, 133. First transition channel, 134. Second transition channel, 135. First direct-through channel, 136. First low-temperature heat exchange plate, 361. First partition convex rib, 362. Second partition convex rib, 363. Embedded groove, 137. Second low-temperature heat exchange plate, A. High-temperature heat exchange area, B. Medium-temperature heat exchange area, C. Low-temperature heat exchange area. Detailed implementation manners

[0033] Next, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention.

[0034] In an automotive thermal management system, the compressor, water-cooled condenser, intermediate heat exchanger, chiller, and the refrigerant and cooling water cooperate with each other to jointly achieve temperature control of automotive-related components. Specifically, the compressor is one of the core components of the automotive thermal management system. Its main function is to compress the low-temperature and low-pressure refrigerant gas into a high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant gas, increasing the pressure and temperature of the refrigerant and providing power for the circulation of the refrigerant in the system. For example, when the automotive air conditioner is turned on for refrigeration, the compressor starts, sucks in the low-temperature and low-pressure refrigerant vapor from the evaporator, and after compression, discharges it as high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant vapor, preparing for the subsequent heat exchange process.

[0035] In the prior art, the water-cooled condenser, the intermediate heat exchanger, and the chiller are all independent heat exchangers. The three heat exchangers are independent of each other and each has its own shell, pipes and other structures, which need to be arranged separately in the limited space of the vehicle, occupying a relatively large amount of space and being unfavorable for the effective use of the interior space of the vehicle. Especially for small vehicles or new energy vehicles where components such as batteries already occupy a large amount of space, the difficulty of space layout is even greater.

[0036] The independent structure means that each heat exchanger has its own support, fixing and other components, and the overall weight is relatively large. This will increase the curb weight of the vehicle, thereby affecting the fuel economy of the vehicle or the driving range of the electric vehicle. For modern vehicles that pursue lightweight to improve performance and efficiency, the extra weight is an unfavorable factor. Independently producing the three heat exchangers requires separate investment in production equipment, molds and other resources. The production process is relatively complex and the number of components is large, resulting in an increase in manufacturing costs. Moreover, during the vehicle assembly process, it is necessary to separately install, connect pipes and lines for the three heat exchangers. The installation process is cumbersome, increasing the labor cost and installation time, and may also increase the probability of failures due to the complex installation process.

[0037] Therefore, to solve the above technical problems, such as Figure 1-11As shown in the figure, the following technical solution is provided: An automotive thermal management system using an integrated heat exchange module, including an integrated valve plate 1. On one side of the integrated valve plate 1, a nine-way water valve 3, a cold air water pump 5, and a battery water pump 24 are connected and installed. On the other side of the integrated valve plate 1, an integrated heat exchange module 2 and a warm air water pump 8 are installed. One end of the integrated heat exchange module 2 is directly connected and installed with a compressor 4. The integrated heat exchange module 2 includes a high-temperature heat exchange area A, a medium-temperature heat exchange area B, and a low-temperature heat exchange area C that are sequentially stacked. On one side of the low-temperature heat exchange area C, a top plate 19 is installed, and an expansion valve assembly is installed on the top plate 19. The high-temperature heat exchange area A, the medium-temperature heat exchange area B, and the low-temperature heat exchange area C are each composed of 16 stacked plates 16, and independent first heat exchange channels and second heat exchange channels that alternate with each other are formed between adjacent plates 16. The high-temperature heat exchange area A and the low-temperature heat exchange area C are both connected and communicated with the integrated valve plate 1. The compressor 4, together with the expansion valve assembly, forms a circulation flow path through the first heat exchange channel and the second heat exchange channel inside the integrated heat exchange module 2. The refrigerant in the compressor 4 flows through the first heat exchange channels of the high-temperature heat exchange area A and the medium-temperature heat exchange area B in sequence and enters the expansion valve assembly, and then flows back to the compressor 4 through the second heat exchange channels of the medium-temperature heat exchange area B and the low-temperature heat exchange area C in sequence. The second heat exchange channel of the high-temperature heat exchange area A is connected and communicated with the warm air water pump 8 and an external warm air core. The first heat exchange channel of the low-temperature heat exchange area C is connected and communicated with the cold air water pump 5 and an external cold air core. On one side of the integrated valve plate 1, a first external joint 21 for connecting the warm air core and the nine-way water valve 3, a second external joint 23 for connecting the battery and the battery water pump 24, a third external joint 28 for connecting the battery and the nine-way water valve 3, a fourth external joint 27 and a fifth external joint 26 for connecting the radiator and the nine-way water valve 3, a sixth external joint 25 for connecting the motor and the nine-way water valve 3, and a seventh external joint 22 for connecting the cold air core and the nine-way water valve 3 are also provided. Therefore, there is no pipeline connection between the compressor 4 and the integrated heat exchange module 2. The integrated heat exchange module 2 is integrated with the integrated valve plate 1 and there is no need for pipeline connection either. The integrated valve plate 1 integrates multiple external joints and multiple water pumps, and the circuit is switched through the nine-way water valve 3 to achieve multiple working modes of the thermal management system, with a small volume, few pipelines, and not easy to leak.

