Thermal management system, thermal management method and electric equipment

Abstract

A thermal management system (200), method and apparatus, in which a compressor (201) and a condenser (202) form a cooling loop with a heat exchange pipeline (30) of a battery (100), and the compressor (201) and an evaporator (203) form a heating loop with the heat exchange pipeline (30), such that the thermal management system (200) can provide cooling and heating functions for the battery (100), and compared to the form of a direct cooling system and a heating film, the thermal management system (200) can provide cooling and heating functions for the battery (100). The thermal management system (200) is simple in structure and high in reliability. In addition, the positions of the condenser (202) and the evaporator (203) can be reasonably arranged according to needs, and secondary utilization of hot air and cold air is achieved.

Description

Thermal management system, thermal management method and electrical equipment Technical Field

[0001] The embodiments of the present application relate to the field of battery technology, and in particular to a thermal management system, method, and device. Background Art

[0002] Currently, battery performance is significantly affected by climate and environmental factors. Both high and low ambient temperatures can affect battery performance. Therefore, battery temperature needs to be regulated to maintain it within a certain range. In hot climates, battery cooling systems are needed to lower the battery temperature if it's too high. In cold climates, battery heating systems are needed to raise the battery temperature if it's too low.

[0003] In order to make the battery adapt to the environment and achieve the best performance and life of the battery, it is necessary to perform thermal management and control the temperature environment in which the battery operates.

[0004] Summary of the Invention

[0005] In view of the above problems, the present application provides a thermal management system, method and device that can provide cooling and heating functions for the battery, with a simple structure and high reliability.

[0006] In a first aspect, the present application provides a thermal management system comprising a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator, wherein the compressor and condenser form a cooling circuit with a heat exchange line of a battery, and the compressor and evaporator form a heating circuit with the heat exchange line.

[0007] In the above-described embodiment of the present application, the compressor and condenser form a cooling circuit with the battery's heat exchange piping, while the compressor and evaporator form a heating circuit with the heat exchange piping. This enables the thermal management system to provide both cooling and heating functions for the battery. Compared to direct cooling systems and heating film systems, this thermal management system offers a simpler structure and higher reliability. Furthermore, the condenser and evaporator can be positioned appropriately as needed, enabling secondary use of hot and cold air.

[0008] In a possible implementation of the first aspect, the thermal management system further includes a first stop valve, a second stop valve, and a control device, wherein the control device is communicatively connected to the first stop valve and the second stop valve, respectively. The exhaust port of the compressor is connected to the first end of the condenser, the second end of the condenser is connected to the first end of the heat exchange pipeline, and the intake port of the compressor is connected to the second end of the heat exchange pipeline via the first stop valve to form a cooling circuit. The exhaust port of the compressor is connected to the first end of the heat exchange pipeline via the second stop valve, the first end of the evaporator is connected to the second end of the heat exchange pipeline, and the second end of the evaporator is connected to the intake port of the compressor to form a heating circuit. The control device is configured to control the first stop valve to open and the second stop valve to close to open the cooling circuit, or to control the first stop valve to close and the second stop valve to open to open the heating circuit.

[0009] In the above-mentioned embodiment of the present application, based on the structure of the above-mentioned cooling circuit and heating circuit, the control device selectively controls the opening of the first non-stop valve or the second non-stop valve, thereby selectively opening the cooling circuit or the heating circuit. When the cooling circuit is open, the compressor and condenser operate, thereby providing a cooling function for the battery. When the heating circuit is open, the compressor and evaporator operate, thereby providing a heating function for the battery. In other words, a single thermal management system can provide both cooling and heating functions. Moreover, the thermal management system has a simple structure and simple control, which can improve reliability.

[0010] In a possible implementation of the first aspect, the thermal management system further includes an energy storage device for storing refrigerant.

[0011] In the above embodiment of the present application, by providing an energy storage device, on the one hand, a sufficient amount of refrigerant can be stored, and on the other hand, it can play a pressure buffering role to prevent the pipeline of the thermal management system from rupturing due to excessive pressure.

[0012] In a possible implementation of the first aspect, the air inlet of the accumulator is connected to the second end of the evaporator, the air inlet of the accumulator is connected to the second end of the heat exchange pipeline through the first check valve, and the air outlet of the accumulator is connected to the air intake of the compressor.

[0013] In the above-mentioned embodiment of the present application, the energy accumulator is arranged in the above-mentioned manner, so that the energy accumulator can be located in the cooling circuit or the heating circuit. That is, regardless of whether the thermal management system operates in cooling mode or heating mode, the energy accumulator can provide refrigerant and play a role in buffering pressure. In addition, the above-mentioned arrangement has a simple structure.

[0014] In one possible implementation of the first aspect, the thermal management system further includes a first expansion valve, wherein a first end of the first expansion valve is in communication with a second end of the condenser, and a second end of the first expansion valve is in communication with a first end of the heat exchange pipeline. The first expansion valve is communicatively coupled to a control device, and the control device is further configured to control the first expansion valve to be switched on when the cooling circuit is switched on.

[0015] In the above embodiment of the present application, by arranging a first expansion valve between the condenser and the heat exchange pipeline, the refrigerant entering the heat exchange pipeline is in a vapor state, which is convenient for sufficient evaporation after absorbing heat in the heat exchange pipeline, and the heat exchange efficiency is high. In addition, the flow rate of the refrigerant entering the heat exchange pipeline can be controlled, and no negative impact will be generated due to excessive or insufficient refrigerant flow.

[0016] In one possible implementation of the first aspect, the thermal management system further includes a second expansion valve, wherein a first end of the second expansion valve is in communication with a first end of the evaporator, and a second end of the second expansion valve is in communication with a second end of the heat exchange pipeline. The second expansion valve is communicatively coupled to a control device, and the control device is further configured to control the second expansion valve to be switched on when the heating circuit is switched on.

[0017] In the above embodiment of the present application, a second expansion valve is provided between the evaporator and the heat exchange pipeline, so that the refrigerant entering the evaporator is in a vapor state, which facilitates full evaporation after absorbing heat in the evaporator and has a high evaporation efficiency. In addition, the flow rate of the refrigerant entering the evaporator can also be controlled, and incomplete evaporation will not occur due to excessive refrigerant flow.

[0018] In one possible implementation of the first aspect, the thermal management system further includes a third stop valve disposed in a pipeline between an exhaust port of the compressor and a first end of the condenser. The third stop valve is communicatively connected to a control device, and the control device is further configured to control the third stop valve to open when the cooling circuit is on, or to control the third stop valve to close when the heating circuit is on.

[0019] In the above embodiment of the present application, a third stop valve is provided on the pipeline between the exhaust port of the compressor and the first end of the condenser. When the heating circuit needs to be opened, the control device controls the third stop valve to close, thereby preventing the refrigerant from entering the condenser in the heating mode. That is, when the third stop valve is cut off, the gaseous refrigerant all passes through the second stop valve into the heat exchange pipeline, thereby achieving high heating efficiency.

[0020] In one possible implementation of the first aspect, the thermal management system further includes a radiator for dissipating heat from the condenser. The radiator is communicatively coupled to a control device, and the control device is further configured to control the radiator to start operating when the cooling circuit is on, or to stop operating when the heating circuit is on.

[0021] In the above embodiment of the present application, by providing a radiator to dissipate heat for the condenser, heat accumulation around the condenser can be effectively avoided, so that the condenser has a better condensation effect, thereby improving the cooling effect of the thermal management system.

[0022] In a second aspect, the present application provides a control method for a thermal management system, which includes a compressor, a condenser and an evaporator. The compressor and condenser form a cooling circuit with the heat exchange pipeline of the battery, and the compressor and evaporator form a heating circuit with the heat exchange pipeline.

[0023] The aforementioned method includes: obtaining a current battery temperature; if the current temperature is greater than or equal to a first temperature threshold, controlling the compressor and condenser to start, and controlling the cooling circuit to be conductive; if the current temperature is less than or equal to a second temperature threshold, controlling the compressor and evaporator to start, and controlling the heating circuit to be conductive. The first temperature threshold is greater than the second temperature threshold.

[0024] In the above embodiment of the present application, the battery can be provided with cooling and heating functions. In addition, the air outlets corresponding to the condenser and evaporator can be reasonably controlled as needed to achieve secondary utilization of hot air and cold air.

