Thermal management system and vehicle

Abstract

The present application relates to the technical field of vehicles, in particular to a heat management system and a vehicle, the heat management system comprising an air conditioning circuit, a heating circuit, a refrigerator heat exchange circuit and a switch structure, the air conditioning circuit comprising a compressor, a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger arranged in sequence along the outlet of the compressor, the second heat exchanger being provided with a third heat exchanger in parallel, the second heat exchanger being used for heat exchange with a passenger cabin; the heating circuit being in heat exchange connection with the first heat exchanger; the refrigerator heat exchange circuit being in communication with the heating circuit and in heat exchange connection with the third heat exchanger; the switch structure being used for connecting or disconnecting the heating circuit and the refrigerator heat exchange circuit, so as to make the vehicle refrigerator and the air conditioning system share the same compressor, meet the refrigerator and air conditioning refrigeration requirements, and do not need to additionally set an independent compressor, thereby effectively simplifying the system structure, reducing the manufacturing cost, and reducing the noise and space occupation.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of vehicle technology, and more specifically to a thermal management system. Furthermore, this invention also relates to a vehicle incorporating the thermal management system. Background Technology

[0002] With the development of vehicle electrification and intelligence, and the continuous improvement of people's living standards, in-vehicle refrigerators, as a functional configuration that enhances driving comfort and convenience, are gradually being widely used in electric vehicles. In-vehicle refrigerators can not only quickly cool drinks and food in summer, but also heat food or beverages in winter, thus meeting the needs of various usage scenarios.

[0003] Currently, the lowest cooling temperature of air conditioning box-type and semiconductor-cooled vehicle refrigerators is usually above 0°C, which is difficult to meet users' needs for freezing functions. While independent compressor-type vehicle refrigerators can achieve lower temperature cooling, they usually have problems such as complex structure, high noise, high manufacturing cost, and high requirements for interior space, which limit their widespread application in vehicles. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present invention provides a thermal management system and a vehicle thereof to solve the above-mentioned technical problems.

[0005] In a first aspect, the present invention provides a thermal management system, including an air conditioning circuit, a heating circuit, a refrigerator heat exchange circuit, and a switching structure. The air conditioning circuit includes a compressor, and a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger arranged sequentially along the compressor outlet. A third heat exchanger is connected in parallel with the second heat exchanger. The second heat exchanger is used for heat exchange with the passenger compartment. The heating circuit is heat-exchange connected to the first heat exchanger. The refrigerator heat exchange circuit is connected to the heating circuit and heat-exchange connected to the third heat exchanger. The switching structure is used to connect or disconnect the heating circuit and the refrigerator heat exchange circuit.

[0006] Beneficial effects: Therefore, this embodiment, by sharing the same compressor between the vehicle-mounted refrigerator and the air conditioning system, effectively simplifies the system structure, reduces manufacturing costs, and minimizes noise and space occupation while meeting the cooling needs of both the refrigerator and the air conditioning system. Furthermore, by incorporating a refrigerator heat exchange circuit to regulate and buffer cooling capacity, it not only improves the refrigerator's temperature control accuracy but also avoids the excessive cooling capacity that would result from sharing a single compressor, leading to frequent compressor start-stop cycles. This enhances the overall system reliability and energy efficiency, demonstrating significant engineering application value.

[0007] In one optional implementation, the air conditioning circuit further includes: The liquid storage tank is located downstream of the first heat exchanger and upstream of the second and third heat exchangers.

[0008] Beneficial effects: The first medium output from the first heat exchanger preferentially enters the storage tank. After temporary storage and gas-liquid separation in the storage tank, it is then distributed to the second and third heat exchangers respectively. Therefore, the storage tank in this application can serve as a storage unit and flow buffer unit for the first medium. When there is excess cooling capacity, the storage tank can store a portion of the first medium, thereby preventing concentrated input of cooling capacity. Simultaneously, the storage tank can also buffer and regulate the refrigerant flow, effectively reducing system pressure and flow fluctuations, improving the stability of refrigerant distribution, and enhancing the flow balance between the second and third heat exchangers.

[0009] In one optional embodiment, the air conditioning circuit carries a first medium, and the air conditioning circuit further includes: The first expansion valve is located upstream of the third heat exchanger and is adapted to apply a throttling effect to the first medium flowing into the third heat exchanger.

