Thermal management system for a hybrid or electric vehicle

Abstract

Disclosed is a thermal management system for a hybrid or electric vehicle, the thermal management system comprising a reversible air-conditioning circuit (10) in which a coolant flows, and comprising a two-fluid heat exchanger (14) arranged together on a circuit (12) for the first heat-transfer fluid, the circuit (12) for the first heat-transfer fluid being configured in such a way that, in a first mode of heating the internal air flow (Fi): -in a first loop (L1) of the first heat-transfer fluid, the first heat-transfer fluid passing through the heating device (54), for example all of the fluid passing through the heating device (54), passes through the two-fluid heat exchanger (14) and into the first pump (52), the heating device (54) and the two-fluid heat exchanger (14) being active, and in that, simultaneously or independently of the circulation of the first heat-transfer fluid in the first loop (L1) of the first heat-transfer fluid, the circuit is configured so that, in a second loop (L2) of the first heat-transfer fluid, the first heat-transfer fluid passing through the "battery" heat exchanger (68) passes through the "electric-machine" heat exchanger (66).

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] TITLE: THERMAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR HYBRID OR ELECTRIC VEHICLE

[0003] Technical field of the invention

[0004] The invention relates to the field of motor vehicles and more particularly to a thermal management circuit for a hybrid or electric motor vehicle.

[0005] Technical background

[0006] In electric and hybrid vehicles, the thermal management of the passenger compartment is generally managed by a reversible air conditioning circuit. By reversible, we mean that this air conditioning circuit can operate in a cooling mode to cool the air going to the passenger compartment and in a heat pump mode to heat the air going to the passenger compartment. This reversible air conditioning circuit can also include a bypass to manage the temperature of the batteries of the electric or hybrid vehicle. It is thus possible to cool or even heat the batteries thanks to the reversible air conditioning loop. In heat pump mode, calories are taken from the outside air to be transmitted to an internal air flow which is blown into the passenger compartment to heat it.

[0007] However, when the outside temperature is very low, it is not possible to use the air conditioning circuit in such a heat pump mode.

[0008] It is therefore known to arrange in the internal air flow an electric heating device which directly heats the air flow. However, this requires arranging an additional component in the air flow, which is expensive and which clutters the vehicle. One of the aims of the present invention is therefore to at least partially remedy the drawbacks of the prior art and to propose an improved thermal management circuit.

[0009] Summary of the invention

[0010] One aspect of the invention relates to a thermal management system for a hybrid or electric vehicle, the thermal management system comprising a reversible air conditioning circuit in which a refrigerant circulates and comprising a two-fluid heat exchanger arranged jointly on a circuit of a first heat transfer fluid, the air conditioning circuit successively comprising, in a main loop, a compressor, a first heat exchanger arranged to exchange calories with a heat transfer fluid, directly or indirectly, the heat transfer fluid being for example an internal air flow blown into the passenger compartment of the vehicle, a refrigerant expansion member and a second heat exchanger arranged to exchange calories with a heat transfer fluid, directly or indirectly, the heat transfer fluid being for example an internal air flow blown into the passenger compartment of the vehicle, the circuit of the first heat transfer fluid comprising:

[0011] - a first branch comprising a first pump, a device for heating the first heat transfer fluid and the two-fluid heat exchanger,

[0012] - a second branch, one upstream end of which is connected directly to the first branch downstream of the two-fluid heat exchanger and one downstream end of which is connected directly to an upstream end of the first branch, in which the circuit of the first heat transfer fluid comprises:

[0013] - a third branch which comprises a second pump and a third heat exchanger, for example an "electrical machine" heat exchanger which allows the exchange of heat between power electronics and / or an electric motor of the vehicle, on the one hand, and the first heat transfer fluid, on the other hand,

[0014] - a fourth branch which comprises a fourth heat exchanger, for example a "battery" heat exchanger which is configured to allow the exchange of heat between batteries of the vehicle and the first heat transfer fluid, the fourth branch comprising an upstream end which is connected to a downstream end of the first branch and a downstream end which is connected to the second branch, an upstream end of the fourth branch being connected to a downstream end of the third branch, and a downstream end of the fourth branch being connected to an upstream end of the third branch.

[0015] - the circuit of the first heat transfer fluid being configured so that, in a first mode of heating the internal air flow:

[0016] - in a first loop of the first heat transfer fluid, the first heat transfer fluid passing through the heating device, for example the entire fluid passing through the heating device, passes through the two-fluid heat exchanger and into the first pump, the heating device and the two-fluid heat exchanger being active, in particular so as to heat the refrigerant fluid passing through the two-fluid heat exchanger, and, simultaneously or independently of the circulation of the first heat transfer fluid in the first loop of the first heat transfer fluid, the circuit is configured so that, in a second loop of the first heat transfer fluid, the first heat transfer fluid passing through the "battery" heat exchanger, for example the entire first heat transfer fluid passing through the "battery" heat exchanger passes through the "electrical machines" heat exchanger and into the second pump,in particular so as to heat the first heat transfer fluid passing through the "battery" heat exchanger using the heat recovered by the "electrical machines" heat exchanger.,

[0017] For this purpose, the system comprises a central control unit, said unit comprising at least one computer, a memory and a computer program stored in the memory, said computer program being configured to operate the system in the manner described above and below.