[0025] In a possible implementation of the second aspect, the thermal management system further includes a first stop valve and a second stop valve; the compressor exhaust port is connected to a first end of a condenser, the second end of the condenser is connected to a first end of a heat exchange pipeline, and the compressor intake port is connected to the second end of the heat exchange pipeline via the first stop valve, thereby forming a cooling circuit. The compressor exhaust port is connected to the first end of the heat exchange pipeline via the second stop valve, the first end of the evaporator is connected to the second end of the heat exchange pipeline, and the second end of the evaporator is connected to the compressor intake port, thereby forming a heating circuit.

[0026] The aforementioned “controlling the cooling circuit to be open” includes: controlling the first stop valve to be open and the second stop valve to be closed to open the cooling circuit.

[0027] The aforementioned “controlling the conduction of the heating circuit” includes: controlling the first stop valve to close and the second stop valve to open to conduct the heating circuit.

[0028] In the above embodiment of the present application, the cooling circuit can be opened by controlling the first stop valve to open and the second stop valve to close, and the heating circuit can be opened by controlling the first stop valve to close and the second stop valve to open. The control is simple and can improve reliability.

[0029] In a possible implementation of the second aspect, the thermal management system further includes a first expansion valve, wherein a first end of the first expansion valve is connected to a second end of the condenser, and a second end of the first expansion valve is connected to a first end of the heat exchange pipeline.

[0030] The aforementioned “controlling the conduction of the cooling circuit” also includes: controlling the first expansion valve to be connected.

[0031] In the above embodiment of the present application, the first expansion valve is controlled to open during cooling, so that the refrigerant entering the heat exchange pipeline is in a vapor state, which is convenient for sufficient evaporation after absorbing heat in the heat exchange pipeline, and the heat exchange efficiency is high. In addition, the flow rate of the refrigerant entering the heat exchange pipeline can also be controlled, and no negative impact will be generated due to excessive or insufficient refrigerant flow.

[0032] In a possible implementation of the second aspect, the thermal management system further includes a second expansion valve, a first end of the second expansion valve being connected to the first end of the evaporator, and a second end of the second expansion valve being connected to the second end of the heat exchange pipeline.

[0033] The aforementioned “controlling the conduction of the heating circuit” also includes: controlling the conduction of the second expansion valve.

[0034] In the above embodiment of the present application, the second expansion valve is controlled to open during heating, so that the refrigerant entering the evaporator is in a vapor state, which is convenient for sufficient evaporation after absorbing heat in the evaporator and has high evaporation efficiency. In addition, the flow rate of the refrigerant entering the evaporator can also be controlled to prevent incomplete evaporation due to excessive refrigerant flow.

[0035] In a possible implementation of the second aspect, the thermal management system further includes a third stop valve, which is disposed on a pipeline between the exhaust port of the compressor and the first end of the condenser.

[0036] The aforementioned “controlling the conduction of the cooling circuit” also includes: controlling the third stop valve to open.

[0037] In the above-described embodiment of the present application, when the cooling circuit needs to be energized, the third stop valve is controlled to open to allow gaseous refrigerant to enter the condenser. When the heating circuit needs to be energized, the third stop valve is controlled to close to prevent refrigerant from entering the condenser during heating mode and affecting the heating effect. Furthermore, when the third stop valve is closed, all gaseous refrigerant passes through the second stop valve and enters the heat exchange pipeline, resulting in high heating efficiency.

[0038] In a possible implementation of the second aspect, the thermal management system further includes a radiator, which is used to dissipate heat from the condenser.

[0039] The aforementioned method further includes: if the current temperature is greater than or equal to a first temperature threshold, controlling the radiator to start working.

[0040] In the above embodiment of the present application, by controlling the radiator to start working and dissipate heat for the condenser, heat accumulation around the condenser can be effectively avoided, so that the condenser has a better condensation effect, thereby improving the cooling effect of the thermal management system.

[0041] In a third aspect, the present application provides an electrical device comprising the thermal management system and battery in the first aspect.

[0042] In the above-mentioned embodiment of the present application, the thermal management system can provide cooling and heating functions for the battery, has a simple and reliable structure, and is conducive to the normal operation of electrical equipment in high or low temperature environments.

[0043] The above description is only an overview of the technical solution of the present application. In order to more clearly understand the technical means of the present application, it can be implemented in accordance with the contents of the specification. In order to make the above and other purposes, features and advantages of the present application more obvious and easy to understand, the specific implementation methods of the present application are listed below. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0044] Various other advantages and benefits will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the detailed description of the preferred embodiment below. The accompanying drawings are for illustration purposes only and are not to be considered as limiting the present application. The same reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to represent the same components. In the drawings:

[0045] FIG1 is a schematic structural diagram of an electric vehicle in some embodiments of the present application;

[0046] FIG2 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a battery in some embodiments of the present application;

[0047] FIG3 is a schematic structural diagram of a heat exchange pipeline in some embodiments of the present application;

[0048] FIG4 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a thermal management system in some embodiments of the present application;

[0049] FIG5 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a thermal management system in some embodiments of the present application;

[0050] FIG6 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a thermal management system in some embodiments of the present application;

[0051] FIG7 is a flow chart of a control method for a thermal management system in some embodiments of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0052] The following embodiments of the technical solution of the present application will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following embodiments are only used to more clearly illustrate the technical solution of the present application and are therefore only examples and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present application.

[0053] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which this application belongs; the terms used herein are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit this application; the terms "including" and "having" and any variations thereof in the specification and claims of this application and the above-mentioned figure descriptions are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions.

[0054] In the description of the embodiments of this application, the technical terms "first" and "second" are used only to distinguish different objects and should not be understood to indicate or imply relative importance or implicitly specify the quantity, specific order, or primary and secondary relationship of the indicated technical features. In the description of the embodiments of this application, the meaning of "plurality" is more than two, unless otherwise clearly and specifically defined.

[0055] References herein to "embodiments" mean that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiments may be included in at least one embodiment of the present application. The appearance of this phrase in various places in the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor does it constitute an independent or alternative embodiment that is mutually exclusive of other embodiments. It is understood, both explicitly and implicitly, by those skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein may be combined with other embodiments.

[0056] In the description of the embodiments of this application, the term "and / or" is simply a description of the association relationship between associated objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent the following three situations: A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone. In addition, the character " / " in this document generally indicates that the associated objects are in an "or" relationship.

[0057] In the description of the embodiments of the present application, the term "multiple" refers to more than two (including two). Similarly, "multiple groups" refers to more than two groups (including two groups), and "multiple pieces" refers to more than two pieces (including two pieces).

[0058] With the development of green energy, batteries are increasingly being used. This is particularly true in the recently emerging fields of new energy vehicles, information appliances, and photovoltaic power generation. Batteries serve as important energy storage or power supply devices, for example, powering new energy vehicles and terminal devices, and storing energy for solar panels. As battery applications continue to expand, market demand is also growing.

[0059] The inventors of the present application have noticed that the charging and discharging efficiency of the battery is related to its operating temperature. Too high or too low will have a great impact on its performance and endurance. Specifically, under low ambient temperatures, the battery will experience an increase in internal resistance and a decrease in capacity. In extreme cases, it will cause the electrolyte to freeze and the battery to be unable to discharge, resulting in a reduction in endurance. If not handled properly, it will cause instantaneous voltage overcharging, resulting in an internal short circuit and the risk of explosion. Under high ambient temperatures, the battery's charging and discharging efficiency is low, affecting the battery's power. In severe cases, it will cause thermal runaway, affecting its safety and life. It is understandable that in addition to being affected by the high ambient temperature, the battery itself will also generate a large amount of heat during the discharge process and accumulate in a relatively small space over time, making heat dissipation difficult, which will also reduce the discharge efficiency and pose a risk of thermal runaway.

[0060] Therefore, a thermal management system is needed to manage the temperature of the battery so that it can operate within a safe temperature range and is not affected by the ambient temperature or the heat release of the battery itself.

[0061] At present, most thermal management systems only include cooling systems, which are mainly divided into three categories: air cooling systems, liquid cooling systems and direct cooling systems. The air cooling system uses natural wind or refrigerated wind to flow through the surface of the battery to achieve the effect of heat exchange and cooling. The amount of heat carried away by the air is limited, the heat exchange efficiency is low, the temperature uniformity inside the battery is poor, and it is difficult to achieve relatively precise control of the battery temperature. The liquid cooling system uses antifreeze (such as ethylene glycol) as a heat exchange medium, which flows in the heat exchange circuit to cool the battery and absorb heat. The direct cooling system uses a refrigerant (i.e., a refrigerant, a phase-changing material) as a heat exchange medium. Compared with the liquid cooling system, the refrigerant can absorb a large amount of heat during the gas-liquid phase change process, and can take away the heat inside the battery more quickly, with high heat exchange efficiency.