[0010] Beneficial effects: The first expansion valve is used to apply a throttling effect to the first medium flowing into the third heat exchanger, thereby outputting the first medium in a gas-liquid two-phase mist or droplet form, preparing it for entering the third heat exchanger for heat absorption.

[0011] In one optional embodiment, the air conditioning circuit carries a first medium, and the air conditioning circuit further includes: The second expansion valve is located upstream of the second heat exchanger and throttles the first medium flowing into the second heat exchanger. The third expansion valve is located downstream of the second heat exchanger. The second expansion valve throttles the first medium supplied from the second heat exchanger.

[0012] Beneficial effects: The third expansion valve is located downstream of the second heat exchanger. It is used to further throttle and reduce the pressure of the first medium flowing out of the second heat exchanger, so that its pressure is further reduced and approaches the pressure of the refrigerant at the outlet of the third heat exchanger (the heat exchanger of the refrigerator). This ensures that the refrigerants from different heat exchangers have basically the same pressure before they merge into the compressor.

[0013] In one optional embodiment, a second medium flows within the refrigerator heat exchange circuit, and a second medium also flows within the heating circuit. The switching structure includes: The first branch and the second branch, the first end of the first branch and the first end of the second branch are both connected to the downstream of the first heat exchanger, the second end of the first branch and the second end of the second branch are both connected to the refrigerator heat exchange circuit, and the first branch and the second branch are both equipped with a switch valve.

[0014] Beneficial effects: By turning on the switch structure, at least a portion of the second medium in the heating circuit can flow into the refrigerator heat exchange circuit and, guided by the refrigerator heat exchange circuit, flow to the refrigerator to heat the refrigerator storage space.

[0015] In one optional embodiment, a second medium flows within the refrigerator heat exchange circuit, and a third heat exchanger has a first port for the second medium to flow into. The refrigerator heat exchange circuit includes: The first pump body is located upstream of the first port.

[0016] Beneficial effects: Therefore, when the refrigerator is cooling, the first pump drives the second medium to flow through the third heat exchanger and the refrigerator in sequence, thereby completing the refrigeration cycle; when the refrigerator is heating, the first pump drives the second medium from the heating circuit through the first branch into the refrigerator heat exchange circuit, and after releasing heat, it flows back to the heating circuit through the second branch.

[0017] In one alternative embodiment, a second medium flows within the heating circuit, and the first heat exchanger has a second port for the second medium to flow into. The heating circuit includes: The second pump body is located upstream of the second port.

[0018] Beneficial effects: The second pump body is used to drive the second medium in the heating circuit to circulate, so as to achieve a stable heating cycle.

[0019] In one alternative embodiment, the air conditioning circuit includes a fourth heat exchanger connected in parallel with the second and third heat exchangers, and the thermal management system further includes: The component heat exchange circuit is connected to the third heat exchanger.

[0020] Beneficial effects: The fourth expansion valve throttles the first medium entering the fourth heat exchanger, causing the first medium to enter the fourth heat exchanger in a gas-liquid two-phase state for heat exchange with the component heat exchange circuit. In a second aspect, the present invention also provides a vehicle including the thermal management system described above.

[0021] In one optional embodiment, a third medium flows within the component heat exchange circuit, and a fourth heat exchanger has a third port for the third medium to flow into. The component heat exchange circuit includes: The second pump body is located upstream of the third port.

[0022] Beneficial effects: In winter heating conditions, the third medium in the component heat exchange circuit can exchange heat with the first medium to absorb the heat released by the first medium in the heat pump cycle, and can transfer the heat to the components with limited starting performance in low temperature environments, thereby heating the relevant components and improving the operational reliability of the whole vehicle in low temperature environments.

[0023] In a second aspect, the present invention provides a vehicle including the thermal management system described above. Attached Figure Description

[0024] To more clearly illustrate the specific embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the specific embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained from these drawings without creative effort.

