Control device and system for controlling at least one heat pump unit of a heat pump and at least one of a valve unit and a pump unit

Abstract

The invention relates to a control device (100) for controlling at least one heat pump unit of a heat pump (210) and at least one of a valve unit (220) and a pump unit (230), comprising: a supply interface (111) designed to receive an electrical current from an external energy source; a communication interface (112) designed to receive a control command for controlling the heat pump unit, the valve unit (220) and / or the pump unit (230); a control unit (130) designed to provide the electrical current to the heat pump unit and at least one of the valve unit (220) and the pump unit (230), wherein the control unit (130) is further designed to control the heat pump unit and at least one of the valve unit (220) and the pump unit (230) based on the control command.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a control device and a system for controlling at least one heat pump unit of a heat pump and at least one of a valve unit and a pump unit.

[0002] In vehicles, a variety of valve units with valves are used to control coolant flows. These valves switch the coolant flows based on the valve position. Furthermore, at least one pump unit with a pump for pumping the coolant is provided. A heat pump is usually also provided to exchange thermal energy and provide cooling or heating coolant flows. The heat pump includes, among other components, a compressor and an expansion valve.

[0003] The aforementioned elements are controlled by respective controllers. Consequently, such a vehicle with these elements and controllers has a multitude of supply interfaces for supplying the controllers and elements with electrical power. This results in complex switching and connection requirements, as well as associated cables. Another problem is that the controllers and elements have different requirements for the supplied voltage. A vehicle can usually only provide a predetermined on-board voltage, which must be converted into the various voltages.

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide a control device, a system, and a vehicle that at least improve one or more of the aforementioned disadvantages. In particular, it is an object of the present invention to simplify the control of the various elements, here the valve units, the pump units, and the heat pump, and further to provide a particularly space-efficient design.

[0005] According to a first aspect, the object is achieved by a control device for controlling at least one heat pump unit of a heat pump and at least one of a valve unit and a pump unit. The valve unit can comprise a valve which, based on a valve position of the valve, is designed to control a coolant flow through the valve. The pump unit can comprise one, two, or more pumps which are designed to pump the coolant. The heat pump unit of the heat pump can be a unit to be controlled, in particular electrically controlled, by means of the control device. The heat pump unit can be a compressor or an expansion valve. The heat pump, the valve unit, and / or the pump unit can be part of a vehicle. The control device can be designed to control two or more heat pump units.The control device may be designed to control two or more valve units and / or two or more pump units.

[0006] The control device comprises a supply interface configured to receive an electrical current from an external energy source. The external energy source can be an energy source of a vehicle, in particular a battery and / or an alternator of the vehicle. The heat pump, the valve unit, and / or the pump unit can be part of the vehicle. The control device further comprises a communication interface configured to receive a control command for controlling the heat pump unit, the valve unit, and / or the pump unit. The control device further comprises a control unit configured to provide the electrical current to the heat pump unit and at least one of the valve unit and the pump unit. The control unit is further configured to control the heat pump unit and at least one of the valve unit and the pump unit based on the control command.

[0007] Consequently, all electrical components such as the pump unit, the valve unit, and the compressor can be controlled by a single control device. This allows a 3-in-1 system (actuators, valves, compressor, electronics) to be implemented integrally. The integrated design requires only one communication interface. By relocating all electronic components to the central control device, the individual components such as the compressor and valve unit can be designed more compactly. The control device can be installed and / or arranged in a variety of ways. Therefore, the control device can be installed directly onto a thermal management system or used as a remote control unit. Preferably, the control device can be used as an integrated add-on for such a system.

[0008] The following description of the control device can be considered as the topology of a central control device for a thermal management system.

[0009] Accordingly, a vehicle's thermal management system, comprising the heat pump, valve unit, and pump unit, can be controlled using a single control device. This reduces the required installation space and further reduces the complexity of the design. Wiring effort can be significantly reduced. Furthermore, only the control device needs to be analyzed, rather than a multitude of different controllers, simplifying diagnostics.

