Thermal management equipment, thermal management system and vehicle with thermal management system

Abstract

The invention discloses a thermal management device and system and a vehicle with the system.The thermal management device comprises a compressor; the heat exchange assembly communicates with the compressor, and the heat exchange assembly and the compressor are arranged side by side; the water side assembly is used for guiding an external liquid medium into the heat exchange assembly, and the water side assembly is used for controlling the flow direction of the external liquid medium; wherein the heat exchange assembly is fixed to one end of the compressor, the heat exchange assembly and the compressor are integrated, and the water side assembly is arranged above the heat exchange assembly and the compressor. According to the technical scheme, the heat exchange assembly is integrated on the end portion of the compressor, so that all external communicating pipelines between the heat exchange assembly and the compressor are abandoned, the total volume of refrigerant flow paths in the whole equipment is greatly reduced, the volume of refrigerants needed in the whole equipment is reduced, and the safety requirement of flammable refrigerants is met.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of thermal management, and in particular to a thermal management device, a system and a vehicle having the system. Background Art

[0002] With the use of flammable refrigerants such as propane, the amount of refrigerant added needs to be limited to meet safety requirements. As the volume of refrigerant added is reduced, the volume required by related equipment also needs to be reduced. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The main purpose of the present invention is to provide a thermal management device, aiming to reduce the total volume of the refrigerant in the thermal management device.

[0004] To achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the thermal management device proposed by the present invention comprises:

[0005] compressor;

[0006] a heat exchange assembly, the heat exchange assembly being connected to the compressor and being arranged side by side with the compressor;

[0007] A water side component, the water side component is used to introduce external liquid medium into the heat exchange component, and the water side component is used to control the flow direction of the external liquid medium;

[0008] The heat exchange component is fixed to one end of the compressor and integrated with the compressor, and the water side component is arranged above the heat exchange component and the compressor.

[0009] Optionally / in one embodiment, the heat exchange component includes a condenser and an evaporator, both of which are used to exchange heat with external liquid media. The condenser is fixedly arranged at the air outlet end of the compressor, and the evaporator is arranged on the surface of the condenser facing away from the compressor.

[0010] Optionally / in one embodiment, the condenser and the evaporator are arranged side by side, and both the condenser and the evaporator are plate heat exchangers.

[0011] Optionally / in one embodiment, a liquid reservoir is provided between the condenser and the evaporator, the liquid reservoir is fixed on the surface of the evaporator facing the condenser, and the liquid reservoir is used to store liquid refrigerant.

[0012] Optionally / in one embodiment, a subcooler is provided between the condenser and the liquid reservoir, and the subcooler is used to introduce the liquid refrigerant into the evaporator.

[0013] Optionally / in one embodiment, a through hole is provided on the subcooler, and the liquid refrigerant flowing out of the condenser directly enters the liquid reservoir through the through hole.

[0014] Optionally / in one embodiment, the liquid reservoir is provided with a refrigerant circulation channel, and the liquid refrigerant flowing out of the subcooler flows into the evaporator through the refrigerant circulation channel.

[0015] Optionally / in one embodiment, the condenser, the evaporator, the liquid reservoir and the subcooler have the same shape in a cross section perpendicular to the length direction of the heat exchange component.

[0016] Optionally / in one embodiment, a first expansion valve is provided on the liquid reservoir, the first expansion valve is in communication with the refrigerant flow channel, and the first expansion valve is used to limit the refrigerant flow rate.

[0017] Optionally / in one embodiment, the compressor has an outer shell, and a first return channel and a second return channel are formed on the outer shell. The refrigerant after heat exchange in the evaporator enters the air inlet end of the compressor through the first return channel, and part of the refrigerant discharged from the air outlet end of the compressor enters the air inlet end of the compressor through the second return channel.

[0018] Optionally / in one embodiment, a second expansion valve is provided on the shell, the second expansion valve is communicated with the second reflux channel, and the second expansion valve is used to regulate the refrigerant in the second reflux channel.

[0019] Optionally / in one embodiment, a thermal insulation pad is provided between the liquid reservoir and the evaporator.

[0020] Optionally / in one embodiment, the water side component includes a multi-channel flow plate and an expansion pot, the multi-channel flow plate is arranged above the heat exchange component, the expansion pot is arranged above the multi-channel flow plate, the expansion pot is used to accommodate external liquid medium, the side of the multi-channel flow plate facing away from the heat exchange component has multiple flow channels, some of the flow channels are used to introduce external liquid medium into the condenser and / or the evaporator, and at least one of the multiple flow channels is communicated with the expansion pot.

[0021] Optionally / in one embodiment, a plurality of legs are arranged at intervals on the outer edge of the multi-channel flow plate, and the ends of the legs are fixed to the compressor or the heat exchange component. An installation space is formed between the side of the multi-channel flow plate facing the heat exchange component and the heat exchange component.

[0022] Optionally / in one embodiment, a condensate water pump is provided in the installation space, and the condensate water pump is used to pump external liquid medium into the condenser, and the condensate water pump is connected to at least one of the flow channels.

[0023] Optionally / in one embodiment, an evaporation water pump is provided in the installation space, and the evaporation water pump is used to pump external liquid medium into the evaporator, and the evaporation water pump is connected to at least one of the flow channels.

[0024] Optionally / in one embodiment, a multi-way valve is provided in the installation space, the multi-way valve is connected to the plurality of flow channels, and the multi-way valve is used to control the flow direction of the external refrigerant in the multi-channel flow channel plate.

[0025] Optionally / in one embodiment, a third water pump is provided in the installation space, the third water pump is connected to the expansion pot, and the third water pump is used to pump external refrigerant into or out of the expansion pot.

[0026] Optionally / in one embodiment, the thermal management device further includes a protective cover, which is provided on the compressor and the heat exchange component, and is used to prevent the refrigerant from leaking to the outside.

[0027] Optionally / in one embodiment, the protective cover includes a bottom plate and four side plates, the bottom plate is arranged at the bottom of the compressor and the heat exchange component, the four side plates and the bottom plate are sealed together to form a sealed space, and the compressor and the heat exchange component are arranged in the sealed space.

[0028] Optionally / in one embodiment, the four side plates are all sealed to the multi-channel flow plate.