[0038] Specifically, the high-temperature heat exchange area A is equivalent to a water-cooled condenser, the medium-temperature heat exchange area B is equivalent to an intermediate heat exchanger, and the low-temperature heat exchange area C is equivalent to a Chiller battery cooler. The media flowing in the first heat exchange channel and the second heat exchange channel are different, and heat exchange occurs between different media, and the flow directions of the media in the first heat exchange channel and the second heat exchange channel are opposite.

[0039] Among them, the nine-way water valve 3 is arranged in the middle of one side of the integrated valve plate 1, and the first external joint 21, the second external joint 23, the third external joint 28, the fourth external joint 27, the fifth external joint 26, the sixth external joint 25 and the seventh external joint 22 are arranged around the nine-way water valve 3, facilitating the rotation of the valve core of the nine-way water valve 3 to switch pipelines.

[0040] On the other side of the integrated valve plate 1, only the integrated heat exchange module 2 and the heater water pump 8 need to be installed. If there is enough space on the integrated valve plate 1, the heater water pump 8 and the battery water pump 24 can also be arranged on one side of the integrated heat exchange module 2.

[0041] In this embodiment, the plates 16 in the high-temperature heat exchange area A, the medium-temperature heat exchange area B and the low-temperature heat exchange area C are all arranged in pairs. In order to form mutually alternating and independent first heat exchange channels and second heat exchange channels, and also to realize the shuttle circuit of the refrigerant in the three heat exchange areas, each pair of plates 16 is slightly different in structure. Specifically, in order to further integrate the high-temperature heat exchange area A, the medium-temperature heat exchange area B and the low-temperature heat exchange area C together, the second heat exchange channel in the high-temperature heat exchange area A is connected to the low-temperature cooling water inlet channel 115 and the high-temperature cooling water outlet channel 112, and the first heat exchange channel in the high-temperature heat exchange area A is connected to the high-temperature refrigerant inlet channel 116 and the high-temperature refrigerant outlet channel 113. The high-temperature refrigerant inlet channel 116 is used to connect the high-temperature refrigerant coming from the compressor. The low-temperature cooling water circulates in the first heat exchange channel and exchanges heat with the high-temperature refrigerant, which can reduce the temperature of the high-temperature refrigerant;

[0042] The first heat exchange channel in the medium-temperature heat exchange area B is connected to the first medium-temperature heat exchange channels 122 located on both sides of the medium-temperature heat exchange area B, and the second heat exchange channel in the medium-temperature heat exchange area B is connected to the second medium-temperature heat exchange channels 123 located on both sides of the medium-temperature heat exchange area B respectively, which can further reduce the temperature of the high-temperature refrigerant while increasing the temperature of the low-temperature refrigerant returning from the low-temperature heat exchange area C;

[0043] The first heat exchange channel in the low-temperature heat exchange area C is connected to the cooling water inlet channel 131 and the cooling water outlet channel 132, the second heat exchange channel in the low-temperature heat exchange area C is connected to the first transition channel 133 and the second transition channel 134, the first transition channel 133 is connected to the outlet of the expansion valve assembly, the second transition channel 134 is connected to one of the second medium-temperature heat exchange channels 123, and the other second medium-temperature heat exchange channel 123 is connected to the low-temperature refrigerant outlet channel 114 in the high-temperature heat exchange area A. In the low-temperature heat exchange area C, the low-temperature and low-pressure refrigerant after being depressurized by the expansion valve assembly exchanges heat with the cooling water entering from the cooling water inlet channel 131, absorbs the heat of the cooling water, and completely evaporates into a low-temperature and low-pressure gaseous refrigerant;