[0062] However, the direct cooling system only has a cooling mode and no heating mode, and requires a heating film to achieve battery heating. Among them, the heating film is a constant resistance heating element, generally composed of a resistance wire, an insulating coating and a lead. The resistance wire is generally a nickel-chromium alloy or an iron-chromium alloy, and the insulating coating is generally a polyimide (PI film), silicone or epoxy resin. The heating film is attached to the outer shell of the battery module. Multiple heating films are connected in series or in parallel and powered by the battery. When the heating film is energized, the resistance generates heat to provide heat to the battery. On the one hand, the circuit is complex, the reliability is low, and the heating efficiency is low. On the other hand, it occupies more space inside the battery, affecting the energy density of the battery.

[0063] Based on the above considerations, the inventors of this application have discovered and designed a thermal management system that, through reasonable piping design and the integration of refrigerant phase changes (such as liquid to gas or gas to liquid), can provide cooling or heating functions for the battery. Specifically, when the battery temperature is too high, in cooling mode, the thermal management system absorbs internal heat from the battery to cool it down; when the battery temperature is too low, in heating mode, the thermal management system provides heat to the battery to increase its temperature.

[0064] Specifically, the thermal management system includes a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator. The compressor and condenser form a cooling circuit with the heat exchange pipeline of the battery, and the compressor and evaporator form a heating circuit with the heat exchange pipeline of the battery. In other words, only one heat exchange pipeline needs to be set up in the battery. For example, an S-shaped or Z-shaped capillary tube can be laid on the inner side of the bottom or side wall of the battery shell to form a heat exchange pipeline. The thermal management system can be set up in the battery's usage environment. For example, when the battery is powering an electric vehicle, the thermal management system can be set up on the electric vehicle, that is, the compressor, condenser, and evaporator are set up on the electric vehicle.

[0065] It is understandable that a "cooling channel" for transmitting and storing refrigerant (such as Freon) is also provided between the compressor, condenser and heat exchange pipeline. That is, in the cooling circuit, the compressor compresses the low-temperature and low-pressure gaseous refrigerant into a high-temperature and high-pressure gaseous refrigerant, which is then cooled and dissipated by the condenser and becomes a liquid refrigerant. The liquid refrigerant flows into the heat exchange pipeline of the battery, absorbs the heat inside the battery, evaporates and becomes a gaseous refrigerant, and the gaseous refrigerant can be compressed by the compressor again. Thus, the refrigerant is recycled in the cooling circuit through a gas-liquid phase change, and when passing through the heat exchange pipeline, it absorbs the heat inside the battery, achieving the effect of cooling the battery. At this time, the heat exchange pipeline is equivalent to an evaporator.

[0066] A "heating channel" for transmitting and storing refrigerant is also provided between the compressor, evaporator, and heat exchange pipeline. That is, in the heating circuit, the compressor compresses the low-temperature, low-pressure gaseous refrigerant into a high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant. The high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant enters the heat exchange pipeline, dissipates heat, and becomes liquid refrigerant. The liquid refrigerant then enters the evaporator for evaporation and becomes a gaseous refrigerant, which can be compressed again by the compressor. Thus, the refrigerant is recycled in the cooling circuit through a gas-liquid phase change. When passing through the heat exchange pipeline, it dissipates heat, achieving the effect of heating the battery. In this case, the heat exchange pipeline is equivalent to a condenser.

[0067] It is understood that the heating and cooling circuits share a compressor and heat exchange piping, and the heating and cooling circuits also share the same refrigerant. By controlling the conduction of the cooling or heating circuit, the refrigerant undergoes different phase changes as it passes through the heat exchange piping, providing cooling or heating functions.

[0068] That is, the thermal management system can provide cooling and heating functions for the battery. Compared with the above-mentioned direct cooling system and heating film, the thermal management system has a simple structure and high reliability.

[0069] The thermal management system and battery disclosed in the embodiments of this application can be used, but is not limited to, in electrical equipment such as vehicles, ships, or aircraft. This thermal management system can provide both cooling and heating functions for the battery, has a simple structure, and is highly reliable, facilitating the normal operation of the electrical equipment in both high and low temperature environments.

[0070] The present application provides an electrical device, which may be, but is not limited to, a vehicle, a ship, or an aircraft. For ease of explanation, the following embodiments utilize an electric vehicle as an example. As shown in FIG1 , the electric vehicle 1000 is internally provided with a battery 100 and a thermal management system 200 . The thermal management system 200 is connected to the heat exchange piping of the battery 100 .

[0071] The battery 100 may be disposed at the bottom, head, or tail of the electric vehicle 1000. The battery 100 may serve as a driving power source for the electric vehicle 1000, replacing or partially replacing fuel or natural gas to provide driving power for the electric vehicle 1000.

[0072] Please refer to Figure 2, which is an exploded view of a battery 100 provided in some embodiments of the present application. The battery 100 includes a housing 10 and a battery cell 20, with the battery cell 20 housed within the housing 10. The housing 10 provides a storage space for the battery cell 20 and can have various structures. In some embodiments, the housing 10 can include a first portion 11 and a second portion 12, which overlap each other and together define a storage space for the battery cell 20. The second portion 12 can be a hollow structure with one end open. The first portion 11 can be a plate-like structure, with the first portion 11 overlapping the open side of the second portion 12, so that the first portion 11 and the second portion 12 together define a storage space. Alternatively, the first portion 11 and the second portion 12 can each be a hollow structure with one end open, with the open side of the first portion 11 overlapping the open side of the second portion 12. Of course, the housing 10 formed by the first portion 11 and the second portion 12 can have various shapes, such as a cylinder, a rectangular parallelepiped, etc.

[0073] In the battery 100, there may be multiple battery cells 20, and the multiple battery cells 20 may be connected in series, in parallel, or in a mixed connection. Mixed connection means that the multiple battery cells 20 are connected both in series and in parallel. The multiple battery cells 20 may be directly connected in series, in parallel, or in a mixed connection, and then the whole formed by the multiple battery cells 20 is accommodated in the housing 10. Of course, the battery 100 may also be a battery module formed by first connecting multiple battery cells 20 in series, in parallel, or in a mixed connection, and then the multiple battery modules are connected in series, in parallel, or in a mixed connection to form a whole, and then accommodated in the housing 10. The battery 100 may also include other structures. For example, the battery 100 may also include a busbar component for achieving electrical connection between the multiple battery cells 20; the battery 100 may also include a wiring harness isolation plate assembly for achieving series and parallel connection of the battery cells, and for achieving installation and fixation of the sampling line.

[0074] Each battery cell 20 may be a secondary battery or a primary battery, and may also be a lithium-sulfur battery, a sodium-ion battery, or a magnesium-ion battery, but is not limited thereto. The battery cell 20 may be cylindrical, flat, rectangular, or in other shapes.

[0075] The battery 100 also includes a heat exchange pipe 30, which is disposed within the housing 10. For example, the heat exchange pipe 30 may be disposed at the top of the first portion 11 or the bottom of the second portion 12, or may be disposed on the side of the first portion 11 and / or the second portion 12. FIG. 2 illustrates an example in which the heat exchange pipe 30 is disposed at the bottom of the second portion 12. The location of the heat exchange pipe within the battery is not limited in any way.

[0076] As shown in Figure 3, the heat exchange piping includes a network of capillary tubes. The shape of the heat exchange piping is not limited. It will be appreciated that the heat exchange piping has an inlet and an outlet, with gaseous or liquid refrigerant entering through the inlet and exiting through the outlet, flowing through the heat exchange piping. Multiple capillary tubes connected in parallel may be provided between the inlet and the outlet. This allows the refrigerant entering the inlet to be dispersed across the multiple parallel capillary tubes, thereby improving heat exchange efficiency.

[0077] The thermal management system is installed in electric vehicles and connected to the battery's heat exchange piping. Through reasonable piping design and the combination of phase changes of the refrigerant (such as liquid to gas or gas to liquid), it can provide cooling or heating functions for the battery. In other words, when the battery temperature is too high, the thermal management system absorbs internal heat from the battery in cooling mode to cool the battery; when the battery temperature is too low, the thermal management system provides heat to the battery in heating mode to increase the temperature.