[0029] Optionally / in one embodiment, a refrigerant detection sensor is provided in the protective cover.

[0030] Optionally / in one embodiment, an integrated controller is provided at the end of the compressor facing away from the heat exchange component, and the integrated controller is used to control the compressor.

[0031] The present invention also provides a thermal management system, comprising the thermal management device described above.

[0032] The present invention also provides a vehicle comprising the above thermal management system.

[0033] The technical solution of the present invention integrates the heat exchange component on the end of the compressor, thereby eliminating all external connecting pipes between the heat exchange component and the compressor, thereby greatly reducing the total volume of the refrigerant flow path in the overall equipment, reducing the volume of the refrigerant required in the overall equipment, and meeting the safety requirements of flammable refrigerants. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on the structures shown in these drawings without paying any creative work.

[0035] Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the overall structure of the thermal management device of the present invention;

[0036] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the thermal management device of the present invention after the protective cover is hidden;

[0037] Figure 3 This is a schematic structural diagram of the water side components of the thermal management device of the present invention;

[0038] Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the compressor and heat exchange components;

[0039] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the compressor and heat exchange components from another perspective;

[0040] Figure 6 It is a perspective view of the refrigerant flow path inside the compressor and heat exchange components;

[0041] Figure 7 This is a schematic structural diagram of the liquid reservoir of the thermal management device of the present invention;

[0042] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the liquid reservoir after explosion;

[0043] Figure 9 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of the liquid reservoir after the shell is hidden;

[0044] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the flow path setting of the thermal management device of the present invention.

[0045] Description of Figure Numbers:

[0046]

[0047]

[0048] The purpose, features and advantages of the present invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings and in conjunction with the embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0049] The following will clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field based on the embodiments of the present invention without making any creative efforts shall fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0050] It should be noted that if the embodiments of the present invention involve directional indications (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc.), the directional indications are only used to explain the relative position relationship, movement status, etc. between the various components under a certain specific posture (as shown in the accompanying drawings). If the specific posture changes, the directional indications will also change accordingly.

[0051] In addition, if there are descriptions involving "first", "second", etc. in the embodiments of the present invention, the descriptions of "first", "second", etc. are only for descriptive purposes and cannot be understood as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of the indicated technical features. Therefore, the features defined as "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of such features. In addition, if the meaning of "and / or" appearing in the full text is to include three parallel schemes, taking "A and / or B" as an example, it includes scheme A, or scheme B, or a scheme in which A and B are satisfied at the same time. In addition, the technical solutions between the various embodiments can be combined with each other, but it must be based on the ability of ordinary technicians in this field to implement. When the combination of technical solutions is mutually contradictory or cannot be implemented, it should be deemed that such a combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection required by the present invention.

[0052] With the changes in automobile energy sources and driving methods, new energy (electric) vehicles have gradually become one of the mainstream markets; new energy vehicles have the advantages of high integration, high intelligence and high electronic control. Compared with traditional fuel vehicles, new energy vehicles have a better hardware foundation to meet the Internet of Things and artificial intelligence technologies that may be completed in the future.

[0053] However, there are still many engineering problems behind new energy vehicles. For example, when new energy vehicles are running, the battery will release a lot of heat while supplying power to the entire vehicle, so the battery needs to be thermally managed to avoid overheating. Similarly, the motor will also generate a lot of heat after it is powered on and rotates, so the motor also needs thermal management. Furthermore, considering the different scenarios that the car may face, the battery discharge process may also be greatly affected in low temperature environments. In summary, new energy vehicles, like fuel vehicles, require thermal management to ensure the normal operation of the vehicle as a whole.

[0054] However, with the use of flammable refrigerants such as propane, the amount of refrigerant added needs to be limited to meet safety requirements. Once the refrigerant addition volume is restricted, the refrigerant addition volume in related equipment also needs to be controlled to meet safety standards.

[0055] Reference Figure 1 、 Figure 2 , based on the above description, for this purpose, the present invention proposes a thermal management device with the characteristics of high integration, so that the volume of the required refrigerant can be reduced and the safety regulations for refrigerants at this stage can be met. Specifically, the thermal management device in the present invention includes a compressor 1 and a heat exchange component 2; wherein, the compressor 1 is mainly formed by a collection of related compressor 1 components that can realize the compression of low-pressure gaseous refrigerant into high-pressure gaseous refrigerant, and an integrated controller 11 can be set separately on the end of the compressor 1 or a related controller can be set externally to control the compressor 1; the heat exchange component 2 is directly connected to the compressor 1, and the heat exchange component 2 is the place where the refrigerant exchanges heat with the outside world, and the refrigerant absorbs or releases heat in the heat exchange component 2, thereby completing the heat exchange. In the present invention, since the heat exchange component 2 and the compressor 1 are arranged side by side, and the heat exchange component 2 is directly connected to the compressor 1, that is, the compressor 1 and the heat exchange component 2 are integrated into one, the use of relevant connecting pipes can be greatly reduced, thereby greatly reducing the total volume of the internal flow path in the overall structure of the thermal management device, thereby greatly reducing the demand for the refrigerant addition volume in the thermal management device, and meeting the safety requirements of flammable refrigerants.

[0056] Reference Figure 3 、 Figure 4 In the present invention, the compressor 1 is a horizontal compressor 1, and thus the compressor 1 has two ends, namely an air inlet end and an air outlet end. If an integrated controller 11 is provided on the end of the compressor 1, the integrated controller 11 can be provided at the air inlet end of the compressor 1, and the heat exchange component 2 is fixed to the air outlet end of the compressor 1 and directly communicated with the air outlet end, so that the high-pressure refrigerant compressed by the compressor 1 can directly enter the heat exchange component 2 through the air outlet end for heat exchange; wherein the heat exchange component 2 includes a condenser 21 and an evaporator 22, and the condenser 21 and the evaporator 22 are connected to each other. The condenser 21 is fixed to the air outlet of the compressor 1, and the evaporator 22 is arranged on the surface of the condenser 21 facing away from the compressor 1; it should be noted that, in the present invention, the cross-sections of the condenser 21 and the evaporator 22 in the thickness direction are similar to those of the compressor 1, so the condenser 21 and the evaporator 22 can be approximately understood as being coaxially arranged with the compressor 1, thereby minimizing the use of connecting pipes, that is, minimizing the volume of the internal flow path in the overall structure to meet the safety requirements of flammable refrigerants.