[0010] The communication interface may further be configured to receive and / or transmit information, for example to receive user inputs and output feedback on executed control commands.

[0011] The heat pump can be configured to conduct a refrigerant. In particular, a heat energy exchange between the refrigerant and the coolant can be provided by the heat pump.

[0012] The supply interface can be configured to receive the electrical current having a predetermined first voltage from the external energy source. The control unit can be configured to convert the first voltage into at least one second voltage different from the first voltage and to provide the second voltage to at least one of the heat pump unit, the valve unit, the pump unit, and the control unit. Accordingly, for example, an on-board electrical system voltage of the vehicle can be provided to the supply interface, and this voltage can be converted into a desired target voltage, for example, of the pump unit.

[0013] The control unit can be configured to convert the first voltage into the second voltage and / or at least one further voltage based on voltage requirements of the heat pump unit and at least one of the valve unit and the pump unit. The respective voltage requirement can characterize a voltage that must be provided to operate the respective unit. Accordingly, the various voltage requirements of the heat pump, the valve unit, and the pump unit can be served by means of the single control device.

[0014] Alternatively or additionally, the control unit can be configured to convert the first voltage into at least one further predetermined voltage. For example, the control device can be configured at the factory such that a plurality of predetermined voltages can be provided. Accordingly, the control device can be used universally, for example, for different vehicle manufacturers.

[0015] The control device can be configured to be arranged on the valve unit, the pump unit, a distribution unit with the valve unit and / or the pump unit, the heat pump unit, and / or the heat pump. Accordingly, installation space can be used more efficiently, and supply lines or connections of the control device to the heat pump unit, the valve unit, and / or the pump unit can be kept particularly short. This further reduces the material required for lines. In addition, the shortened lines reduce the risk of cable breakage.

[0016] The control unit can comprise at least one of a high-voltage converter, in particular a high-voltage DC-DC converter, a low-voltage converter, in particular a low-voltage DC-DC converter, an AC-DC converter, and a DC-AC converter. Consequently, the control unit can, for example, convert the vehicle electrical system voltage into corresponding desired voltages. For direct current (DC), low voltage can be a range up to 60 V, and high voltage a range from 60 to 1500 V. For alternating current (AC), low voltage can be a range up to 30 V, and high voltage a range from 30 to 1000 V.

[0017] The control device can be designed to control the heat pump unit and at least one of the valve unit and the pump unit of a vehicle, wherein the first voltage is a voltage that can be provided by an on-board electrical system of the vehicle.

[0018] The control device may comprise at least one of the following sensors and / or an interface for receiving sensor information from the respective sensor, wherein the sensor information characterizes the temperatures, pressures, speeds and / or voltages determined by means of the respective sensor: - at least one valve sensor for detecting a valve position of the valve unit and for providing valve position information to the control unit; - at least one first temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of the coolant in the valve unit and / or the pump unit; - at least one second temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of a refrigerant of the heat pump unit; - at least one third temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of the control device; - at least one pressure sensor for detecting a pressure of the coolant in the valve unit and / or the pump unit; - at least one voltage sensor for detecting a voltage at the heat pump unit, the pump unit, the valve unit and the control unit; - at least one speed sensor for detecting a speed of the pump unit and / or the heat pump unit, in particular a compressor of the heat pump unit.

[0019] The interfaces can be designed to provide the sensor information to the control device.

[0020] Alternatively or additionally, the control device, in particular the communication interface and / or at least one further communication interface, can be designed to receive and / or transmit the respective sensor information from the sensors of the control device and / or the external sensors. The above-mentioned sensors can additionally or alternatively be designed as external sensors. The system according to the second aspect mentioned below and / or the vehicle according to the fifth aspect mentioned below can comprise one or more of the aforementioned sensors. The output signals of the sensors can be received by the control device, thus providing a central input for the output data of the sensors.

[0021] Accordingly, a complex control device can be provided which replaces the functions of the multiple controllers compared to the prior art and controls them centrally.