[0078] According to some embodiments of the present application, referring to FIG. 4 , the thermal management system 200 includes a compressor 201 , a condenser 202 , and an evaporator 203 , wherein the compressor 201 , the condenser 202 , and the heat exchange pipe 30 of the battery form a cooling circuit, and the compressor 201 , the evaporator 203 , and the heat exchange pipe 30 of the battery form a heating circuit.

[0079] Among them, the compressor 201 is a driven fluid machine that elevates low-pressure gas to high-pressure gas. The air intake of the compressor 201 draws in low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant gas (such as Freon), and after the motor drives the piston to compress the low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant gas, it discharges high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant gas to its exhaust port, providing power for the phase change cycle of the refrigerant. The compressor 201 can be divided into a piston compressor, a screw compressor, a centrifugal compressor, a linear compressor, etc. In this embodiment, there is no restriction on the type or model of the compressor 201, and those skilled in the art can select a suitable compressor based on actual conditions.

[0080] Condenser 202 is a heat exchanger that converts gas or vapor into liquid, i.e., gas into liquid, and rapidly transfers the heat dissipated during the gas-to-liquid conversion process to the surrounding air. Condenser 202 can be classified as an air-cooled condenser, a water-cooled condenser, or a spray-cooled condenser. In this embodiment, the type or model of condenser 202 is not limited in any way; those skilled in the art can select an appropriate condenser based on actual circumstances.

[0081] Evaporator 203 is a device that converts liquid substances into gaseous substances. Low-temperature liquid refrigerant passes through evaporator 203, exchanging heat with the outside air and becoming gaseous refrigerant. During the vaporization process, the refrigerant absorbs heat from the surrounding air. Those skilled in the art can select an appropriate evaporator based on actual conditions.

[0082] It is understandable that a "cooling channel" for transmitting and storing refrigerant (such as Freon) is also provided between the compressor 201, the condenser 202 and the heat exchange pipeline 30, which together with the heat exchange pipeline 30 of the battery constitutes a cooling circuit. That is, in the cooling circuit, the compressor 201 compresses the low-temperature and low-pressure gaseous refrigerant into a high-temperature and high-pressure gaseous refrigerant, which is then cooled and dissipated by the condenser 202 to become a liquid refrigerant. The liquid refrigerant flows into the heat exchange pipeline 30 of the battery, absorbs the heat inside the battery, evaporates and becomes a gaseous refrigerant, and the gaseous refrigerant can be compressed again by the compressor 201. Thus, the refrigerant is recycled in the cooling circuit after a gas-liquid phase change. When passing through the heat exchange pipeline 30, it absorbs the heat inside the battery, thereby achieving the effect of cooling the battery. At this time, the heat exchange pipeline 30 is equivalent to an evaporator.

[0083] A "heating channel" for transmitting and storing refrigerant is also provided between the compressor 201, the evaporator 203 and the heat exchange pipeline 30, which forms a heating circuit together with the heat exchange pipeline 30 of the battery. That is, in the heating circuit, the compressor 201 compresses the low-temperature, low-pressure gaseous refrigerant into a high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant. The high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant enters the heat exchange pipeline 30, dissipates heat, and becomes a liquid refrigerant. The liquid refrigerant then enters the evaporator 203 for evaporation and becomes a gaseous refrigerant. The gaseous refrigerant can be compressed again by the compressor 201. Thus, the refrigerant is recycled in the cooling circuit through a gas-liquid phase change. When passing through the heat exchange pipeline 30, it dissipates heat, achieving the effect of heating the battery. At this time, the heat exchange pipeline 30 is equivalent to a condenser.

[0084] It is understood that the heating and cooling circuits share a compressor and heat exchange piping, and the heating and cooling circuits also share the same refrigerant. By controlling the conduction of the cooling or heating circuit, the refrigerant undergoes different phase changes as it passes through the heat exchange piping, providing cooling or heating functions.

[0085] It is understandable that the compressor 201, the condenser 202 and the evaporator 203 can all be arranged on an electrical device (such as an electric vehicle). Since the condenser 202 dissipates heat to the surrounding air when it is working, heats the surrounding air and generates hot air, and the evaporator 203 absorbs heat from the surrounding air when it is working, cools the surrounding air and generates cold air, the positions of the condenser 202 and the evaporator 203 can be reasonably set as needed to achieve the secondary utilization of hot air and cold air. For example, taking an electric vehicle as an example for illustration, the hot air generated by the condenser 202 in the thermal management system can be discharged into the cabin of the electric vehicle to keep the driver or passengers warm, and the cold air generated by the evaporator 203 can be discharged into the cabin of the electric vehicle to keep the driver or passengers cool. That is, in this embodiment, the evaporator 203 and the condenser 202 can adopt the evaporator and condenser of the electric vehicle air-conditioning system, that is, the air-conditioning system and thermal management system of the electric vehicle can share the evaporator and condenser. When installing the thermal management system for the electric vehicle, there is no need to add another set of condensers and evaporators, which can reduce the overall cost, and the structure is simple, which can improve reliability.

[0086] It is understood that in other embodiments, the hot air generated by the condenser 202 or the cold air generated by the evaporator 203 can also be discharged out of the vehicle cabin as exhaust gas. Those skilled in the art can flexibly design according to actual needs.

[0087] In the technical solution of the embodiments of this application, a cooling circuit is formed by the compressor and condenser, and heat exchange piping with the battery, while a heating circuit is formed by the compressor and evaporator, along with the heat exchange piping. This thermal management system can provide both cooling and heating functions for the battery. Compared to direct cooling systems and heating film systems, this thermal management system has a simpler structure and higher reliability. Furthermore, the condenser and evaporator can be positioned appropriately as needed, enabling secondary use of hot and cold air.

[0088] According to some embodiments of the present application, optionally, referring to FIG5 , the thermal management system 200 further includes a first stop valve 204, a second stop valve 205, and a control device (not shown). The control device is communicatively connected to the first stop valve 204 and the second stop valve 205, respectively. The exhaust port of the compressor 201 is connected to the first end of the condenser 202, the second end of the condenser 202 is connected to the first end of the heat exchange line 30, and the intake port of the compressor 201 is connected to the second end of the heat exchange line 30 via the first stop valve 204, thereby forming a cooling circuit. The exhaust port of the compressor 201 is connected to the first end of the heat exchange line 30 via the second stop valve 205, the first end of the evaporator 203 is connected to the second end of the heat exchange line 30, and the second end of the evaporator 203 is connected to the intake port of the compressor 201, thereby forming a heating circuit.

[0089] It is understood that any two of the compressor 201, condenser 202, heat exchange pipe 30, evaporator 203, first through valve 204, and second through valve 205 can be connected by a conduit, thereby serving as a transmission channel for gaseous or liquid refrigerant.

[0090] The aforementioned "the intake port of compressor 201 is connected to the second end of heat exchange pipe 30 via first stop valve 204" can mean that conduit 1# is connected between the intake port of compressor 201 and the second end of heat exchange pipe 30, and first stop valve 204 is provided on conduit 1#. The aforementioned "the exhaust port of compressor 201 is connected to the first end of heat exchange pipe 30 via second stop valve 205" can mean that conduit 2# is connected between the exhaust port of compressor 201 and the first end of heat exchange pipe 30, and second stop valve 205 is provided on conduit 2#. It will be understood that based on the refrigerant flow direction, the first end of heat exchange pipe 30 corresponds to its inlet, and the second end corresponds to its outlet.

[0091] The above-mentioned “the exhaust port of the compressor 201 is connected to the first end of the condenser 202” may be that a conduit 3# is connected between the exhaust port of the compressor 201 and the first end of the condenser 202. The above-mentioned “the second end of the condenser 202 is connected to the first end of the heat exchange pipe 30” may be that a conduit 4# is connected between the second end of the condenser 202 and the first end of the heat exchange pipe 30. The above-mentioned “the first end of the evaporator 203 is connected to the second end of the heat exchange pipe 30” may be that a conduit 5# is connected between the first end of the evaporator 203 and the second end of the heat exchange pipe 30. The above-mentioned “the second end of the evaporator 203 is connected to the air intake of the compressor 201” may be that a conduit 6# is connected between the second end of the evaporator 203 and the air intake of the compressor 201.