[0057] Accordingly, the direct connection of the condenser 21 and the evaporator 22 with the compressor 1 can reduce the use of related connecting pipes and reduce the volume of the internal flow path of the overall structure, while also improving the integration of the overall equipment, making the overall equipment have a smaller volume, thereby reducing the space occupied by the overall equipment during installation. Furthermore, when the overall equipment is used as a component of a vehicle, it can provide the vehicle with more design redundancy and space while ensuring heat exchange efficiency.

[0058] Reference Figure 3 、 Figure 4 In the present invention, in order to meet the refrigerant circulation requirements within the overall structure under different scenarios, a liquid reservoir 23 is further provided between the condenser 21 and the evaporator 22. The liquid reservoir 23 is used to store refrigerant, so that when the overall device of the present invention operates at a lower power, the liquid reservoir 23 can store refrigerant, and when the overall device operates at full power, the liquid reservoir 23 can release refrigerant into the internal flow path of the overall device to ensure the operating efficiency of the overall device. Specifically, the liquid reservoir 23 is fixed to the surface of the evaporator 22 facing the condenser 21; in the present invention, the condenser 21, the liquid reservoir 23 and the evaporator 22 can be fixed together by integral brazing, or they can be fixed between adjacent ones by bolts or other fixing methods; the above is only an example and does not limit the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0059] Reference Figure 5 、 Figure 6 Correspondingly, after the high-pressure refrigerant generated at the outlet of the compressor 1 enters the condenser 21, it will exchange heat with the external liquid medium in the condenser 21. The high-pressure refrigerant will transfer the heat to the external liquid medium, and then the external liquid medium will transfer it to the outside world or other vehicle systems; when the high-pressure refrigerant is condensed, it will change into a liquid phase, and the liquid phase refrigerant will enter the liquid reservoir 23. At this time, the liquid reservoir 23 will also distinguish between liquid refrigerant and gaseous refrigerant; then the liquid refrigerant will enter the evaporator 22 through the liquid reservoir 23, and then heat exchange will occur again in the evaporator 22. The liquid refrigerant will absorb the heat brought by the external liquid medium and evaporate, that is, the liquid refrigerant evaporates and absorbs heat. The refrigerant after absorbing heat will return to the air inlet end of the compressor 1 and be compressed and pressurized by the compressor 1 again, and then repeat the above cycle.

[0060] Reference Figures 7 to 9 It should be noted that, in the present invention, the liquid reservoir 23 has a shell 231, which is provided with a refrigerant inlet 231a and a refrigerant outlet 231b. The refrigerant inlet 231a is communicated with the condenser 21, and the refrigerant outlet 231b is communicated with the evaporator 22; a accommodating chamber 232 is formed in the liquid reservoir 23, and a partition plate 233 is provided in the accommodating chamber 232. The partition plate 233 divides the accommodating chamber 232 into a separation space 232a and a storage space 232b, and the partition plate 233 is provided with a circulation hole 233a for the circulation of the refrigerant.

[0061] Specifically, a partition plate 233 is provided at the connection between the separation space 232a and the storage space 232b. When the refrigerant in a gas-liquid mixture enters the separation space 232a, due to the obstruction of the partition plate 233, the refrigerant can only enter the storage space 232b from the circulation hole 233a. At this time, the refrigerant has more time to separate the gas and liquid, and as little gaseous refrigerant as possible can directly enter the storage space 232b. This arrangement can achieve a better gas-liquid separation effect and a more thorough separation of the refrigerant in a gas-liquid mixture. In some other embodiments, the accommodating chamber 232 is provided with two partitions, which are spaced apart, and the gap between the two partitions is used for the refrigerant to pass through.

[0062] Reference Figures 7 to 9 In the present invention, the partition plate 233 is provided with a plurality of flow holes 233a. The plurality of flow holes 233a are distributed along the length of the partition plate 233 and are spaced apart from each other. Specifically, the plurality of flow holes 233a increases the flow rate of the refrigerant, allowing the liquid refrigerant to enter the storage space 232b more quickly without occupying the separation space 232a. In other embodiments, the plurality of flow holes 233a are randomly distributed on the partition plate 233, and the plurality of flow holes 233a are arranged in a rectangular array.

[0063] Reference Figures 7 to 9 Specifically, the plurality of flow holes 233a on the partition plate 233 are arranged in multiple rows. In this embodiment, three rows of hole groups are provided, each row containing a plurality of flow holes 233a, and the three rows of hole groups are aligned. This arrangement can increase the flow rate of the refrigerant. In other embodiments, the plurality of flow holes 233a are distributed in a circular array.

[0064] In the present invention, a plurality of baffles 234 are provided within the storage space 232b, and the plurality of baffles 234 are spaced apart from one another. Specifically, the plurality of baffles 234 are provided within the storage space 232b. The baffles 234 are used to receive liquid refrigerant and slow down the rate at which the liquid refrigerant enters the second channel 236, allowing more liquid refrigerant to remain within the storage space 232b. Furthermore, the baffles 234 prevent the liquid refrigerant that falls into the storage space 232b through the circulation hole 233a from directly entering the second channel 236. In this embodiment, two baffles 234 are provided within the storage space 232b, extending in the left-right direction and spaced apart from one another. In other embodiments, a plurality of protrusions are provided within the storage space 232b, and the protrusions are spaced apart from one another, and the protrusions are used to contact the refrigerant. The accommodation chamber 232 is further provided with a plurality of inner partitions 237 , which are assembled together with the partition plates 233 and the baffles 234 to divide the first channel 235 , the separation space 232 a , the storage space 232 b and the second channel 236 .

[0065] Reference Figures 7 to 9 In the present invention, the liquid reservoir 23 includes a filter structure 238, which is located in the accommodating chamber 232 and is used to filter impurities in the refrigerant. Specifically, the filter structure 238 is located in the accommodating chamber 232. The filter structure 238 can filter impurities in the refrigerant, including debris dropped by the equipment after wear. This configuration can filter out impurities in the refrigerant output by the liquid reservoir 23, preventing these impurities from damaging the refrigerant pipeline or the equipment itself, thereby increasing the service life. In some other embodiments, the filter structure 238 is provided before the inlet of the first channel 235 and after the outlet of the second channel 236.