[0022] The supply interface and the communication interface can be arranged on a first side of the control device, wherein the supply interface and the communication interface are freely accessible, in particular when arranged on the valve unit, the pump unit, the distribution unit, the heat pump unit, and / or the heat pump. Consequently, a connection to the supply interface and the communication interface can be provided particularly advantageously.

[0023] The control device can be and / or form a single unit. The control device can comprise a housing, wherein the previously and subsequently mentioned units of the control device are formed within the housing and / or on and / or in a housing wall of the housing. In particular, the communication interface and the supply interface can be arranged in the housing wall in such a way that they are accessible from the outside.

[0024] The control device may have one or more further interfaces for connecting the control device to the heat pump unit and at least one of the valve unit and the pump unit. The heat pump unit, the valve unit, and the pump unit may be connectable to the control device via these interfaces.

[0025] The object is achieved according to a second aspect by a system comprising a control device according to the first aspect, the at least one heat pump unit of the heat pump and at least one of the valve unit and the pump unit.

[0026] Features of the control device of the first aspect may be embodied as features of the system of the second aspect.

[0027] The control device can be arranged on the heat pump unit and / or on at least one of the valve unit and the pump unit. Alternatively or additionally, the system can further comprise the heat pump and / or the distribution unit, wherein the control device is arranged on the heat pump and / or the distribution unit.

[0028] The object is achieved according to a third aspect by a computer-implemented method for controlling at least one heat pump unit of a heat pump and at least one of a valve unit and a pump unit by means of a control device, comprising: - receiving, by means of a supply interface of the control device, an electrical current from an external energy source; - Receiving, by means of a communication interface of the control device, a control command for controlling the heat pump unit, the valve unit and / or the pump unit; - Providing, by means of a control unit of the control device, the electrical current to the heat pump unit and at least one of the valve unit and the pump unit, - Controlling, by means of the control unit, the heat pump unit and at least one of the valve unit and the pump unit based on the control command.

[0029] Device features described with respect to the control device according to the first aspect and / or the system according to the second aspect may be embodied as method features of the method according to the third aspect.

[0030] The object is achieved according to a fourth aspect by a computer program product comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a control device according to the first aspect, cause the control device to carry out the method according to the third aspect.

[0031] The object is achieved according to a fifth aspect by a vehicle comprising a control device according to the first aspect and / or a system according to the second aspect.

[0032] Preferred embodiments are explained using the accompanying figures. They show: Fig. 1 shows a schematic embodiment of a control device for controlling at least one heat pump unit of a heat pump and at least one of a valve unit and a pump unit; Fig. 2 shows a schematic embodiment of a system for controlling at least one heat pump unit of a heat pump and at least one of a valve unit and a pump unit; Fig. 3 shows a schematic embodiment of a computer-implemented method for controlling at least one heat pump unit of a heat pump and at least one of a valve unit and a pump unit; and Fig. 4 a vehicle with a control device and / or a system for controlling at least one heat pump unit of a heat pump and at least one of a valve unit and a pump unit.

[0033] In the figures, identical or essentially functionally identical or similar elements are designated by the same reference numerals.

[0034] Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of a control device 100 for controlling at least one heat pump unit of a heat pump 210 and at least one of a valve unit and pump unit. The heat pump unit can, for example, be a compressor or an expansion valve of the heat pump. The embodiment of the control device 100 shown here is designed to control four valve units: the pump unit, the compressor, and the expansion valve. More or fewer valve units, pump units, and / or heat pump units can be controlled. The control device 100 can, for example, be implemented in a vehicle 400 to control the valve units, pump units, and the heat pump of the vehicle.

[0035] The control device 100 comprises a supply interface 111 configured to receive an electrical current from an external energy source. The external energy source can be an energy source of the vehicle 400, for example, a battery, a motor, and / or an alternator of the vehicle 400. The control device 100 further comprises a communication interface 112 configured to receive a control command for controlling the heat pump unit, the valve unit, and / or the pump unit. The double arrows indicate a signal input, in particular a signal exchange with external units. For example, a corresponding control command can be sent to the control device 100 from an on-board computer of the vehicle 400.