[0092] It is understood that the numbers in catheters 1# to 6# are only for distinguishing the catheters, and the numbers 1#-6# do not limit the catheters in any way. Catheters 1# to 6# can be the same type of catheters, for example, all rigid catheters or all soft catheters.

[0093] The first stop valve 204 and the second stop valve 205 are electronic switches for controlling fluid flow, such as solenoid valves or electric valves. When the first stop valve 204 is open, conduit 1# where it resides is connected. When the first stop valve 204 is closed, conduit 1# where it resides is blocked. Similarly, when the second stop valve 205 is open, conduit 2# where it resides is connected. When the second stop valve 205 is closed, conduit 2# where it resides is blocked.

[0094] The control device can be a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), a single-chip microcomputer, an ARM (Acorn RISC Machine) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination of these components.

[0095] Since the control device is in communication with the first stop valve 204 and the second stop valve 205, respectively, when the cooling circuit needs to be opened, the control device can control the first stop valve 204 to open and the second stop valve 205 to close. When the heating circuit needs to be opened, the control device can control the second stop valve 205 to open and the first stop valve 204 to close.

[0096] In an embodiment of the present application, based on the structures of the cooling circuit and the heating circuit described above, the cooling circuit or the heating circuit can be selectively turned on by selectively controlling the opening of the first non-stop valve 204 or the second non-stop valve 205 by a control device. When the cooling circuit is turned on, the compressor 201 and the condenser 202 operate, providing a cooling function for the battery. When the heating circuit is turned on, the compressor 201 and the evaporator 203 operate, providing a heating function for the battery. That is, through a single thermal management system, both cooling and heating functions can be provided. Moreover, the thermal management system has a simple structure, simple control, and high reliability.

[0097] According to some embodiments of the present application, optionally, the thermal management system further includes an energy storage device in which refrigerant is stored.

[0098] The accumulator can be a container with an air inlet and an air outlet. The air inlet and outlet of the accumulator are connected to the heating circuit and the cooling circuit, respectively. When the thermal management system is not operating, the accumulator stores refrigerant. When the thermal management system is operating, the refrigerant in the accumulator is sucked away by the compressor. At this time, the accumulator acts as a pressure buffer, preventing the thermal management system pipeline from rupturing due to excessive pressure.

[0099] In the embodiment of the present application, by providing an energy storage device, on the one hand, a sufficient amount of refrigerant can be stored, and on the other hand, it can play a pressure buffering role to prevent the pipelines of the thermal management system from rupturing due to excessive pressure.

[0100] According to some embodiments of the present application, optionally, referring to Figure 6, the air inlet of the accumulator 206 is connected to the second end of the evaporator 203, the air inlet of the accumulator 206 is connected to the second end of the heat exchange pipeline 30 through the first stop valve 204, and the air outlet of the accumulator 206 is connected to the air intake of the compressor 201.

[0101] The accumulator 206 is equivalently arranged on conduit 6#. The air outlet of the accumulator 206 is connected to the air intake of the compressor 201 through conduit 6#. The air inlet of the accumulator 206 is connected to the second end of the evaporator 203 through conduit 6#. In addition, one end of conduit 1# is connected to the air inlet of the accumulator 206. That is, one end of conduit 1# and one end of conduit 6# converge at the air inlet of the accumulator 206.

[0102] In the embodiments of the present application, the energy accumulator is arranged in the above manner, so that the energy accumulator can be located in the cooling circuit or the heating circuit. That is, regardless of whether the thermal management system operates in cooling mode or heating mode, the energy accumulator can provide refrigerant and play a role in buffering pressure. In addition, the above arrangement has a simple structure.

[0103] According to some embodiments of the present application, optionally, please refer to Figure 6 again, the thermal management system 200 also includes a first expansion valve 207, the first end of the first expansion valve 207 is connected to the second end of the condenser 202, and the second end of the first expansion valve 207 is connected to the first end of the heat exchange pipeline 30.

[0104] Among them, the first expansion valve 207 plays a throttling role, that is, the liquid refrigerant becomes a low-temperature, low-pressure mist-like liquid refrigerant after passing through the first expansion valve 207, providing conditions for the liquid refrigerant to absorb heat and evaporate in the heat exchange pipeline. On the other hand, the first expansion valve 207 can also control the flow rate of the liquid refrigerant, and can ensure that the refrigerant transmitted to the second end (outlet) of the heat exchange pipeline 30 is completely converted into a gaseous state. The first expansion valve 207 can be an electronic expansion valve. Electronic expansion valves are known to those skilled in the art, and the structure and working principle of the electronic expansion valve will not be introduced in detail here.

[0105] First expansion valve 207 is equivalently disposed on conduit 4#. Liquid refrigerant output from condenser 202 is throttled and controlled by first expansion valve 207 before flowing into heat exchange pipeline 30 for heat exchange. First expansion valve 207 is communicatively connected to a control device. When the cooling circuit needs to be energized, the control device controls first expansion valve 207 to open and first check valve 204 to open.

[0106] In an embodiment of the present application, a first expansion valve 207 is provided between the condenser 202 and the heat exchange pipe 30, so that the refrigerant entering the heat exchange pipe 30 is in a vapor state, which facilitates full evaporation after absorbing heat in the heat exchange pipe 30, and has a high heat exchange efficiency. In addition, the flow rate of the refrigerant entering the heat exchange pipe 30 can also be controlled, and no negative impact will be generated due to excessive or insufficient refrigerant flow.

[0107] According to some embodiments of the present application, optionally, please refer to Figure 6 again, the thermal management system 200 also includes a second expansion valve 208, the first end of the second expansion valve 208 is connected to the first end of the evaporator 203, and the second end of the second expansion valve 208 is connected to the second end of the heat exchange pipeline 30.

[0108] Second expansion valve 208 acts as a throttling valve. Liquid refrigerant is converted into a low-temperature, low-pressure mist-like liquid refrigerant after passing through second expansion valve 208, facilitating heat absorption and evaporation in evaporator 203. Second expansion valve 208 also controls the flow rate of the liquid refrigerant, ensuring that the refrigerant delivered to evaporator 203 is completely evaporated into a gaseous state. Second expansion valve 208 may be an electronic expansion valve. Electronic expansion valves are well known to those skilled in the art, and their structure and operating principle will not be described in detail here.

[0109] Second expansion valve 208 is equivalently disposed on conduit 5#. Liquid refrigerant output from heat exchange pipeline 30 is throttled and volume-controlled by second expansion valve 208 before flowing into evaporator 203 for evaporation. Second expansion valve 208 is communicatively connected to a control device. When the heating circuit needs to be energized, the control device controls second expansion valve 208 to connect and second check valve 205 to open.

[0110] In an embodiment of the present application, a second expansion valve 208 is provided between the evaporator 203 and the heat exchange pipeline 30, so that the refrigerant entering the evaporator 203 is in a vapor state, which facilitates sufficient evaporation after absorbing heat in the evaporator 203 and has a high evaporation efficiency. In addition, the flow rate of the refrigerant entering the evaporator 203 can also be controlled, and incomplete evaporation will not occur due to excessive refrigerant flow.

[0111] According to some embodiments of the present application, optionally, referring to FIG. 6 again, the thermal management system 200 further includes a third stop valve 209 , which is disposed on the pipeline between the exhaust port of the compressor 201 and the first end of the condenser 202 .

[0112] The third stop valve 209 is an electronic switch for controlling fluid, and may be, for example, a solenoid valve or an electric valve, etc. The third stop valve 209 is in communication with the control device, so that the control device can control the opening or closing of the third stop valve 209 .

[0113] “The third stop valve 209 is arranged on the pipeline between the exhaust port of the compressor 201 and the first end of the condenser 202” can mean that the third stop valve 209 is arranged on the conduit 3#, so that the gaseous refrigerant discharged from the exhaust port of the compressor 201 enters the condenser 202 after passing through the third stop valve 209.

[0114] When the cooling circuit needs to be switched on, the control device controls third stop valve 209 to open, allowing the gaseous refrigerant to enter condenser 202. When the heating circuit needs to be switched on, the control device controls third stop valve 209 to close, preventing the refrigerant from entering condenser 202 during heating mode and affecting the heating effect. Furthermore, with third stop valve 209 closed, the gaseous refrigerant passes through second stop valve 205 and enters the heat exchange pipeline, resulting in high heating efficiency.