[0066] In the present invention, a filter structure 238 is provided at each of the first channel 235, the storage space 232b, and the second channel 236, and the pass rate of the filter structure 238 is gradually reduced in the direction of the refrigerant flow. Specifically, in this embodiment, three filter structures 238 are provided. The first filter structure 238 is provided between the first channel 235 and the storage space 232b, the second filter structure 238 is provided between the storage space 232b and the second channel 236, and the third filter structure 238 is provided at the end of the second channel 236. This arrangement allows the refrigerant to be filtered three times, filtering out as many impurities as possible, and the pass rate of the three filter structures 238 gradually decreases in the direction of the refrigerant flow, that is, it can filter larger impurities first and then filter fine impurities, further ensuring the cleanliness of the refrigerant.

[0067] Reference Figures 7 to 9In the present invention, the filter structure 238 is a filter screen, and the mesh size of the filter screen is gradually increased in the direction of refrigerant flow. Specifically, a filter screen is provided between the first channel 235 and the storage space 232b for filtering, and a filter screen is provided between the storage space 232b and the second channel 236. The filter screen is located on the side of the lower baffle 234. The filter screen has a simple structure and low cost, and is easy to install in the accommodating chamber 232. This arrangement can reduce overall production costs and achieve the filtering function. In some other embodiments, the filter structure 238 is a sponge block, and the refrigerant can penetrate and pass through the sponge block.

[0068] In the present invention, the liquid reservoir 23 also includes a drying mechanism 239, which is located in the separation space 232a. The drying mechanism 239 is used to absorb moisture from the refrigerant. Specifically, the drying mechanism 239 is installed in the separation space 232a. When the gas-liquid mixture enters the separation space 232a, the drying mechanism 239 can absorb the moisture from the refrigerant. This configuration can minimize the moisture in the refrigerant, preventing the moisture in the refrigerant from freezing during condensation, thereby blocking the refrigerant flow path and ensuring the normal operation of the thermal management system. In some other embodiments, the drying mechanism 239 is located in the first channel 235.

[0069] Reference Figures 7 to 9 In the present invention, the drying mechanism 239 includes an outer cover and a desiccant disposed within the outer cover. The outer cover is installed in the separation space 232a and is cylindrical. Specifically, the outer cover is cylindrical, and a mounting port is provided on the side wall of the outer cover. A portion of the outer cover extends out of the mounting port, and an opening is provided on the portion of the outer cover extending out of the mounting port. The opening is used for placing or removing the desiccant. The outer peripheral wall of the outer cover is sealed with the mounting port. A desiccant that does not react with the refrigerant is placed within the outer cover. The desiccant can absorb moisture. The outer peripheral wall of the outer cover is provided with a plurality of pores. With this arrangement, since the outer surface area of ​​the cylindrical outer cover is larger, the refrigerant can more fully contact the desiccant, thereby improving the drying effect of the desiccant. In some other embodiments, the outer cover is prismatic.

[0070] In the present invention, the desiccant is a molecular sieve or organic silica gel. Specifically, the advantages of organic silica gel are that when it reaches saturation with water, it does not undergo surface or morphological changes, is fast in absorbing moisture, is non-toxic and odorless, has a large internal surface area, and also has a high adsorption capacity for water vapor and other condensable vapors. Molecular sieves have a strong affinity for water, resulting in extremely high drying efficiency when used as a desiccant. This configuration ensures that the drying mechanism 239 has a high adsorption efficiency for moisture in the refrigerant. In other embodiments, the desiccant is activated alumina.

[0071] In order to further increase the temperature difference between the refrigerant and the external liquid medium when the refrigerant enters the evaporator 22, that is, to improve the heat transfer efficiency between the refrigerant and the external liquid medium, a subcooler 24 is further provided between the condenser 21 and the liquid reservoir 23. The refrigerant in the liquid reservoir 23 will first pass through the subcooler 24 before entering the evaporator 22. The subcooler 24 is in contact with the outer wall of the condenser 21, so that the refrigerant in the subcooler 24 can further exchange heat with the external liquid medium in the condenser 21 through the outer shell of the subcooler 24, thereby increasing the temperature difference between the refrigerant and the external liquid medium in the evaporator 22 after entering the evaporator 22. It should be noted that in order to allow the refrigerant to smoothly enter the evaporator 22 after flowing out of the condenser 21, a through hole 241 is provided on the subcooler 24. The refrigerant in the condenser 21 can pass through the through hole 241 on the subcooler 24 and enter the liquid reservoir 23.

[0072] Reference Figures 7 to 9 In the present invention, the shell 231 of the liquid reservoir 23 is provided with a valve island cavity 231c, the valve island cavity 231c is spaced apart from the accommodating chamber 232, and the valve island cavity 231c is provided with a refrigerant flow channel 231d and a valve body mounting hole 231e. Specifically, the valve island cavity 231c has a refrigerant circulation channel 231d for the circulation of refrigerant, and a valve body mounting hole 231e is also provided on the cavity. The valve body mounting hole 231e is communicated with the refrigerant circulation channel 231d. The valve body mounting hole 231e is used to install the first expansion valve 231f, and the first expansion valve 231f is a throttle valve. The first expansion valve 231f can control the volume of the refrigerant passing through the refrigerant circulation channel 231d, that is, control the volume of the refrigerant entering the evaporator 22 from the condenser 21; a channel outlet and a channel inlet are also provided on the shell 231, and the channel outlet and the channel inlet are both communicated with the refrigerant circulation channel 231d. The throttle valve acts on the refrigerant circulation channel 231d, and the channel outlet is used to output the refrigerant, and the channel inlet is used to input the refrigerant. This arrangement does not require additional piping, and the valve island cavity 231c is integrated into the shell 231, that is, the first expansion valve 231f can be directly installed on the liquid reservoir 23, thereby improving the overall integration and reducing the volume.