[0036] The control device 100 further comprises a control unit 130, which is designed to provide the electrical current to the heat pump unit and at least one of the valve unit and the pump unit. For this purpose, the control device 100 according to the exemplary embodiment has corresponding blocking areas for connectors V1-4, 141, 142, P. The blocking areas of the connectors V1-4 are for the valve units, the blocking area of connector 141 for the expansion valve, the blocking area of connector 142 for the compressor, and the blocking area of connector P for the pump unit. Accordingly, the valve units 220, the expansion valve, the compressor, and the pump unit 230 can be connected to the control device 100 at predefined interfaces, here connectors.

[0037] The control unit 130 is further configured to control the heat pump unit and at least one of the valve unit 220 and the pump unit 230 based on the control command. Consequently, the control device 100 provides a single control device with which a plurality of valve units 220, pump units 230, and heat pump units can be controlled. Accordingly, installation effort and space requirements are significantly reduced.

[0038] In this embodiment, the communication interface 112 and the supply interface 111 are comprised by an interface unit 110, wherein the interface unit 110 is optional.

[0039] Furthermore, the Fig. 1 shows a conversion unit 137, which is included in the control unit 130 or can be a separate unit of the control device 100. The conversion unit 137 includes a high-voltage plug blocking region 131, an electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) high-voltage filter 132, a high-voltage energy storage device 133 for the compressor, a DC-DC converter 134 for converting 800 V to 48 V, a DC-DC converter 135 for converting 48 V to 12 V, and a blocking region 136 for a compressor plug. The units of the conversion unit 137 can include more or fewer units.

[0040] Consequently, the control device 100 makes it possible to convert an on-board electrical system voltage of the vehicle 400 into various voltages, each of which is required for operation by the various units, such as the valve units 220, the pump unit 230, and the heat pump units. Thus, a single control device 100 can control a plurality of units of a thermal management system.

[0041] Fig. 2 shows a system 200 comprising the control device 100, the heat pump 210, the valve units 220, and the pump unit 230. The system 200 can be provided in the form of a compact system 200. The individual units of the system 200 can be connected to one another in advance and / or arranged next to one another in order to further reduce the installation effort of the system 200. The control device 100 can be arranged at least partially between the heat pump 210 and a distribution unit comprising the valve units 220 and the pump unit 230.

[0042] Fig. 3 shows a computer-implemented method 300 for controlling at least one heat pump unit of a heat pump and at least one of a valve unit and a pump unit by means of a control device 100. The method 300 comprises receiving 310, by means of a supply interface 111 of the control device 100, an electrical current from an external energy source. The method 300 further comprises receiving 320, by means of a communication interface 112 of the control device 100, a control command for controlling the heat pump unit, the valve unit, and / or the pump unit.

[0043] Furthermore, the method 300 comprises providing 330, by means of a control unit 130 of the control device 100, the electrical current to the heat pump unit and at least one of the valve unit and the pump unit and controlling 340, by means of the control unit 130, the heat pump unit and at least one of the valve unit and the pump unit based on the control command.

[0044] The method 300 may be stored in the form of a computer program product. The control device 100, the system 200, and / or the vehicle 400 may each be configured to execute the computer program product.

[0045] Fig. 4 shows a vehicle 400 comprising a control device 100. Alternatively or additionally, the vehicle 400 may comprise a system 200. Reference symbol 100 control device 110 Interface unit 111 Supply interface 112 Communication interface 130 Control unit 131 Restricted area plug high voltage 132 EMC HV filters 133 HV energy storage for compressor 134 DC-DC converter 800V / 48V 135 DC-DC converter 48V / 12V 136 Restricted area plug compressor 137 Conversion unit V1-4 Restricted area plug valve units W Restricted area plug pump unit 141 Blocking area plug expansion valve 142 Restricted area plug compressor 200 systems 210 heat pump 220 valve units 230 pump unit 300 Computer-implemented procedure 310 Receiving an electric current 320 Receiving a control command 330 Providing electrical power 340 Controlling the heat pump unit and at least one of the valve unit and the pump unit 400 vehicles