[0025] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a thermal management system according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the principle of dual cooling in a refrigerator and air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the refrigeration principle of a single refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the heating mode principle of the thermal management system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures: 100. Air conditioning circuit; 110. Compressor; 120. First heat exchanger; 130. Second heat exchanger; 140. Liquid receiver; 150. First expansion valve; 160. Second expansion valve; 170. Third expansion valve; 180. Fourth heat exchanger; 190. Fourth expansion valve; 1100. Third heat exchanger; 200. Circuit; 210. Second pump body; 220. Warm air core; 300. Refrigerator heat exchange circuit; 310. First pump body; 400. Switch structure; 410. First branch; 420. Second branch; 430. Switch valve; 500, heat exchange circuit of component; 510, third pump body. Detailed Implementation

[0027] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0028] Air conditioning unit-type vehicle refrigerators achieve cooling by introducing cold air from the vehicle's air conditioning system. Their minimum cooling temperature is usually close to the air conditioning outlet temperature, generally reaching about 5°C. However, their cooling capacity is limited by the performance of the air conditioning system. Semiconductor-cooled vehicle refrigerators rely on the Peltier effect for thermoelectric cooling. Their cooling capacity is greatly affected by the ambient temperature, typically only able to reduce the temperature by about 15-20°C from the ambient temperature, with a typical minimum temperature of about 0°C, making it difficult to meet the need for even lower freezing temperatures. Independent compressor-type vehicle refrigerators, by setting up independent compressors, condensers, and other refrigeration systems, can achieve cooling effects below -5°C and have a certain freezing capacity. However, they usually have problems such as complex structure, high noise, high manufacturing cost, and high requirements for interior space, which limit their widespread application in vehicles.

[0029] Based on this, in this embodiment, reference Figures 1 to 4 A thermal management system is provided, which includes an air conditioning circuit 100, a heating circuit 200, a refrigerator heat exchange circuit 300, and a switch structure 400.

[0030] The air conditioning circuit 100 includes a compressor 110, and a first heat exchanger 120 and a second heat exchanger 130 arranged sequentially along the outlet of the compressor 110, so that the first heat exchanger 120 receives the first medium output by the compressor 110 and is used to cool the first medium, thereby acting as a condenser.

[0031] The second heat exchanger 130 and the third heat exchanger 1100 are connected in parallel so that both the second heat exchanger 130 and the third heat exchanger 1100 can receive the first medium output from the first heat exchanger 120. The second heat exchanger 130 is used for heat exchange with the passenger compartment, serving as an evaporator for the air conditioner. The third heat exchanger 1100 is connected to the refrigerator heat exchange circuit 300 for heat exchange with the refrigerator's storage space.

[0032] In addition, the heating circuit 200 is connected to the first heat exchanger 120 for heat exchange so as to obtain heat; the switch structure 400 is disposed between the heating circuit 200 and the refrigerator heat exchange circuit 300, and is suitable for controlling the connection or disconnection of the two.

[0033] Based on the above structure, the thermal management system can achieve the following operating modes: In cooling mode: Combining Figure 2 When the refrigerator and air conditioner are cooling at the same time, the first medium output by the compressor 110 is cooled by the first heat exchanger 120 in sequence, and then flows through the second heat exchanger 130 and the third heat exchanger 1100 respectively, thereby cooling the passenger compartment and the refrigerator storage space respectively. Combination Figure 3 When only the refrigerator is cooling, the first medium is cooled by the first heat exchanger 120 and then flows through the third heat exchanger 1100 to cool the refrigerator. When only air conditioning is used for cooling, the first medium is cooled by the first heat exchanger 120 and then flows through the second heat exchanger 130 to cool the passenger compartment.

[0034] In heating mode, the heating circuit 200 is connected to the refrigerator heat exchange circuit 300 by controlling the switch structure 400. The second medium in the heating circuit 200 flows through the first heat exchanger 120 to obtain heat, and at least part of the second medium in the circuit 200 carries this heat into the refrigerator heat exchange circuit 300, thereby heating the refrigerator storage space.

[0035] It should be noted that in cooling mode, the heating circuit 200 can be in a closed state, and in this case, the heat exchanger 120 does not participate in the heat exchange of the second medium in the heating circuit 200. In this case, the first heat exchanger 120 can be selectively connected to other refrigerant sources to achieve cooling of the first medium, thereby ensuring the normal cooling operation of the air conditioning circuit 100.