[0073] After the refrigerant passes through the refrigerant outlet 231b on the liquid reservoir 23 and enters the subcooler 24 to further increase the subcooling degree of the refrigerant, it will flow out of the subcooler 24 and enter the refrigerant flow channel 231d, so that the refrigerant will pass through the throttling of the first expansion valve 231f and then enter the evaporator 22. It should be noted that the condenser 21, the subcooler 24, the liquid reservoir 23 and the evaporator 22 have the same cross-sectional shape, that is, the cross-sectional shape of the condenser 21, the subcooler 24, the liquid reservoir 23 and the evaporator 22 in the longitudinal direction of the heat exchange component 2 is the same, so that the above four have the characteristics of high integration after assembly, further reducing the volume of the internal flow path in the overall structure, thereby further reducing the amount of refrigerant to be added, and improving the safety of the overall structure. Accordingly, the condenser 21, the subcooler 24, the liquid storage tank 23 and the evaporator 22 can be connected together by integral brazing, so that in the above four, the flow of refrigerant completely abandons the relevant external connecting pipes, and the flow of refrigerant is completed only through the internal channels of the above four, further reducing the volume of the internal flow path in the overall structure, and the welding method can greatly reduce the possibility of refrigerant leakage at the connection points of the above four; and the condenser 21 can be directly fixed to the air outlet end of the compressor 1 by bolts, and the condenser 21 can be directly connected to the air outlet end of the compressor 1, thereby further reducing the volume of the internal flow path in the overall structure; and in order to reduce the possibility of refrigerant leakage between the condenser 21 and the compressor 1, a sealing ring can be further provided at the connection between the condenser 21 and the compressor 1, so as to achieve a sealing effect between the two.

[0074] In order to reduce the possibility of heat exchange between the liquid reservoir 23 and the evaporator 22, and between the refrigerant in the liquid reservoir 23 and the external liquid medium in the evaporator 22 through the outer shells of the two, and to ensure the temperature difference between the refrigerant and the external liquid medium when entering the evaporator 22, an insulation pad 25 is provided between the liquid reservoir 23 and the evaporator 22; the setting of the insulation pad 25 can effectively prevent heat exchange between the two to ensure the heat exchange efficiency of the overall structure; based on the above-mentioned idea, a insulation pad 25 can be further provided on the periphery of the heat exchange component 2 to reduce the possibility of direct heat exchange between the refrigerant and the outside world, so as to ensure the heat exchange efficiency of the overall structure.

[0075] However, considering that the refrigerant that has absorbed heat after passing through the evaporator 22 re-enters the compressor 1, the refrigerant may not fully absorb heat to evaporate and be sucked into the compressor 1, that is, liquid hammer occurs; in order to reduce the possibility of liquid hammer, in the present invention, the outer shells of the condenser 21, the subcooler 24 and the liquid reservoir 23 are jointly protruding to form a third return channel 26 for the refrigerant to pass through. The refrigerant that has absorbed heat in the evaporator 22 will return to the air inlet end of the compressor 1 through the third return channel 26; in the refrigerant reflux process, the refrigerant will pass through the liquid reservoir 23 and the condenser 21 in turn, so that the refrigerant will be further heated during the reflux process, so that the refrigerant can fully absorb heat, thereby reducing the possibility of liquid hammer.

[0076] Reference Figure 6 In the present invention, the compressor 1 has a shell, wherein the shell on the intake end is formed with a buffer cavity 14, and the shell is also convexly formed with a first return channel 12 and a second return channel 13; the first return channel 12 and the second return channel 13 are both communicated with the buffer cavity 14, and the first return channel 12 is communicated with the third return channel 26. The refrigerant after heat exchange in the evaporator 22 enters the buffer cavity 14 through the first return channel 12, and part of the refrigerant discharged from the outlet end of the compressor 1 enters the buffer cavity 14 through the second return channel 13. Then, the two refrigerants will mix in the buffer cavity 14, so that part of the refrigerant that has not reached high temperature and high pressure will flow back to the intake end of the compressor 1 through the second return channel 13, and will be fully mixed with the refrigerant flowing back to the compressor 1 through the first return channel 12, and will be re-pressurized and heated, which will help increase the total flow of the refrigerant flowing through the compressor 1, thereby improving the output power of the compressor 1 and improving the heating capacity of the overall equipment.

[0077] In order to control the flow rate of the refrigerant flowing back to the air inlet end of the compressor 1 through the second return channel 13, a second expansion valve 15 is provided on the outer casing of the compressor 1. The second expansion valve 15 is communicated with the second return channel 13, so that the second expansion valve 15 can control the flow rate of the refrigerant in the second return channel 13, reducing the possibility of excessive refrigerant flowing back from the air outlet end of the compressor 1 to the air inlet end, thereby ensuring the smooth operation of the overall flow path.

[0078] Reference Figures 1 to 3 Specifically, the condenser 21 and the evaporator 22 are both provided with a water side inlet 22a and a water side outlet 22b for the external liquid medium to enter and exit. In order to control the flow direction and entry and exit of the external liquid medium, the thermal management device in the present invention also includes a water side component 3. The water side component 3 is used to introduce the external liquid medium into the heat exchange component 2, that is, to introduce the external liquid medium into the condenser 21 and the evaporator 22, and to control the flow direction of the external liquid medium in the condenser 21 and the evaporator 22, that is, to control which system of the vehicle the external liquid medium enters after heat exchange through the condenser 21 and / or the evaporator 22, so as to complete heat management.

[0079] Reference Figure 10 In a new energy vehicle, there are mainly a battery cooling system 5, an electric drive cooling system 6 and an air conditioning system 7; among them, the battery cooling system 5 is used to cool the battery during the driving of the new energy vehicle, the electric drive cooling system 6 is used to cool the electric drive during the driving of the new energy vehicle, and the air conditioning system 7 is used to regulate the temperature in the passenger compartment, which can be increased or decreased.

[0080] Therefore, the water side component 3 in the present invention includes a multi-channel flow plate 31, an expansion pot 32 and a multi-way valve 33, wherein the expansion pot 32 is used to accommodate external liquid media, and the multi-channel flow plate 31 has multiple flow channels 31a, and the multiple flow channels 31a are used to conduct the external liquid media flow path between the condenser 21 or the evaporator 22 and the battery cooling system 5, or the electric drive cooling system 6, or the air-conditioning system 7, and the multi-way valve 33 is used to control the above-mentioned conduction process.