[0115] In an embodiment of the present application, a third stop valve 209 is provided on the pipeline between the exhaust port of the compressor 201 and the first end of the condenser 202. When the heating circuit needs to be turned on, the control device controls the third stop valve 209 to close, thereby preventing the refrigerant from entering the condenser 202 in the heating mode. That is, the gaseous refrigerant enters the heat exchange pipeline through the second stop valve when the third stop valve 209 is cut off, thereby achieving high heating efficiency.

[0116] According to some embodiments of the present application, referring again to FIG. 6 , the thermal management system 200 optionally further includes a heat sink 210. The heat sink 210 is a device for conducting and releasing heat. For example, the heat sink 210 may be a fan. Thus, the heat sink 210 can be used to dissipate heat from the condenser 202. This means that the heat dissipated by the condenser 202 into the surrounding air can be further dissipated into the external environment.

[0117] In some embodiments, when the electrical device is an electric vehicle, a radiator 210 may be provided to dissipate the heat generated by the condenser 202 into the vehicle cabin for heating the user. Alternatively, a radiator 210 may be provided to dissipate the heat generated by the condenser 202 outside the vehicle.

[0118] Because radiator 210 is in communication with the control device, the control device can control radiator 210 to start or stop operation as needed. Specifically, when the cooling circuit needs to be turned on, radiator 210 is turned on to dissipate heat for condenser 202; when the heating circuit needs to be turned on, radiator 210 is turned off.

[0119] In an embodiment of the present application, by providing a radiator 210 to dissipate heat for the condenser 202 , heat accumulation around the condenser 202 can be effectively avoided, so that the condenser 202 has a better condensation effect, thereby improving the cooling effect of the thermal management system 200 .

[0120] According to some embodiments of the present application, referring to FIG6 , a thermal management system 200 is provided, comprising a compressor 201, a condenser 202, an evaporator 203, a radiator 210, and a control device (not shown). A conduit 1# is connected between the intake port of the compressor 201 and the second end of the heat exchange pipeline 30, and a first check valve 204 is provided on the conduit 1#. A conduit 2# is connected between the exhaust port of the compressor 201 and the first end of the heat exchange pipeline 30, and a second check valve 205 is provided on the conduit 2#. A conduit 3# is connected between the exhaust port of the compressor 201 and the first end of the condenser 202, and a third check valve 209 is provided on the conduit 3#. A conduit 4# is connected between the second end of the condenser 202 and the first end of the heat exchange pipeline 30, and a first expansion valve 207 is provided on the conduit 4#. A conduit 5# is connected between the first end of the evaporator 201 and the second end of the heat exchange pipeline 30, and a second expansion valve 208 is provided on the conduit 5#. A conduit 6# is connected between the second end of evaporator 201 and the air intake of compressor 201. An accumulator 206 is mounted on conduit 6#. One end of conduit 1# and one end of conduit 6# converge at the air intake of accumulator 206. A radiator 210 is disposed around condenser 202 to dissipate heat from condenser 202.

[0121] The control device is communicatively connected to the compressor 201 , the condenser 202 , the evaporator 203 , the radiator 210 , the first stop valve 204 , the second stop valve 205 , the third stop valve 209 , the first expansion valve 207 , and the second expansion valve 208 . When the thermal management system 200 needs to provide battery cooling (i.e., in cooling mode), the control device controls the first stop valve 204 to open, the second stop valve 205 to close, the third stop valve 209 to open, the first expansion valve 207 to open, and the second expansion valve 208 to close. Furthermore, the control device controls the operation of the compressor 201, condenser 202, and radiator 210. As a result, the gaseous refrigerant is drawn into the compressor 201 from the accumulator 206. After compression, it enters the condenser 202 through the third stop valve 209 and condenses into liquid refrigerant. Simultaneously, the radiator 210 removes heat dissipated during the condensation process in the condenser 202. After passing through the first expansion valve 207, the liquid refrigerant enters the heat exchange line 30. The liquid refrigerant absorbs heat from the battery and evaporates, thereby cooling the battery. Finally, the evaporated gaseous refrigerant enters the accumulator 206 through the first stop valve 204 to re-enter the compressor 201 for the next cooling cycle.

[0122] When the thermal management system 200 needs to provide a heating function for the battery (i.e., in the heating mode), the control device controls the second stop valve 205 to open, the first stop valve 204 to close, the third stop valve 209 to close, the second expansion valve 207 to connect, and controls the compressor 201 and the evaporator 203 to work, so that the gaseous refrigerant is sucked into the compressor 201 from the energy accumulator 206, and becomes a high-temperature and high-pressure gaseous refrigerant after compression, and then enters the heat exchange pipeline 30 through the second stop valve 205. The high-temperature and high-pressure gaseous refrigerant releases heat to heat the battery. The gaseous refrigerant after absorbing heat is liquefied into liquid refrigerant, and then passes through the second expansion valve 208 to enter the evaporator 203 for evaporation. The evaporated gaseous refrigerant enters the energy accumulator 206 to re-enter the compressor 201 for the next heating cycle.

[0123] Furthermore, the compressor, condenser, and evaporator can all be installed on electrical equipment (e.g., an electric vehicle). The hot air generated by the condenser in the thermal management system can be discharged into the cabin of the electric vehicle to provide warmth to the driver or passengers, while the cold air generated by the evaporator can be discharged into the cabin of the electric vehicle to provide cooling to the driver or passengers. That is, in this embodiment, the evaporator and condenser can utilize the evaporator and condenser of the electric vehicle's air conditioning system. This means that the electric vehicle's air conditioning system and thermal management system can share the same evaporator and condenser. This eliminates the need for an additional condenser and evaporator when installing a thermal management system for the electric vehicle, reducing overall costs, simplifying the structure, improving reliability, and enabling secondary utilization of hot and cold air.

[0124] In the technical solution of the embodiments of this application, the compressor and condenser form a cooling circuit with the heat exchange piping of the battery, while the compressor and evaporator form a heating circuit with the heat exchange piping. This enables the thermal management system to provide both cooling and heating functions for the battery, with a simple structure and high reliability. Furthermore, the condenser and evaporator can be positioned appropriately as needed, enabling secondary use of hot and cold air.

[0125] According to some embodiments of the present application, referring to FIG4 , the thermal management system 200 includes a compressor 201 , a condenser 202 and an evaporator 203 . The compressor 201 and the condenser 202 form a cooling circuit with the heat exchange pipe 30 of the battery, and the compressor 201 and the evaporator 203 form a heating circuit with the heat exchange pipe 30 .

[0126] It is understood that the thermal management system 200 further includes a processor and a memory (not shown) in communication with each other. The processor is also in communication with the compressor 201, the condenser 202, and the evaporator 203. The memory stores instructions executable by the processor. The instructions are executed by the processor to enable the processor to perform the control method of the thermal management system described below.

[0127] The memory may include read-only memory and random access memory, and provides instructions and data to the processor. Part of the memory may also include non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM). The memory stores operating instructions, executable modules, or data structures, or a subset or extended set of these.

[0128] The processor can be an integrated circuit chip with signal processing capabilities. During implementation, each step of the control method of the following thermal management system can be completed by the hardware integrated logic circuit in the processor or the instructions in the form of software. The above-mentioned processor can be a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), a microprocessor or a microcontroller, and can further include an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic devices, discrete gates or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components. The processor can implement or execute the control method of the following thermal management system.

[0129] Please refer to FIG7 , which is a flow chart of a control method for a thermal management system according to an embodiment of the present application. The method S100 may specifically include the following steps:

[0130] S10: Acquire the current temperature of the battery.

[0131] S20: If the current temperature is greater than or equal to the first temperature threshold, the compressor and the condenser are controlled to start working, and the cooling circuit is controlled to be turned on.

[0132] S30: If the current temperature is less than or equal to the second temperature threshold, the compressor and the evaporator are controlled to start working, and the heating circuit is controlled to be turned on.

[0133] The first temperature threshold is greater than the second temperature threshold. It is understood that the first temperature threshold is a high temperature threshold, meaning the battery's operating temperature cannot exceed the first temperature threshold. The second temperature threshold is a low temperature threshold, meaning the battery's operating temperature cannot fall below the second temperature threshold.