[0036] Furthermore, when the vehicle refrigerator and air conditioning system share the same compressor 110, the issue of excessive cooling capacity needs to be addressed. Taking a five-seater passenger vehicle as an example, the vehicle refrigerator has a volume of approximately 8L. With a summer cooling design temperature of -5℃, the corresponding low-pressure saturation pressure is approximately 0.24MPa(A), requiring a cooling capacity of approximately 80W to 200W. Meanwhile, the vehicle's air conditioning system has a summer cooling design temperature of approximately 5℃, corresponding to a low-pressure saturation pressure of approximately 0.35MPa(A), requiring a cooling capacity of approximately 2000W to 5000W. Therefore, under the condition of only the refrigerator cooling, the compressor 110's displacement is too large. Even at the lowest speed, the cooling capacity is far higher than the refrigerator's actual needs, easily causing the refrigerator temperature to drop rapidly below the target temperature. Simultaneously, it causes frequent start-stop of the compressor 110, affecting system stability and lifespan.

[0037] To address the aforementioned issues, this embodiment establishes an independent refrigerator heat exchange circuit 300, allowing the flowing second medium to continuously exchange heat with the first medium at the first heat exchanger 120, absorbing and storing the cooling capacity to create a cold storage buffer. Subsequently, the second medium flows to the refrigerator and gradually releases the cooling capacity, achieving continuous and gentle cooling. Compared to directly using the first medium to cool the refrigerator, this embodiment effectively avoids drastic temperature fluctuations. Furthermore, once the refrigerator reaches the target temperature, the compressor 110 can be stopped, and the refrigerator can maintain the target temperature solely through the cooling capacity stored in the second medium, significantly improving the stability of temperature control.

[0038] Therefore, this embodiment, by sharing the same compressor 110 between the vehicle refrigerator and the air conditioning system, satisfies the cooling needs of both the refrigerator and the air conditioning system without requiring an additional independent compressor 110. This effectively simplifies the system structure, reduces manufacturing costs, and minimizes noise and space occupation. Simultaneously, by setting up a refrigerator heat exchange circuit 300 to achieve cooling capacity regulation and buffering, it not only improves the refrigerator's temperature control accuracy but also avoids the excessive cooling capacity that would result from sharing a single compressor 110, leading to frequent start-stop cycles of the compressor 110. This improves the overall system reliability and energy efficiency, demonstrating significant engineering application value.

[0039] In this embodiment, the components that need to be connected to each other in the structure such as the air conditioning circuit 100, the heating circuit 200, and the refrigerator heat exchange circuit 300, such as the compressor 110 and the first heat exchanger 120, are connected by a conveying pipe or other structure that can convey the medium.

[0040] In an optional embodiment, refer to Figure 1 The air conditioning circuit 100 also includes a liquid storage tank 140, which is located downstream of the first heat exchanger 120 and upstream of the second heat exchanger 130 and the third heat exchanger 1100, respectively, so as to be connected to the first heat exchanger 120, the second heat exchanger 130 and the third heat exchanger 1100.

[0041] Therefore, the first medium output from the first heat exchanger 120 preferentially enters the storage tank 140, where it is temporarily stored and separated into gas and liquid components before being diverted to the second heat exchanger 130 and the third heat exchanger 1100, respectively. Thus, in this embodiment, the storage tank 140 serves as both a storage unit and a flow buffer unit for the first medium. When there is excess cooling capacity, the storage tank 140 can store a portion of the first medium, thereby preventing concentrated input of cooling capacity. Simultaneously, the storage tank 140 can also buffer and regulate the refrigerant flow, effectively reducing system pressure and flow fluctuations, improving the stability of refrigerant distribution, and enhancing the flow balance between the second heat exchanger 130 and the third heat exchanger 1100.

[0042] In an optional embodiment, refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3 The air conditioning circuit 100 may also include a first expansion valve 150, which is adapted to apply a throttling effect to the first medium flowing into the third heat exchanger 1100, thereby outputting the first medium in the form of a gas-liquid two-phase mist or droplets, in preparation for entering the third heat exchanger 1100 for heat absorption.

[0043] Therefore, for reference Figure 2 and Figure 3 In this embodiment, the first medium entering the third heat exchanger 1100 from the storage tank 140 undergoes throttling by the first expansion valve 150. Within the third heat exchanger 1100, it exchanges heat with the second medium flowing in the refrigerator heat exchange circuit 300, thereby evaporating and absorbing heat to become a low-pressure, low-temperature first medium. Finally, it returns to the compressor 110 inlet, completing one refrigeration cycle. The second medium in the refrigerator heat exchange circuit 300 flows to the refrigerator to achieve the purpose of refrigeration.