[0044] One of the first medium-temperature heat exchange channels 122 is communicated with the high-temperature refrigerant outlet channel 113, and the other first medium-temperature heat exchange channel 122 is communicated with the first direct-through channel 135 in the low-temperature heat exchange area C. The first direct-through channel 135 is communicated with the inlet of the expansion valve assembly. By designing the internal channels of the high-temperature heat exchange area A, the medium-temperature heat exchange area B, and the low-temperature heat exchange area C, the three are integrated together, eliminating the need for external pipelines for connection, reducing the refrigerant filling amount, and solving the problem of the complex installation structure and pipeline structure caused by the existing need for three independent heat exchangers.

[0045] As a specific working principle in this embodiment:

[0046] High-temperature refrigerant path (high-pressure side): The refrigerant is discharged from the compressor and enters the high-temperature heat exchange area A in the form of high-temperature and high-pressure gas, that is, into the high-temperature refrigerant inlet channel 116, and then flows along the second heat exchange flow path to the high-temperature refrigerant outlet channel 113. At the same time, the low-temperature coolant enters the high-temperature heat exchange area A from the low-temperature cooling water inlet channel 115, and the low-temperature coolant flows along the first heat exchange flow path to the high-temperature cooling water outlet channel 112. In this process, the high-temperature and high-pressure gaseous refrigerant gradually condenses into high-temperature and high-pressure liquid through heat dissipation (water cooling).

[0047] Medium-temperature refrigerant path (high-pressure side, before expansion valve throttling): The high-temperature and high-pressure liquid refrigerant coming out of the high-temperature heat exchange area A enters one of the first medium-temperature heat exchange channels 122 and flows along the first heat exchange flow path to the first medium-temperature heat exchange channel 122. The low-temperature refrigerant coming out of the low-temperature heat exchange area C flows between the second heat exchange flow paths between the two second medium-temperature heat exchange channels 123. Therefore, before reaching the expansion valve, the high-temperature and high-pressure liquid refrigerant exchanges heat with the low-temperature refrigerant coming out of the low-temperature heat exchange area C in the medium-temperature heat exchange area B to further cool it and increase the subcooling degree; at the same time, after the low-temperature refrigerant coming out of the low-temperature heat exchange area C exchanges heat with the high-temperature and high-pressure liquid refrigerant coming out of the high-temperature heat exchange area A in the medium-temperature heat exchange area B, the temperature further increases before entering the compressor, increasing the superheat degree. The medium-temperature heat exchange area B greatly improves the system efficiency.

[0048] The medium-temperature liquid refrigerant further cooled in the medium-temperature heat exchange area B directly enters the first direct-through channel 135. The first direct-through channel 135 is not communicated with the first heat exchange flow path and the second heat exchange flow path of the low-temperature heat exchange area C. Its function is that of a flow-through hole. The medium-temperature liquid refrigerant directly enters the expansion valve assembly. The medium-temperature liquid refrigerant is throttled by the electronic expansion valve, and the pressure drops suddenly. Part of the liquid flashes into gas, forming a low-temperature and low-pressure two-phase mixed state, and then enters the first transition channel 133 of the low-temperature heat exchange area C from the outlet of the expansion valve assembly.

[0049] Low-temperature refrigerant path (low-pressure side evaporation and heat absorption): The refrigerant throttled by the electronic expansion valve enters the low-temperature heat exchange area C and flows from the first transition channel 133 to the second transition channel 134 along the second heat exchange flow path. At the same time, the external high-temperature battery coolant or engine coolant enters the cooling water inlet channel 131 and flows into the cooling water outlet channel 132 along the first heat exchange flow path. During this process, the low-temperature and low-pressure refrigerant absorbs the heat of the external high-temperature battery coolant or engine coolant and completely evaporates into a low-temperature and low-pressure gaseous refrigerant. After flowing out, the low-temperature and low-pressure gaseous refrigerant enters the medium-temperature heat exchange area B from the second transition channel 134, exchanges heat with the high-temperature refrigerant from the high-temperature heat exchange area A, and continues to superheat. The gaseous refrigerant flowing out of the medium-temperature heat exchange area B enters the low-temperature refrigerant outlet channel 114, directly passes through the high-temperature heat exchange area A (without heat exchange), and returns to the compressor to complete the cycle.