[0081] Specifically, when the condenser 21 is connected to the battery cooling system 5, the refrigerant in the condenser 21 releases heat to the external liquid medium, and the external liquid medium absorbs heat and enters the battery cooling system 5, and then the external liquid medium can quickly heat up the battery; it is well known that the discharge efficiency and capacity of the battery of a new energy vehicle will be greatly affected under low temperature conditions, so when the condenser 21 is connected to the battery cooling system 5, the battery can be quickly heated to ensure the rapid start-up and normal use of the new energy vehicle under low temperature conditions.

[0082] When the condenser 21 is connected to the electric drive cooling system 6, similarly, the refrigerant in the condenser 21 releases heat to the external liquid medium, and the external liquid medium absorbs heat and enters the electric drive cooling system 6, and then the external liquid medium can quickly heat up the electric drive to ensure the rapid start-up and normal use of the new energy vehicle under low temperature conditions.

[0083] When the condenser 21 and the air-conditioning system 7 are connected, similarly, the refrigerant in the condenser 21 releases heat to the external liquid medium, and the external liquid medium will enter the air-conditioning system 7 after absorbing heat, so that the external liquid medium can quickly heat up the passenger compartment, thereby completing the heating, dehumidification and defogging functions in the passenger compartment.

[0084] When the evaporator 22 is connected to the battery cooling system 5, the evaporator 22 actually transfers heat from the external liquid medium to the refrigerant, causing the refrigerant to absorb heat and vaporize; thus, the external liquid medium transfers the heat generated during the battery charging and discharging process to the refrigerant, that is, the external liquid medium takes away the heat and cools the battery, thereby ensuring the normal use of the new energy vehicle.

[0085] When the evaporator 22 is connected to the electric drive cooling system 6, similarly, the evaporator 22 is the refrigerant that absorbs heat from the external liquid medium, and the external liquid medium will release heat before entering the electric drive cooling system 6. That is, the external liquid medium takes away the heat generated during the operation of the electric drive system and transfers it to the refrigerant in the evaporator 22. Therefore, the external liquid medium actually cools the electric drive, thereby ensuring the normal use of the new energy vehicle.

[0086] When the evaporator 22 is connected to the air-conditioning system 7, similarly, the evaporator 22 is the refrigerant that absorbs heat from the external liquid medium, and the external liquid medium will release heat before entering the air-conditioning system 7, that is, the external liquid medium takes away the heat in the passenger compartment and transfers it to the refrigerant in the evaporator 22. Therefore, the external liquid medium actually cools the passenger compartment, thereby completing the functions of cooling, dehumidifying and defogging in the passenger compartment.

[0087] In summary, regarding the above descriptions about the evaporator 22 / condenser 21 being connected to the battery cooling system 5, the electric drive cooling system 6 and the air-conditioning system 7 of the new energy vehicle respectively, in the present invention, the cooperation of the multi-way valve 33 and the multiple flow channels 31a can complete a variety of heat transfer methods, and the multi-way valve 33 can enable the external liquid medium flow paths in each system to be connected in series or in parallel, so as to reasonably distribute the heat in various parts of the vehicle, and thus accurately perform thermal management; however, it should be noted that in the battery cooling system 5 and the electric drive cooling system 6 of the new energy vehicle, relevant external radiators should be provided to dissipate heat for the external liquid medium; and in the air-conditioning system 7 of the new energy vehicle, there should be an internal radiator to dissipate heat for the external liquid medium.

[0088] In the present invention, due to the numerous external liquid medium flow paths, the external liquid medium stored in the expansion pot 32 can be readily added to the flow paths of each system to ensure heat transfer within each system. To more precisely control heat transfer between the various systems in the new energy vehicle, a proportional valve 34 is also provided on the multi-channel manifold plate 31. The proportional valve 34 can precisely control the ratio of its opening and closing, thereby controlling the flow rate of liquid passing through it. This, in turn, precisely controls heat transfer within each system of the new energy vehicle by controlling the flow rate of the external liquid medium, thereby improving the accuracy of heat control within the overall structure.

[0089] Reference Figures 1 to 3Specifically, in the present invention, the multi-channel flow plate 31 is arranged above the heat exchange component 2 and the compressor 1. The multi-channel flow plate 31 has two opposite sides, one side facing away from the heat exchange component 2 and the compressor 1, and the other side facing the heat exchange component 2 and the compressor 1; multiple flow channels 31a are all arranged on the side of the multi-channel flow plate 31 facing away from the heat exchange component 2 and the compressor 1, and some of the multiple flow channels 31a are used to introduce / export external liquid media to the condenser 21 / evaporator 22, and the multiple flow channels 31a At least one flow channel 31a is connected to the expansion pot 32; thus, the cooperation of multiple flow channels 31a and the multi-way valve 33 can complete the series or parallel connection between the external liquid medium flow paths in each system, and can complete the heat exchange process between each external liquid medium flow path and the evaporator 22 / condenser 21; in addition, at least one flow channel 31a among the multiple flow channels 31a can introduce the external liquid medium in the expansion pot 32 into the external liquid medium flow paths in the new energy vehicle, so as to complete the replenishment of the external liquid medium of each system.

[0090] It should be noted that the external liquid medium is generally vehicle antifreeze, that is, vehicle antifreeze coolant, which is a cooling medium with antifreeze and other functions that circulates in the vehicle cooling system; vehicle antifreeze coolant is generally a water-based antifreeze of ethylene glycol. Ethylene glycol has a high boiling point, low volatility, moderate viscosity and small temperature change, and good thermal stability, so it is suitable as a component of antifreeze; but in addition to ethylene glycol, many inorganic substances, organic substances, and mixtures such as lubricating oils can also be used as components of antifreeze; specifically, substances that can lower the freezing point of water and increase the boiling point of water can be considered as one of the components of antifreeze.