[0044] After adopting the above structure, the refrigerator and air conditioner can achieve dual cooling operation. However, due to the significant differences in their cooling capacity requirements and evaporation temperatures, how to reasonably allocate the cooling capacity and meet their respective target temperatures while sharing the same compressor 110 has become a key technical problem that needs to be solved.

[0045] Specifically, the saturation temperature of a refrigerant corresponds one-to-one with its pressure; when the refrigerant pressure decreases, its corresponding evaporation temperature decreases accordingly. In this embodiment, the saturation temperature corresponding to the pressure of the refrigerant in the second heat exchanger 130 (i.e., the evaporator of the air conditioner) is approximately 5°C, which is insufficient to meet the cooling requirement of a vehicle refrigerator at approximately -5°C.

[0046] In this regard, in an optional embodiment, refer to Figure 1The air conditioning circuit 100 also includes a second expansion valve 160 and a third expansion valve 170, which are respectively located upstream and downstream of the second heat exchanger 130 to apply a throttling effect to the first medium flowing into and out of the second heat exchanger 130, thereby realizing the coordinated operation of the air conditioner and the refrigerator at different evaporation temperatures.

[0047] Specifically, the second expansion valve 160 is located upstream of the second heat exchanger 130 and is used to throttle and reduce the pressure of the first medium entering the second heat exchanger 130, so that it forms a gas-liquid two-phase flow and evaporates and absorbs heat in the second heat exchanger 130, thereby enabling the air conditioner to reach the preset cooling temperature.

[0048] The third expansion valve 170 is located downstream of the second heat exchanger 130 and is used to further throttle and reduce the pressure of the first medium flowing out of the second heat exchanger 130, so that its pressure is further reduced and approaches the pressure of the refrigerant at the outlet of the third heat exchanger 1100 (the heat exchanger of the refrigerator), so that the refrigerants from different heat exchangers have basically the same pressure before merging into the compressor 110.

[0049] Based on this, taking a refrigerator's target cooling temperature of -5℃ and an air conditioner's target humid cooling temperature of 5℃ as an example, in this embodiment, the second expansion valve 160 and the third expansion valve 170 work together to ensure that the second heat exchanger 130 maintains a relatively high evaporation pressure to meet the air conditioner's 5℃ cooling temperature requirement, while simultaneously ensuring that the third heat exchanger 1100 maintains a relatively low evaporation pressure to meet the refrigerator's -5℃ cooling temperature requirement. Subsequently, the first medium flowing out through the third expansion valve 170 further depressurizes the first medium in the second heat exchanger 130, thereby balancing the pressure.

[0050] Meanwhile, both the first expansion valve 150 and the second expansion valve 160 are electronic expansion valves, and their opening degree can be adjusted according to the temperature feedback signal of the corresponding heat exchanger, thereby realizing independent control of the refrigerant mass flow rate of each branch. Thus, this embodiment achieves the distribution of refrigerant between different branches through the coordinated adjustment of the first expansion valve 150, the second expansion valve 160, and the third expansion valve 170, and enables the refrigerator and the air conditioner to meet their respective cooling capacity requirements and target temperature requirements.

[0051] In an optional embodiment, refer to Figure 1 The refrigerator heat exchange circuit 300 contains a second medium, and the heating circuit 200 also contains the second medium, meaning that the refrigerator heat exchange circuit 300 and the heating circuit 200 can share the same type of cooling medium.

[0052] The switch structure 400 includes a first branch 410 and a second branch 420 for connecting the heating circuit 200 and the refrigerator heat exchange circuit 300. By activating the switch structure 400, at least a portion of the second medium in the heating circuit 200 can flow into the refrigerator heat exchange circuit 300 and, guided by the refrigerator heat exchange circuit 300, flow to the refrigerator to heat the refrigerator storage space.

[0053] Specifically, the first end of the first branch 410 and the first end of the second branch 420 are both connected to the area downstream of the first heat exchanger 120 in the heating circuit 200, and the second end of the first branch 410 and the second end of the second branch 420 are both connected to the refrigerator heat exchange circuit 300; and a switch valve 430 is provided on the first branch 410 and the second branch 420 to control the opening or closing of the corresponding branch respectively.