[0050] In this embodiment, a first partition 119 is provided between the high-temperature heat exchange area A and the medium-temperature heat exchange area B, and a second partition 110 is provided between the medium-temperature heat exchange area B and the low-temperature heat exchange area C. By setting the first partition 119 and the second partition 110, the three heat exchange areas can be separated, and the corresponding channels that need to be isolated can also be isolated. For example, the first partition 119 isolates the high-temperature refrigerant inlet channel 116 and the first medium-temperature heat exchange channel 122, and the second partition 110 isolates the first medium-temperature heat exchange channel 122, the second medium-temperature heat exchange channel 123 and the cooling water inlet channel 131.

[0051] In this embodiment, fins 111 are installed in both the first heat exchange flow path and the second heat exchange flow path, which can greatly increase the contact area between the fluid and the plate, enabling more effective heat transfer. The fins can increase the rigidity and strength of the plate of the plate heat exchanger, enabling it to withstand higher pressure and stress. There are various shapes of the fins 111, and common ones include plain fins, corrugated fins, and serrated fins. The plain fins have a simple structure and are easy to manufacture; the corrugated fins increase the fluid disturbance through special corrugated shapes, improving the heat exchange efficiency; the serrated fins are provided with serrated structures at the fin edges, further enhancing the turbulence degree of the fluid, and can be selected according to needs.

[0052] In this embodiment, the expansion valve assembly includes a pressing block 17 installed on the top plate 19 and an expansion valve 6 installed at one end of the pressing block 17. The first direct-through channel 135 and the first transition channel 133 are respectively connected to the inner sides of both ends of the pressing block 17. By using the pressing block, the expansion valve is integrated onto the heat exchanger, and the pressing block can also act as a valve seat to limit the inlet and outlet, facilitating docking with the first direct-through channel and the first transition channel. At the same time, connecting one end of the pressing block 17 to the integrated valve plate 1 can improve the installation and fixation strength of the integrated heat exchange module 2.

[0053] In this embodiment, asFigure 1-2 As shown, the cooling water outlet channel 132 is communicated with the integrated valve plate 1 through the first connecting elbow 9, and the low-temperature cooling water inlet channel 115 is communicated with the integrated valve plate 1 through the second connecting elbow 10. The first connecting elbow 9 and the second connecting elbow 10 can realize a firm and reliable connection between the integrated heat exchange module 2 and the integrated valve plate 1, and have better pipeline sealing performance than the conventional ones.

[0054] In this embodiment, as Figure 1-2 shown, a bottom plate 117 is installed on the side of the high-temperature heat exchange area A. An installation plate 31 is connected to the outside of the bottom plate 117. The edge of the installation plate 31 is connected to the compressor 4 through a plurality of connecting columns 12. The connecting columns 12 can be an integral structure with the compressor 4 or a split structure. The compressor 4 does not need to be provided with other installation brackets, and the connection structure is simple.

[0055] In this embodiment, as Figure 1-2 shown, a first communication seat 14 communicated with the high-temperature refrigerant inlet channel 116 and a second communication seat 11 communicated with the low-temperature refrigerant outlet channel 114 protrude from the compressor 4. The first communication seat 14 and the second communication seat 11 are of an integral structure with the compressor 4, which can improve the connection strength between the compressor 4 and the integrated heat exchange module 2 and reduce the risk of leakage.

[0056] As Figure 9-10 shown, the first transition channel 133 and the second transition channel 134 are arranged side by side on one side of the low-temperature heat exchange area C. The cooling water inlet channel 131 and the cooling water outlet channel 132 are arranged side by side on the other side of the low-temperature heat exchange area C. The plates in the low-temperature heat exchange area C include first low-temperature heat exchange plates 136 and second low-temperature heat exchange plates 137 that are alternately stacked. A first partition rib 361 is arranged at a position between the first transition channel 133 and the second transition channel 134 on the first low-temperature heat exchange plate 136. A second partition rib 362 that cooperates with the first partition rib 361 is arranged at a position between the cooling water inlet channel 131 and the cooling water outlet channel 132 on the second low-temperature heat exchange plate 37. The first partition rib 361 is embedded in the groove 363 in the middle of the second partition rib 362. By arranging the first partition rib 361 and the second partition rib 362, U-shaped and opposite channels can be respectively formed on the first heat exchange flow path and the second heat exchange flow path in the low-temperature heat exchange area, which can improve the heat exchange efficiency between the cooling water and the low-temperature and low-pressure refrigerant. At the same time, the first transition channel and the second transition channel can be concentratedly arranged near the expansion valve, which is convenient for forming a loop.