[0091] Antifreeze is the main cooling medium in the vehicle. Generally speaking, the cooling medium in each system of the vehicle is antifreeze, such as the battery cooling system 5 and the electric drive cooling system 6 of the vehicle mentioned above, both of which use antifreeze as the cooling medium; in the prior art, the battery cooling system 5 and the electric drive cooling system 6 each have an independent cooling circuit, and both have independent external radiators to dissipate heat from the antifreeze, or the two can share the same external radiator for heat dissipation; although the cooling systems of the two can effectively dissipate heat, they cannot transfer the heat generated by the battery and the electric drive to other places, which may result in heat waste; and the vehicle air-conditioning system 7 generally relies on refrigerant to complete cooling or heating, and a large number of pipelines need to be designed to complete different heat exchange methods of the refrigerant, thereby requiring a large amount of refrigerant to complete the cooling or heating cycle of the air-conditioning system 7.

[0092] Reference Figures 1 to 3Therefore, the thermal management device proposed in the present invention can simplify the refrigerant flow path, reduce the refrigerant flow path volume, thereby reducing the refrigerant filling amount and meeting the safety requirements when using flammable refrigerants; it is connected to the air-conditioning system 7 and each cooling system on the vehicle through the water side component 3, so that the heat exchange process with the air-conditioning system 7 and / or each cooling system during the refrigerant circulation process can be completed, thereby making full use of the heat generated during the operation of each system of the vehicle, and can also quickly start and protect the vehicle battery and electric drive in a low temperature environment, fully realizing the rational use and effective management of heat.

[0093] Specifically, in the present invention, a plurality of legs 31b are provided at intervals on the outer edge of the multi-channel flow channel plate 31. In this embodiment, the number of legs 31b is six, and the six legs 31b are all provided on the side of the multi-channel flow channel plate 31 close to the heat exchange component 2 and the compressor 1. In this embodiment, the multi-channel flow channel plate 31 is rectangular, and four of the six legs 31b are provided on the four vertices of the multi-channel flow channel plate 31, and the other two legs 31b are provided on the two opposite sides of this surface of the multi-channel flow channel plate 31. Thus, referring to Figure 2 Of the six legs 31b, four are fixed to the housing of the compressor 1, and the other two are fixed to the evaporator 22. Together, the six legs 31b support the entire water-side assembly 3. Of course, the number of legs 31b in the above embodiment is merely illustrative, and the number of legs 31b can also be two, three, or four, as long as they can support and secure the entire water-side assembly 3. In the above embodiment, the legs 31b are fixed to the compressor 1 or the evaporator 22 by bolts. In other embodiments, they can also be fixed by welding or other fixing methods. This is merely an example and does not limit the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0094] In the present invention, due to the arrangement of the support legs 31b, a certain gap is formed between the multi-channel flow plate 31 and the compressor 1 and the heat exchange component 2, so that the space between the multi-channel flow plate 31 and the compressor 1 and the heat exchange component 2 can form an installation space; in the present invention, multiple flow channels 31a are located above the multi-channel flow plate 31, the expansion pot 32 is located above the multiple flow channels 31a, and the multi-way valve 33 and the proportional valve 34 are located in the installation space; and a condensate pump 35 and an evaporation water pump 36 are also provided in the installation space, and the condensate pump 35 and the evaporation water pump 36 are each connected to at least one flow channel 31a, and the condensate pump 35 is used to pump external liquid medium into the condenser 21, and the evaporation water pump 36 is used to pump external liquid medium into the condenser 21. The water pump 36 is used to pump external liquid medium into the evaporator 22, that is, the condensing water pump 35 and the evaporating water pump 36 provide power for the flow circulation of the external liquid medium in the condenser 21 and the evaporator 22 respectively; a third water pump 37 is also provided in the installation space, and the third water pump 37 is used to pump the external liquid medium into or out of the expansion pot 32, that is, to provide power for the external liquid medium in the expansion pot 32; the setting of the installation space makes full use of the gap between the multi-channel flow plate 31 and the compressor 1 and the heat exchange component 2, further improves the overall integration of the thermal management device, and reduces the overall volume of the thermal management device, thereby leaving more space for the car to install the thermal management device proposed by the present invention.

[0095] Reference Figure 1 On the basis of the above, in order to protect the compressor 1, that is, the heat exchange component 2, and also to reduce the possibility of leakage of the flammable refrigerant, the thermal management device proposed in the present invention also includes a protective cover 4, which is provided on the compressor 1 and the heat exchange component 2. In other words, the protective cover 4 is provided to cover and protect all flow paths of the refrigerant to reduce the possibility of leakage of the refrigerant.

[0096] Specifically, the protective cover 4 includes a bottom plate 41 and four side plates 42. The bottom plate 41 is fixed to the bottom of the heat exchange component 2 and the compressor 1, and the four side plates 42 are sealed together with the bottom plate 41 to form a sealed space, thereby providing sealing for the heat exchange component 2 and the compressor 1; it should be noted that the shape and area of ​​the bottom plate 41 are similar to those of the multi-channel flow plate 31, so that the tops of the four side plates 42 can be sealed and connected to the multi-channel flow plate 31, thereby providing sealing for the heat exchange component 2 and the compressor 1; accordingly, if the shape of the multi-channel flow plate 31 changes, the bottom plate 41 can also change with the change of the multi-channel flow plate 31, and the number and shape of the side plates 42 can be adjusted at any time to provide sealing for the heat exchange component 2 and the compressor 1.

[0097] It should be noted that welding technology can be used to complete the fixed connection and sealing setting between the bottom plate 41, the side plate 42 and the multi-channel flow plate 31, or a hinged connection with sealant can be used to complete the fixed connection and sealing between each other; and with the sealing cover of the protective cover 4, the various components installed on the side of the multi-channel flow plate 31 facing the heat exchange component 2 and the compressor 1 will also be sealed; thereby further reducing the possibility of refrigerant leakage to the outside; in order to detect refrigerant leakage so as to take timely response measures and ensure the safety of the overall structure, a refrigerant detection sensor 43 is provided in the protective cover 4, so that when the refrigerant leaks, it can be notified at the first time, thereby reminding the vehicle user to inspect the thermal management equipment and reduce the possibility of fire or even explosion due to refrigerant leakage.