[0054] In heating mode, refer to Figure 4 By opening the switching valves 430 on the first branch 410 and the second branch 420, a portion of the second medium in the heating circuit 200 flows into the refrigerator heat exchange circuit 300 through the first branch 410. After releasing heat at the refrigerator, it flows back to the heating circuit 200 through the second branch 420, thus forming a circulating flow path through the refrigerator to achieve continuous heating of the refrigerator. Both the first branch 410 and the second branch 420 can be pipeline structures used in vehicles for transporting cooling media.

[0055] It should be noted that the refrigeration temperature requirement for vehicle refrigerators is typically -6℃ to 10℃, and the heating temperature requirement is typically 35℃ to 50℃. The first medium can be a refrigerant whose evaporation and condensation temperature ranges can cover the above temperature requirements, such as R134a refrigerant; the second medium can be any suitable cooling medium.

[0056] In one embodiment, the design temperature for refrigerator heating in winter can be about 50°C, corresponding to a high-pressure saturation pressure of about 1.3 MPa (A). This temperature range is basically matched with the heating conditions of the air conditioner heat pump, so that the refrigerator heating function can be realized simultaneously during the operation of the air conditioner heat pump.

[0057] Furthermore, the heating circuit 200 can also be connected to the warm air core 220 inside the air conditioning unit to deliver heat to the passenger compartment through the warm air core 220. When both the refrigerator and the passenger compartment have heating needs, after the second medium in the heating circuit 200 flows through the first heat exchanger 120, part of it flows into the refrigerator heat exchange circuit 300 through the first branch 410 to heat the refrigerator, and the other part flows to the warm air core 220; the second medium returning from the refrigerator heat exchange circuit 300 can be guided by the second branch 420 to re-enter the heating circuit 200, and merge with the second medium flowing to the warm air core 220 before flowing together through the warm air core 220 and finally returning to the starting end of the heating circuit 200, thus forming a complete heating cycle.

[0058] It should be further noted that the refrigerator heating and the passenger compartment heating can operate independently. When only the refrigerator needs heating, the heater core 220 may not be involved in operation; when only the passenger compartment needs heating, the first branch 410 and the second branch 420 are in a closed state, thereby blocking the refrigerator heat exchange circuit 300 and achieving functional decoupling.

[0059] In an optional embodiment, refer to Figure 1 The refrigerator heat exchange circuit 300 also includes a first pump body 310, which is located upstream of the third heat exchanger 1100 to drive the second medium to circulate in the refrigerator heat exchange circuit 300.

[0060] Therefore, when the refrigerator is cooling, the first pump body 310 drives the second medium to flow sequentially through the third heat exchanger 1100 and the refrigerator, thereby completing the cooling cycle; when the refrigerator is heating, the first pump body 310 drives the second medium from the heating circuit 200 through the first branch 410 into the refrigerator heat exchange circuit 300, and after releasing heat, it flows back to the heating circuit 200 through the second branch 420.

[0061] In an optional embodiment, the heating circuit 200 includes a second pump body 210, which is used to drive the second medium in the heating circuit 200 to circulate in order to achieve a stable heating cycle.

[0062] In an optional embodiment, refer to Figure 1 The air conditioning circuit 100 further includes a fourth heat exchanger 180, which is connected in parallel with the second heat exchanger 130 and the third heat exchanger 1100; the thermal management system further includes a component heat exchange circuit 500, which is heat exchanged with the fourth heat exchanger 180.

[0063] The fourth heat exchanger 180 has a fourth port for the inflow of the first medium. This fourth port is connected to the air conditioning circuit 100, and a fourth expansion valve 190 is installed upstream of the fourth expansion valve to throttle the flow of the first medium entering the fourth heat exchanger 180, ensuring that the first medium enters the fourth heat exchanger 180 in a gas-liquid two-phase state for heat exchange with the component heat exchange circuit 500. Both the third expansion valve 170 and the fourth expansion valve 190 can be electronic expansion valves.

[0064] In an optional embodiment, a third medium flows within the component heat exchange circuit 500, and the fourth heat exchanger 180 has a third port for the third medium to flow into, so as to realize heat exchange between the third medium and the first medium; the component heat exchange circuit 500 also includes a third pump body 510 for driving the third medium to circulate.