[0134] The current temperature is the real-time internal temperature of the battery. For example, the battery management system (BMS) within the battery monitors the temperature of at least one location in real time and can use the average of these monitored temperatures as the current temperature. Because the battery is connected to the thermal management system, the battery can transmit the current temperature to the thermal management system's processor.

[0135] After obtaining the current temperature, the current temperature is compared with the first temperature threshold and the second temperature threshold. If the current temperature is greater than or equal to the first temperature threshold, it means that the internal temperature of the battery is too high. The compressor and condenser are controlled to start working, and the cooling circuit is controlled to be connected so that the gaseous refrigerant passes through the compressor and condenser and is input into the heat exchange pipeline to absorb the heat inside the battery, cool the battery, and then turns into gaseous refrigerant and returns to the compressor for circulating refrigeration.

[0136] If the current temperature is detected to be less than or equal to the second temperature threshold, indicating that the internal temperature of the battery is too low, the compressor and evaporator are controlled to start working, and the heating circuit is controlled to be turned on, so that the gaseous refrigerant becomes a high-temperature and high-pressure gaseous refrigerant after passing through the compressor. Then, the heat is input into the heat exchange pipeline to provide heat to the inside of the battery to heat the battery. The refrigerant after heat dissipation becomes a liquid refrigerant, and then enters the evaporator to evaporate into a gaseous refrigerant and returns to the compressor for circulating heating.

[0137] It is understandable that the compressor, condenser and evaporator can all be set on an electrical device (such as an electric vehicle). Based on the fact that the condenser will dissipate heat to the surrounding air when it is working, heating the surrounding air and generating hot air, and the evaporator will absorb heat from the surrounding air when it is working, cooling the surrounding air and generating cold air, thus, the positions of the condenser and the evaporator can be reasonably set as needed, and corresponding control can be performed to achieve the secondary utilization of hot air and cold air. For example, taking an electric vehicle as an example for exemplary description, the electric vehicle is provided with a condensing chamber, the condensing chamber has a first air inlet, a first air outlet and a second air outlet, the first air inlet is connected to the outside of the vehicle cabin, the first air outlet is connected to the inside of the vehicle cabin, and the second air outlet is connected to the outside of the vehicle cabin, a first air door is provided at the first air outlet, and a second air door is provided at the second air outlet, and the condenser is provided in the condensing chamber, so that the condenser will cool the air in the condensing chamber when it is working, and by controlling the first air door to open and the second air door to close, cold air can be blown into the vehicle cabin for the user to cool down, and by controlling the first air door to close and the second air door to open, cold air can be blown to the outside environment. Similarly, the electric vehicle is also provided with an evaporation chamber, which has a second air inlet, a third air outlet and a fourth air outlet. The second air inlet is connected to the outside of the cabin, the third air outlet is connected to the inside of the cabin, and the fourth air outlet is connected to the outside of the cabin. A third air door is provided at the third air outlet, and a fourth air door is provided at the fourth air outlet. The evaporator is provided in the evaporation chamber. Therefore, the evaporator heats the air in the evaporation chamber when working. By controlling the third air door to open and the fourth air door to close, the hot air can be blown into the cabin for heating the user. By controlling the third air door to close and the fourth air door to open, the hot air can be blown to the external environment.

[0138] In the technical solution of the embodiments of this application, the real-time current battery temperature is acquired. If the current temperature is greater than or equal to a first temperature threshold, the compressor and condenser are activated, and the cooling circuit is controlled. If the current temperature is less than or equal to a second temperature threshold, the compressor and evaporator are activated, and the heating circuit is controlled. This provides both cooling and heating functions for the battery. Furthermore, the corresponding air outlets of the condenser and evaporator can be appropriately controlled as needed, enabling the secondary use of hot and cold air.

[0139] According to some embodiments of the present application, optionally, referring to Figure 5, the thermal management system 200 also includes a first stop valve 204 and a second stop valve 205, the exhaust port of the compressor 201 is connected to the first end of the condenser 202, the second end of the condenser 202 is connected to the first end of the heat exchange pipeline 30, and the intake port of the compressor 201 is connected to the second end of the heat exchange pipeline 30 through the first stop valve 204 to form a cooling circuit; the exhaust port of the compressor 201 is connected to the first end of the heat exchange pipeline 30 through the second stop valve 205, the first end of the evaporator 30 is connected to the second end of the heat exchange pipeline 30, and the second end of the evaporator 30 is connected to the intake port of the compressor 201 to form a heating circuit.

[0140] Specifically, conduit 1# is connected between the intake port of compressor 201 and the second end of heat exchange pipe 30, and a first check valve 204 is installed on conduit 1#. Conduit 2# is connected between the exhaust port of compressor 201 and the first end of heat exchange pipe 30, and a second check valve 205 is installed on conduit 2#. Conduit 3# is connected between the exhaust port of compressor 201 and the first end of condenser 202, and conduit 4# is connected between the second end of condenser 202 and the first end of heat exchange pipe 30. Conduit 5# is connected between the first end of evaporator 30 and the second end of heat exchange pipe 30. Conduit 6# is connected between the second end of evaporator 30 and the intake port of compressor 201.

[0141] The aforementioned “controlling the conduction of the cooling circuit” includes:

[0142] S21: Control the first stop valve to open and the second stop valve to close to open the cooling circuit.

[0143] In this embodiment, the cooling circuit includes, in order, a compressor, a condenser, a heat exchange line, and a first check valve. Therefore, to control the cooling circuit's flow, the first check valve must be opened. Because the branch formed by conduits 3# and 4# is connected in parallel with conduit 2#, the second check valve must be closed to prevent refrigerant from entering the heating circuit during cooling.

[0144] The aforementioned “controlling the conduction of the heating circuit” includes:

[0145] S31: Control the first stop valve to close and the second stop valve to open to conduct the heating circuit.

[0146] In this embodiment, the heating circuit includes, in order, the compressor, the second check valve, the heat exchange piping, and the evaporator. Therefore, to control the heating circuit's conduction, the second check valve must be opened. Because the branch formed by conduits 4# and 6# is connected in parallel with conduit 1#, the first check valve must be closed to prevent refrigerant from entering the cooling circuit during heating.

[0147] The cooling circuit can be opened by controlling the first stop valve to open and the second stop valve to close, and the heating circuit can be opened by controlling the first stop valve to close and the second stop valve to open. The control is simple and reliability can be improved.

[0148] According to some embodiments of the present application, optionally, please refer to Figure 6 again, the thermal management system 200 also includes a first expansion valve 207, the first end of the first expansion valve 207 is connected to the second end of the condenser 202, and the second end of the first expansion valve 207 is connected to the first end of the heat exchange pipeline 30.

[0149] The first expansion valve 207 is equivalently provided on the conduit 4#. The first expansion valve 207 may be an electronic expansion valve.

[0150] The aforementioned “controlling the conduction of the cooling circuit” further includes:

[0151] S22: Control the first expansion valve to be turned on.

[0152] In this embodiment, the cooling circuit includes a compressor, a condenser, a first expansion valve, a heat exchange pipeline, and a first stop valve in sequence. Therefore, when controlling the conduction of the cooling circuit, in addition to controlling the first stop valve to open and the second stop valve to close, it is also necessary to control the first expansion valve to be connected.

[0153] During cooling, the first expansion valve is controlled to open so that the refrigerant entering the heat exchange pipeline is in a vapor state, which facilitates full evaporation after absorbing heat in the heat exchange pipeline, resulting in high heat exchange efficiency. In addition, the flow rate of the refrigerant entering the heat exchange pipeline can also be controlled, and no negative impact will be caused by excessive or insufficient refrigerant flow.

[0154] According to some embodiments of the present application, optionally, please refer to Figure 6 again, the thermal management system 200 also includes a second expansion valve 208, the first end of the second expansion valve 208 is connected to the first end of the evaporator 203, and the second end of the second expansion valve 208 is connected to the second end of the heat exchange pipeline 30.

[0155] The second expansion valve 208 is equivalently provided on the conduit 5# and can be an electronic expansion valve.

[0156] The aforementioned “controlling the conduction of the heating circuit” also includes:

[0157] S32: Control the second expansion valve to be turned on.

[0158] In this embodiment, the heating circuit includes a compressor, a second stop valve, a heat exchange pipeline, a second expansion valve and an evaporator in sequence. Therefore, when controlling the conduction of the heating circuit, in addition to controlling the second stop valve to open and the first stop valve to close, it is also necessary to control the second expansion valve to be connected.