[0057] In this embodiment, prominent marking portions 18 are provided on the edges of the plate 16, the first partition 119, and the second partition 110, and the positions of the marking portions 18 on the high-temperature heat exchange area A, the medium-temperature heat exchange area B, the low-temperature heat exchange area C, the first partition 119, and the second partition 110 are all different. By setting the marking portions at different positions, the high-temperature heat exchange area A, the medium-temperature heat exchange area B, the low-temperature heat exchange area C, the first partition 119, and the second partition 110 can be quickly distinguished, facilitating the installation without misassembly.

[0058] As Figure 11-15 shown, the automotive thermal management system in this embodiment has five working modes, which are specifically as follows:

[0059] As Figure 12 shown, the first working mode: the passenger compartment and the battery are cooled, and the motor is cooled; at this time, the warm air core body damper of the automotive air conditioner is closed, and the cold air core body damper is opened. The cooling water flowing through the warm water pump 8 enters the warm air core body after passing through the high-temperature heat exchange area A, and then the cooling water flows through the nine-way water valve 3 into the motor to take away the heat of the motor, and then flows through the radiator and the nine-way water valve 3 and returns to the warm water pump 8, so that the motor uses the radiator for heat dissipation; at the same time, the cooling water flowing through the cold water pump 5 is cooled by passing through the low-temperature heat exchange area C, and then flows through the cold air core body, and the air conditioner blows cold air into the passenger compartment. Then the cooling water flows through the nine-way water valve 3 and the battery water pump 24 and enters the battery to take away the heat of the battery and returns to the nine-way water valve 3 and the cold water pump 5 to achieve the cooling of the battery.

[0060] The second working mode: the battery is cooled, and the motor is cooled; at this time, both the warm air core body damper and the cold air core body damper are closed, and the other working processes are the same as those in the first working mode, except that the air conditioner does not blow air.

[0061] As Figure 13 shown, the third working mode: the passenger compartment and the battery are heated, and the motor is heated; at this time, the warm air core body damper is opened, and the cold air core body damper is closed. The cooling water flowing through the warm water pump 8 enters the warm air core body after passing through the high-temperature heat exchange area A, and then the cooling water flows through the nine-way water valve 3 into the battery water pump 24, and then flows through the battery to preheat the battery, and then flows through the nine-way water valve 3 and returns to the warm water pump 8; at the same time, the cooling water flowing through the cold water pump 5 is cooled by passing through the low-temperature heat exchange area C, and then flows through the cold air core body, but the air conditioner does not blow cold air into the passenger compartment. Then the cooling water flows through the nine-way water valve 3 and the motor, does not flow through the radiator, and returns to the nine-way water valve 3 and the cold water pump 5 to achieve the cooling of the motor.

[0062] As Figure 14As shown in the figure, the fourth working mode: heating the passenger compartment, cooling the battery, and heating the motor; at this time, the warm air core body damper is opened, the cold air core body damper is closed, the cooling water flowing through the warm water pump 8 enters the warm air core body after passing through the high-temperature heat exchange area A, the air conditioner blows out hot air, then the cooling water flows through the nine-way water valve 3 and enters the cold water pump 5, then the cooling water flows through the low-temperature heat exchange area C for cooling, and then the cooling water flows through the cold air core body and then enters the battery water pump 24 through the nine-way water valve 3, and flows through the battery to cool the battery, then the cooling water flows through the nine-way water valve 3 and enters the motor, the cooling water flowing through the motor takes away the heat of the motor, and then returns to the warm water pump 8 through the nine-way water valve 3.

[0063] As Figure 15 As shown in the figure, the fifth working mode: heating the passenger compartment, cooling the battery, and dissipating heat from the motor, the warm air core body damper is opened, and the cold air core body damper is closed. The difference between this working mode and the fourth working mode is that the cooling water flows through the motor and then through the radiator, and the motor is dissipated heat through the radiator.