[0098] The present invention also proposes a thermal management system, which includes the above-mentioned thermal management device. The specific structure of the thermal management device refers to the above-mentioned embodiment. Since this thermal management system adopts all the technical solutions of all the above-mentioned embodiments, it has at least all the beneficial effects brought about by the technical solutions of the above-mentioned embodiments, which will not be repeated here one by one.

[0099] The present invention also proposes a vehicle, which includes the above-mentioned thermal management system. The specific structure of the thermal management system refers to the above-mentioned embodiments. Since this vehicle adopts all the technical solutions of all the above-mentioned embodiments, it has at least all the beneficial effects brought about by the technical solutions of the above-mentioned embodiments, which will not be repeated here one by one.

[0100] The above descriptions are merely optional embodiments of the present invention and do not limit the patent scope of the present invention. All equivalent structural transformations made using the contents of the present description and drawings under the inventive concept of the present invention, or direct / indirect applications in other related technical fields, are included in the patent protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A thermal management device, characterized in that: include compressor; a heat exchange assembly, the heat exchange assembly being connected to the compressor and being arranged side by side with the compressor; A water side component, the water side component is used to introduce external liquid medium into the heat exchange component, and the water side component is used to control the flow direction of the external liquid medium; The heat exchange component is fixed to one end of the compressor and integrated with the compressor, and the water side component is arranged above the heat exchange component and the compressor.

2. The thermal management device according to claim 1, characterized in that The heat exchange component includes a condenser and an evaporator. The condenser and the evaporator are both used to exchange heat with external liquid media. The condenser is fixedly arranged at the air outlet end of the compressor, and the evaporator is arranged on the surface of the condenser away from the compressor.

3. The thermal management device according to claim 2, characterized in that The condenser and the evaporator are arranged side by side, and both the condenser and the evaporator are plate heat exchangers.

4. The thermal management device according to claim 3, characterized in that A liquid reservoir is provided between the condenser and the evaporator. The liquid reservoir is fixed on the surface of the evaporator facing the condenser. The liquid reservoir is used to store liquid refrigerant.

5. The thermal management device according to claim 4, characterized in that A subcooler is provided between the condenser and the liquid reservoir, and the subcooler is used to introduce liquid refrigerant into the evaporator.

6. The thermal management device according to claim 1, wherein: The subcooler is provided with a through hole, and the liquid refrigerant flowing out of the condenser directly enters the liquid reservoir through the through hole.

7. The thermal management device according to claim 6, characterized in that The liquid accumulator is provided with a refrigerant circulation channel, and the liquid refrigerant flowing out of the subcooler flows into the evaporator through the refrigerant circulation channel.

8. The thermal management device according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that: The condenser, the evaporator, the liquid reservoir and the subcooler have the same shape in a cross section perpendicular to the length direction of the heat exchange component.

9. The thermal management device according to claim 8, characterized in that The liquid reservoir is provided with a first expansion valve, which is communicated with the refrigerant flow channel and is used to limit the refrigerant flow rate.

10. The thermal management device according to claim 9, characterized in that The compressor has an outer shell, and a first return channel and a second return channel are formed on the outer shell. The refrigerant after heat exchange in the evaporator enters the air inlet end of the compressor through the first return channel, and part of the refrigerant discharged from the air outlet end of the compressor enters the air inlet end of the compressor through the second return channel.

11. The heat management device according to claim 10, characterized in that The shell is provided with a second expansion valve, the second expansion valve is communicated with the second reflux channel, and the second expansion valve is used to regulate the refrigerant in the second reflux channel.

12. The heat management device according to claim 11, characterized in that A heat insulation pad is provided between the liquid reservoir and the evaporator.

13. The thermal management device according to claim 8, wherein The water side component includes a multi-channel flow plate and an expansion pot, the multi-channel flow plate is arranged above the heat exchange component, and the expansion pot is arranged above the multi-channel flow plate. The expansion pot is used to accommodate external liquid medium, and the side of the multi-channel flow plate facing away from the heat exchange component has multiple flow channels, some of the flow channels are used to introduce external liquid medium into the condenser and / or the evaporator, and at least one of the multiple flow channels is communicated with the expansion pot.

14. The thermal management device according to claim 13, wherein: A plurality of legs are arranged at intervals on the outer edge of the multi-channel flow plate, and the ends of the legs are fixed to the compressor or the heat exchange component. An installation space is formed between the side of the multi-channel flow plate facing the heat exchange component and the heat exchange component.

15. The thermal management device according to claim 14, wherein: A condensate pump is provided in the installation space, and the condensate pump is used to pump external liquid medium into the condenser. The condensate pump is connected to at least one of the flow channels.

16. The thermal management device according to claim 15, wherein An evaporation water pump is provided in the installation space, and the evaporation water pump is used to pump external liquid medium into the evaporator. The evaporation water pump is connected to at least one of the flow channels.

17. The thermal management device according to claim 14, wherein: A multi-way valve is provided in the installation space, the multi-way valve is connected to the plurality of flow channels, and the multi-way valve is used to control the flow direction of the external refrigerant in the multi-channel flow channel plate.

18. The thermal management device according to claim 14, wherein: A third water pump is provided in the installation space, the third water pump is connected to the expansion pot, and the third water pump is used to pump external refrigerant into or out of the expansion pot.

19. The thermal management device according to claim 13, wherein: The thermal management device further includes a protective cover, which is provided on the compressor and the heat exchange component, and is used to prevent the refrigerant from leaking to the outside.

20. The thermal management device of claim 19, wherein: The protective cover includes a bottom plate and four side plates. The bottom plate is arranged at the bottom of the compressor and the heat exchange component. The four side plates and the bottom plate are sealed together to form a sealed space. The compressor and the heat exchange component are arranged in the sealed space.

21. The thermal management device according to claim 20, wherein The four side plates are all sealed to the multi-channel flow channel plate.

22. The thermal management device according to claim 21, wherein A refrigerant detection sensor is arranged in the protective cover.

23. The thermal management device of claim 21, wherein: An integrated controller is provided at the end of the compressor away from the heat exchange component, and the integrated controller is used to control the compressor.

24. A thermal management system, characterized in that: Comprising a thermal management device as claimed in claims 1-23.

25. A vehicle, characterized in that: Comprising a thermal management system as claimed in claim 24.

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