[0065] In winter heating conditions, the third medium in the component heat exchange circuit 500 can exchange heat with the first medium to absorb the heat released by the first medium in the heat pump cycle. This heat can then be transferred to components with limited starting performance in low-temperature environments, such as the power battery, thereby heating these components and improving the overall vehicle's operational reliability in low-temperature environments. Therefore, this embodiment can fully utilize system heat while achieving coordinated or independent thermal management of the refrigerator and passenger compartment, enabling multiple heat sources to be reused. This effectively simplifies the system structure, reduces manufacturing costs, and improves the system's integration, energy efficiency, and operational stability.

[0066] On the other hand, this embodiment also relates to a vehicle that includes the thermal management system described above.

[0067] Although embodiments of the invention have been described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, those skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and such modifications and variations all fall within the scope defined by the appended claims.

[0068] Although embodiments of the invention have been described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, those skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and such modifications and variations all fall within the scope defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A thermal management system, characterized in that, include: The air conditioning circuit (100) includes a compressor (110), and a first heat exchanger (120) and a second heat exchanger (130) arranged sequentially along the outlet of the compressor (110). A third heat exchanger (1100) is arranged in parallel with the second heat exchanger (130). The second heat exchanger (130) is used to exchange heat with the passenger compartment. The heating circuit (200) is connected to the first heat exchanger (120) for heat exchange; The refrigerator heat exchange circuit (300) is connected to the heating circuit (200) and is heat exchanged with the third heat exchanger (1100); A switch structure (400) is used to connect or disconnect the heating circuit (200) and the refrigerator heat exchange circuit (300).

2. The thermal management system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The air conditioning circuit (100) also includes: The liquid storage tank (140) is located downstream of the first heat exchanger (120) and upstream of the second heat exchanger (130) and the third heat exchanger (1100).

3. The thermal management system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The air conditioning circuit (100) has a first medium flowing through it, and the air conditioning circuit (100) further includes: A first expansion valve (150) is located upstream of the third heat exchanger (1100) and is adapted to apply a throttling effect to a first medium throttled into the third heat exchanger (1100).

4. The thermal management system according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, The air conditioning circuit (100) has a first medium flowing through it, and the air conditioning circuit (100) further includes: The second expansion valve (160) is located upstream of the second heat exchanger (130) and the second expansion valve (160) throttles the first medium flowing into the second heat exchanger (130); A third expansion valve (170) is located downstream of the second heat exchanger (130), and the second expansion valve (160) throttles the first medium supplied from the second heat exchanger (130).

5. The thermal management system according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, The refrigerator heat exchange circuit (300) contains a second medium, and the heating circuit (200) also contains the second medium. The switching structure (400) includes: The first branch (410) and the second branch (420) are connected to the downstream of the first heat exchanger (120) at the first end of the first branch (410) and the second end of the second branch (420) at the second end of the first branch (410) and the second end of the second branch (420) at the second end of the refrigerator heat exchange circuit (300). A switch valve (430) is provided on both the first branch (410) and the second branch (420).

6. The thermal management system according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, A second medium flows within the refrigerator heat exchange circuit (300), and the third heat exchanger (1100) has a first port for the second medium to flow into. The refrigerator heat exchange circuit (300) includes: The first pump body (310) is located upstream of the first port.

7. The thermal management system according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, A second medium flows within the heating circuit (200), and the first heat exchanger (120) has a second port for the second medium to flow into. The heating circuit (200) includes: The second pump body (210) is located upstream of the second port.

8. The thermal management system according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, The air conditioning circuit (100) includes a fourth heat exchanger (180), which is connected in parallel with the second heat exchanger (130) and the third heat exchanger (1100). The thermal management system further includes: The component heat exchange circuit (500) is heat exchanged with the third heat exchanger (1100).

9. The thermal management system according to claim 8, characterized in that, A third medium flows within the component heat exchange circuit (500), and the fourth heat exchanger (180) has a third port for the third medium to flow into. The component heat exchange circuit (500) includes: The third pump body (510) is located upstream of the third port.

10. A vehicle, characterized in that, Includes the thermal management system as described in any one of claims 1-9.

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