[0064] Therefore, through the application in this embodiment, the refrigerant channel of the water-cooled condenser, the water-refrigerant heat exchange layer of the intermediate heat exchanger, and the water-water heat exchange layer of the Chiller are integrated into the same housing, reducing 70% of the connection points; the volume of the automotive thermal management integrated module is reduced by more than 40%, and at the same time 90% of the external pipelines are cancelled. The integrated design optimizes the path through internal thermal coupling. The weight of the independent components in the traditional solution is about 5 kg, and it can be reduced to 2-3 kg after integration.

[0065] It should be noted that all the directional indicators (such as up, down, left, right, front, back...) in the embodiments of the present invention are only used to explain the relative positional relationship and movement conditions between components in a specific posture (as shown in the drawings). If the specific posture changes, the directional indicators will also change accordingly.

[0066] In addition, in the present invention, the descriptions such as "first" and "second" are only for descriptive purposes, and cannot be understood as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly indicating the quantity of the indicated technical features. Thus, the features defined with "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of the features. In the description of the present invention, "a plurality" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise specifically defined.

[0067] In the present invention, unless otherwise clearly specified or limited, terms such as "connection" and "fixation" shall be understood in a broad sense. For example, "fixation" may be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or integrated; it may be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it may be directly connected or indirectly connected through an intermediate medium, and it may be the communication inside two components or the interaction relationship between two components, unless otherwise clearly limited. For those of ordinary skill in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0068] In addition, the technical solutions between various embodiments of the present invention can be combined with each other, but it must be based on the ability of those of ordinary skill in the art to implement. When the combination of technical solutions results in contradictions or cannot be implemented, it should be considered that such a combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection required by the present invention.

Claims

1. An automotive thermal management system using an integrated heat exchange module, comprising an integrated valve plate (1), one side of the integrated valve plate (1) being connected and installed with a nine-way water valve (3), a cold air water pump (5) and a battery water pump (24), characterized in that: An integrated heat exchange module (2) and a warm air water pump (8) are installed on the other side of the integrated valve plate (1); one end of the integrated heat exchange module (2) is directly connected to a compressor (4); the integrated heat exchange module (2) comprises a high-temperature heat exchange zone (A), a medium-temperature heat exchange zone (B) and a low-temperature heat exchange zone (C) which are sequentially stacked; a top plate (19) is installed on one side of the low-temperature heat exchange zone (C); an expansion valve assembly is installed on the top plate (19); the high-temperature heat exchange zone (A) is a heat exchange zone having a plurality of heat exchange components; and the middle-temperature heat exchange zone (B) is a heat exchange zone having a plurality of heat exchange components. ), the medium temperature heat exchange zone (B) and the low temperature heat exchange zone (C) are all composed of stacked plates (16), and adjacent plates (16) form alternating and independent first heat exchange channels and second heat exchange channels, the high temperature heat exchange zone (A) and the low temperature heat exchange zone (C) are both connected to the integrated valve plate (1), the compressor (4) forms a circulation flow path together with the expansion valve assembly through the first heat exchange channel and the second heat exchange channel inside the integrated heat exchange module (2), and the refrigerant in the compressor (4) is sequentially discharged from The first heat exchange flow passages of the high temperature heat exchange zone (A) and the medium temperature heat exchange zone (B) flow into the expansion valve assembly, and then flow back to the compressor (4) through the second heat exchange flow passages of the medium temperature heat exchange zone (B) and the low temperature heat exchange zone (C) in sequence. The second heat exchange flow passage of the high temperature heat exchange zone (A) is connected to the warm air water pump (8) and the external warm air core, and the first heat exchange flow passage of the low temperature heat exchange zone (C) is connected to the cold air water pump (5) and the external cold air core. One side of the integrated valve plate (1) is also connected to the A first external connector (21) for connecting a warm air core and a nine-way water valve (3), a second external connector (23) for connecting a battery and a battery water pump (24), a third external connector (28) for connecting a battery and a nine-way water valve (3), a fourth external connector (27) and a fifth external connector (26) for connecting a radiator and a nine-way water valve (3), a sixth external connector (25) for connecting a motor and a nine-way water valve (3), and a seventh external connector (22) for connecting a cold air core and a nine-way water valve (3) are provided.