Claims

[1] Control device (100) for controlling at least one heat pump unit of a heat pump (210) and at least one of a valve unit (220) and a pump unit (230), comprising: a supply interface (111) configured to receive an electrical current from an external power source; a communication interface (112) configured to receive a control command for controlling the heat pump unit, the valve unit (220) and / or the pump unit (230); a control unit (130) configured to provide the electrical current to the heat pump unit and at least one of the valve unit (220) and the pump unit (230), wherein the control unit (130) is further configured to control the heat pump unit and at least one of the valve unit (220) and the pump unit (230) based on the control command. [2] Control device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the supply interface (111) is configured to receive the electric current having a predetermined first voltage from the external energy source, wherein the control unit (130) is configured to convert the first voltage into at least one second voltage different from the first voltage and to provide the second voltage to at least one of the heat pump unit, the valve unit (220), the pump unit (230) and the control unit (130). [3] Control device (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control unit (130) is configured to convert the first voltage into the second voltage and / or at least one further voltage based on voltage requirements of the heat pump unit and at least one of the valve unit (220) and the pump unit (230). [4] Control device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control device (130) is designed to be arranged on the valve unit (220), on the pump unit (230), a distributor unit with the valve unit (220) and / or the pump unit (230), the heat pump unit and / or the heat pump (210). [5] Control device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control unit (130) comprises at least one of a high-voltage converter, in particular a high-voltage DC-DC converter, a low-voltage converter, in particular a low-voltage DC-DC converter, an AC-DC converter and a DC-AC converter. [6] Control device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control device (100) is designed to control the heat pump unit and at least one of the valve unit (220) and the pump unit (230) of a vehicle (400), wherein the first voltage is a voltage that can be provided by an on-board electrical system of the vehicle (400). [7] Control device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control device (100) comprises at least one of the following sensors: at least one valve sensor for detecting a valve position of the valve unit (220) and for providing valve position information to the control unit (130); at least one first temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of the coolant in the valve unit (220) and / or the pump unit (230); at least one second temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of a refrigerant of the heat pump unit; at least one third temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of the control device (130); at least one pressure sensor for detecting a pressure of the coolant in the valve unit (220) and / or the pump unit (230). [8] Control device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the supply interface (111) and the communication interface (112) are arranged on a first side of the control device (100), wherein the supply interface (111) and the communication interface (112) are freely accessible, in particular in a state arranged on the valve unit (220), the pump unit (230), the distribution unit, the heat pump unit and / or the heat pump (210). [9] System (200) comprising a control device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, which controls at least one heat pump unit of the heat pump (210) and at least one of the valve unit (220) and the pump unit (230). [10] System (200) according to claim 9, wherein the control device (100) is arranged on the heat pump unit and / or on at least one of the valve unit (220) and the pump unit (230), and / or the system (200) further comprising the heat pump (210) and / or the distribution unit, wherein the control device (100) is arranged on the heat pump (210) and / or the distribution unit. [11] Computer-implemented method (300) for controlling at least one heat pump unit of a heat pump (210) and at least one of a valve unit (220) and a pump unit (230) by means of a control device (130), comprising: Receiving (310), by means of a supply interface (111) of the control device (100), an electrical current from an external energy source; Receiving (320), by means of a communication interface (112) of the control device (100), a control command for controlling the heat pump unit, the valve unit (220) and / or the pump unit (230); Providing (330), by means of a control unit (130) of the control device (100), the electrical current to the heat pump unit and at least one of the valve unit (220) and the pump unit (230), Controlling (340), by means of the control unit (130), the heat pump unit and at least one of the valve unit (220) and the pump unit (230) based on the control command. [12] A computer program product comprising instructions which, when executed by a control device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, cause the control device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 8 to execute the method (300) according to claim 11. [13] Vehicle (400), comprising: a control device according to one of claims 1 to 8; a system according to one of claims 9 or 10.

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