[0159] During heating, the second expansion valve is controlled to open so that the refrigerant entering the evaporator is in a steam state, which facilitates full evaporation after absorbing heat in the evaporator and has high evaporation efficiency. In addition, the flow rate of the refrigerant entering the evaporator can be controlled to prevent incomplete evaporation due to excessive refrigerant flow.

[0160] According to some embodiments of the present application, optionally, referring to FIG. 6 again, the thermal management system 200 further includes a third stop valve 209 , which is disposed on the pipeline between the exhaust port of the compressor 201 and the first end of the condenser 202 .

[0161] Third stop valve 209 is an electronic switch used to control fluid flow, such as a solenoid valve or an electric valve. Third stop valve 209 is installed on conduit 3#, allowing the gaseous refrigerant discharged from the exhaust port of compressor 201 to pass through third stop valve 209 before entering condenser 202.

[0162] The aforementioned “controlling the conduction of the cooling circuit” also includes:

[0163] S23: Control the third check valve to open.

[0164] When the cooling circuit needs to be switched on, the third check valve is controlled to open, allowing gaseous refrigerant to enter the condenser. When the heating circuit needs to be switched on, the third check valve is controlled to close, preventing refrigerant from entering the condenser during heating mode and affecting the heating effect. Furthermore, when the third check valve is closed, all gaseous refrigerant passes through the second check valve and enters the heat exchange pipeline, resulting in high heating efficiency.

[0165] According to some embodiments of the present application, referring again to FIG. 6 , the thermal management system 200 optionally further includes a heat sink 210. The heat sink 210 is a device for conducting and releasing heat, and can be, for example, a fan. Thus, the heat sink 210 can be used to dissipate heat from the condenser 202. This means that the heat dissipated by the condenser 202 into the surrounding air can be further dissipated into the external environment.

[0166] The method S100 further includes:

[0167] S40: If the current temperature is greater than or equal to the first temperature threshold, control the radiator to start working.

[0168] If the current temperature is greater than or equal to the first temperature threshold, the cooling circuit needs to be turned on. When the cooling circuit is turned on, the radiator is controlled to start working to dissipate heat from the condenser.

[0169] By controlling the radiator to start working and dissipate heat for the condenser, heat accumulation around the condenser can be effectively avoided, so that the condenser has a better condensation effect, thereby improving the cooling effect of the thermal management system.

[0170] According to some embodiments of the present application, the present application also provides an electrical device, the aforementioned thermal management system and the aforementioned battery.

[0171] In the above embodiment, the thermal management system can provide cooling and heating functions for the battery, has a simple structure and high reliability, and is conducive to the normal operation of electrical equipment in high or low temperature environments.

[0172] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present application, rather than to limit them. Although the present application has been described in detail with reference to the aforementioned embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions described in the aforementioned embodiments, or make equivalent replacements for some or all of the technical features therein. These modifications or replacements do not deviate the essence of the corresponding technical solutions from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, and they should all be included in the scope of the claims and specification of the present application. In particular, as long as there is no structural conflict, the various technical features mentioned in the various embodiments can be combined in any way. The present application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, but includes all technical solutions that fall within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A thermal management system, characterized in that: include: compressors, condensers, and evaporators; wherein the compressor, the condenser and the heat exchange pipeline of the battery form a cooling circuit; The compressor, the evaporator and the heat exchange pipeline form a heating circuit.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein: The system further includes a first stop valve, a second stop valve, and a control device, wherein the control device is communicatively connected to the first stop valve and the second stop valve respectively; The exhaust port of the compressor is in communication with the first end of the condenser, the second end of the condenser is in communication with the first end of the heat exchange pipeline, and the suction port of the compressor is in communication with the second end of the heat exchange pipeline via the first check valve, so as to form the cooling circuit; The exhaust port of the compressor is connected to the first end of the heat exchange pipeline through the second non-stop valve, the first end of the evaporator is connected to the second end of the heat exchange pipeline, and the second end of the evaporator is connected to the suction port of the compressor to form the heating circuit; The control device is used to control the first stop valve to open and the second stop valve to close to conduct the cooling circuit, or to control the first stop valve to close and the second stop valve to open to conduct the heating circuit.

3. The system according to claim 2, characterized in that The system further includes an energy accumulator, which is used to store refrigerant.

4. The system according to claim 3, characterized in that The air inlet of the accumulator is communicated with the second end of the evaporator, the air inlet of the accumulator is communicated with the second end of the heat exchange pipeline through the first stop valve, and the air outlet of the accumulator is communicated with the air intake of the compressor.

5. The system according to claim 2, wherein: The system further includes a first expansion valve, wherein a first end of the first expansion valve is in communication with a second end of the condenser, and a second end of the first expansion valve is in communication with a first end of the heat exchange pipe; The first expansion valve is in communication with the control device, and the control device is further configured to control the first expansion valve to be turned on when the cooling circuit is turned on.

6. The system according to claim 5, characterized in that The system further includes a second expansion valve, a first end of the second expansion valve being in communication with the first end of the evaporator, and a second end of the second expansion valve being in communication with the second end of the heat exchange pipe; The second expansion valve is in communication with the control device, and the control device is further configured to control the second expansion valve to be turned on when the heating circuit is turned on.

7. The system according to claim 6, characterized in that The system further includes a third check valve disposed on a pipeline between an exhaust port of the compressor and a first end of the condenser; The third stop valve is in communication with the control device, and the control device is further configured to control the third stop valve to open when the cooling circuit is connected, or to control the third stop valve to close when the heating circuit is connected.

8. The system according to any one of claims 2 to 7, characterized in that: The system further includes a radiator, which is used to dissipate heat from the condenser; The radiator is in communication with the control device, and the control device is further configured to control the radiator to start working when the cooling circuit is turned on, or to control the radiator to stop working when the heating circuit is turned on.

9. A control method for a thermal management system, characterized in that: The thermal management system includes a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator, wherein the compressor, the condenser, and a heat exchange pipeline of the battery form a cooling circuit, and the compressor, the evaporator, and the heat exchange pipeline form a heating circuit; The method comprises: Obtaining the current temperature of the battery; If the current temperature is greater than or equal to a first temperature threshold, controlling the compressor and the condenser to start working, and controlling the cooling circuit to be turned on; If the current temperature is less than or equal to a second temperature threshold, controlling the compressor and the evaporator to start working, and controlling the heating circuit to be turned on; The first temperature threshold is greater than the second temperature threshold.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that The thermal management system further includes a first stop valve and a second stop valve, the exhaust port of the compressor is communicated with the first end of the condenser, the second end of the condenser is communicated with the first end of the heat exchange pipeline, and the intake port of the compressor is communicated with the second end of the heat exchange pipeline through the first stop valve to form the cooling circuit; the exhaust port of the compressor is communicated with the first end of the heat exchange pipeline through the second stop valve, the first end of the evaporator is communicated with the second end of the heat exchange pipeline, and the second end of the evaporator is communicated with the intake port of the compressor to form the heating circuit; The controlling the cooling circuit to be turned on includes: controlling the first stop valve to open and the second stop valve to close to open the cooling circuit; The controlling the heating circuit to be turned on includes: The first stop valve is controlled to be closed and the second stop valve is controlled to be opened to conduct the heating circuit.

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that The thermal management system further includes a first expansion valve, wherein a first end of the first expansion valve is in communication with a second end of the condenser, and a second end of the first expansion valve is in communication with a first end of the heat exchange pipeline; The controlling the conduction of the cooling circuit further includes: The first expansion valve is controlled to be turned on.

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that The thermal management system further includes a second expansion valve, a first end of the second expansion valve being in communication with the first end of the evaporator, and a second end of the second expansion valve being in communication with the second end of the heat exchange pipe; The controlling of the heating circuit conduction further includes: The second expansion valve is controlled to be turned on.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that The thermal management system further includes a third stop valve, the third stop valve being disposed on a pipeline between the exhaust port of the compressor and the first end of the condenser; The controlling the conduction of the cooling circuit further includes: The third stop valve is controlled to open.

14. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 13, characterized in that: The thermal management system further includes a radiator, which is used to dissipate heat from the condenser; The method further comprises: If the current temperature is greater than or equal to the first temperature threshold, the radiator is controlled to start working.

15. An electrical device, characterized in that: The thermal management system comprises the thermal management system according to any one of claims 1 to 8 and the battery.

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