2. The automotive thermal management system using an integrated heat exchange module according to claim 1, characterized in that: The second heat exchange channel in the high-temperature heat exchange zone (A) is connected to the low-temperature cooling water inlet channel (115) and the high-temperature cooling water outlet channel (112); the first heat exchange channel in the high-temperature heat exchange zone (A) is connected to the high-temperature refrigerant inlet channel (116) and the high-temperature refrigerant outlet channel (113); the first heat exchange channel in the medium-temperature heat exchange zone (B) is connected to the first medium-temperature heat exchange channel (122) located on both sides of the medium-temperature heat exchange zone (B); the second heat exchange channel in the medium-temperature heat exchange zone (B) is connected to the second medium-temperature heat exchange channel (123) located on both sides of the medium-temperature heat exchange zone (B); the first heat exchange channel in the low-temperature heat exchange zone (C) is connected to the cooling water inlet channel (131) and the cooling water outlet channel (132); The second heat exchange channel in the low-temperature heat exchange zone (C) is connected to the first transition channel (133) and the second transition channel (134); the first transition channel (133) is connected to the outlet of the expansion valve assembly; the second transition channel (134) is connected to one of the second medium-temperature heat exchange channels (123); the other second medium-temperature heat exchange channel (123) is connected to the low-temperature refrigerant outlet channel (114) in the high-temperature heat exchange zone (A); one of the first medium-temperature heat exchange channels (122) is connected to the high-temperature refrigerant outlet channel (113); the other first medium-temperature heat exchange channel (122) is connected to the first straight-through channel (135) in the low-temperature heat exchange zone (C); and the first straight-through channel (135) is connected to the inlet of the expansion valve assembly.

3. The automotive thermal management system using an integrated heat exchange module according to claim 2, characterized in that: A first partition (119) is provided between the high-temperature heat exchange zone (A) and the medium-temperature heat exchange zone (B), and a second partition (110) is provided between the medium-temperature heat exchange zone (B) and the low-temperature heat exchange zone (C).

4. The automotive thermal management system using an integrated heat exchange module according to claim 2, characterized in that: Fins (111) are installed in both the first heat exchange channel and the second heat exchange channel.

5. The automotive thermal management system using an integrated heat exchange module according to claim 2, characterized in that: The expansion valve assembly comprises a pressure block (17) mounted on a top plate (19) and an expansion valve (6) mounted at one end of the pressure block (17); the first straight through channel (135) and the first transition channel (133) are respectively connected to the inner sides of both ends of the pressure block (17).

6. The automotive thermal management system using an integrated heat exchange module according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that: The cooling water outlet channel (132) is connected to the integrated valve plate (1) via a first connecting elbow (9), and the low-temperature cooling water inlet channel (115) is connected to the integrated valve plate (1) via a second connecting elbow (10).

7. The automotive thermal management system using an integrated heat exchange module according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that: A bottom plate (117) is installed on the side of the high-temperature heat exchange zone (A), and a mounting plate (31) is connected to the outer side of the bottom plate (117). The edge of the mounting plate (31) is connected to the compressor (4) via a plurality of connecting columns (12).

8. The automotive thermal management system using an integrated heat exchange module according to claim 7, characterized in that: The compressor (4) is provided with a first connecting seat (14) connected to the high-temperature refrigerant inlet channel (116) and a second connecting seat (11) connected to the low-temperature refrigerant outlet channel (114).

9. The automotive thermal management system using an integrated heat exchange module according to claim 2, characterized in that: The first transition channel (133) and the second transition channel (134) are arranged side by side on one side of the low-temperature heat exchange zone (C), and the cooling water inlet channel (131) and the cooling water outlet channel (132) are arranged side by side on the other side of the low-temperature heat exchange zone (C). The plates in the low-temperature heat exchange zone (C) include first low-temperature heat exchange plates (136) and second low-temperature heat exchange plates (137) which are stacked in an alternating manner, wherein a first separating rib (361) is arranged on the first low-temperature heat exchange plate (136) at a position between the first transition channel (133) and the second transition channel (134), and a second separating rib (362) cooperating with the separating rib (361) is arranged on the second low-temperature heat exchange plate (37) at a position between the cooling water inlet channel (131) and the cooling water outlet channel (132), and the first separating rib (361) is embedded in an embedding groove (363) in the middle of the second separating rib (362).

10. The integrated heat exchanger module of the automotive thermal management system according to claim 3, characterized in that: The edges of the plate (16), the first partition (119) and the second partition (110) are all provided with protruding marking portions (18), and the positions of the marking portions (18) on the high-temperature heat exchange zone (A), the medium-temperature heat exchange zone (B), the low-temperature heat exchange zone (C), the first partition (119) and the second partition (110) are all different.

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