[0018] This system allows at least two functions to be performed with a circuit of a first simple heat transfer fluid, namely the function of heating the batteries by the electric motor and jointly the function of recovering heat from the electric heating device to the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

[0019] According to certain aspects of the invention, the above system comprises one or more of the following characteristics taken in isolation or in all technically possible combinations:

[0020] - in the first branch, the two-fluid heat exchanger is arranged downstream of the device for heating the first heat transfer fluid, preferably directly downstream;

[0021] - in addition to the first pump, the device for heating the first heat transfer fluid and the two-fluid heat exchanger, the first branch does not include any other device capable of significantly modifying the quantity of heat accumulated by the first heat transfer fluid;

[0022] - the second branch does not include any device capable of significantly modifying the quantity of heat accumulated by the first heat transfer fluid;

[0023] - the circuit of the first heat transfer fluid is configured to be able to circulate all of the refrigerant fluid passing through the heating device and the dual-fluid heat exchanger through the “battery” heat exchanger in a third loop of the first heat transfer fluid, in particular so as to heat the first heat transfer fluid passing through the “battery” heat exchanger when the heating device is active or alternatively so as to cool the first heat transfer fluid passing through the “battery” heat exchanger when the dual-fluid heat exchanger is active;

[0024] - the circuit of the first heat transfer fluid comprises a first three-way valve connecting the first branch downstream of the two-fluid heat exchanger, the fourth branch upstream of the “battery” heat exchanger and the upstream end of the second branch;

[0025] - the circuit of the first heat transfer fluid comprises a fifth branch equipped with a radiator arranged in an external air flow, a downstream end of the fifth branch being connected to an upstream end of the third branch and an upstream end of the fifth branch being connected to a downstream end of the third branch, the circuit being configured to be able to circulate, in a fourth loop of the first heat transfer fluid, all of the first heat transfer fluid passing through the "electrical machines" heat exchanger through the external radiator and the second pump, in particular so as to allow passive cooling of the first heat transfer fluid passing through the "electrical machines" heat exchanger by cooling in the external radiator;

[0026] - the circuit of the first heat transfer fluid comprises a second three-way valve connecting the third branch downstream of the “electrical machines” heat exchanger, the fourth branch upstream of the “batteries” heat exchanger and the fifth branch upstream of the external radiator;

[0027] - the circuit comprises a sixth branch connecting the fifth branch upstream of the external radiator and the fourth branch downstream of the “battery” heat exchanger, and a seventh branch connecting the first branch upstream of the heating device and the fifth branch downstream of the external radiator;

[0028] - the circuit of the first heat transfer fluid is configured to allow the circulation of the first heat transfer fluid in a fifth mouth of the first heat transfer fluid in which all of the fluid passing through the “battery” heat exchanger passes through the external radiator, in particular by passing through the seventh branch and the sixth branch, in particular so as to allow the passive cooling of the first heat transfer fluid passing through the “battery” heat exchanger by cooling in the external radiator;

[0029] - the circuit of the first heat transfer fluid is configured to allow, in parallel with the fifth loop of the first heat transfer fluid, the circulation of the first heat transfer fluid in the fourth loop of the first heat transfer fluid in which all of the fluid passing through the “electrical machines” heat exchanger passes through the external radiator, the fluid circulating in the fifth branch being divided between the seventh branch towards the battery heat exchanger and the third branch towards the “electrical machines” heat exchanger, in particular so as to simultaneously allow the passive cooling of the first heat transfer fluid passing through the “battery” heat exchanger and of the first heat transfer fluid passing through the “electrical machines” heat exchanger by cooling in the external radiator;

[0030] - the circuit of the first heat transfer fluid comprises a third three-way valve connecting the fourth branch downstream of the “battery” heat exchanger, the second branch and the sixth branch, in particular so as to connect or not connect the battery heat exchanger to the external radiator;

[0031] - the circuit of the first heat transfer fluid is configured to allow the circulation of the heat transfer fluid in the third loop of the first heat transfer fluid in which all of the fluid passing through the “electrical machines” heat exchanger passes through the external radiator and in the fourth loop of the first heat transfer fluid in which all of the refrigerant fluid passing through the “batteries” heat exchanger passes through the heating device and the two-fluid heat exchanger;

[0032] -the circuit of the first heat transfer fluid comprises a fourth valve connecting the fourth branch downstream of the “batteries” heat exchanger, the third valve and the third branch upstream of the “electrical machines” heat exchanger, in particular so as to be able to prevent with the third and fourth valves the circulation of the first heat transfer fluid from the third loop of the first heat transfer fluid to the fourth loop of the first heat transfer fluid via the sixth branch and via the third branch;

[0033] -the circuit of the first heat transfer fluid is configured to allow the fluid circulating through the “battery” heat exchanger to pass upstream on the one hand into the heating device, the two-fluid heat exchanger and the first pump, thus forming the third loop of the first heat transfer fluid and on the other hand into a sixth loop of the first heat transfer fluid, passing through the “electrical machines” heat exchanger and the second pump, so as to allow in particular a heat recovery mode by the refrigerant fluid circuit, the calories being supplied by the “electrical machines” heat exchanger, the heating device and / or the “battery” heat exchanger.

[0034] Another aspect of the invention relates to a method of operating a system made as described above, in which, in a first mode of heating the internal air flow, all of the first heat transfer fluid passing through the heater then passes through the two-fluid heat exchanger before returning to the first pump via the second branch, the heater and the two-fluid heat exchanger being active.

[0035] Another aspect of the invention relates to a computer program comprising instructions which cause the thermal conditioning system to operate in the manner described above.

[0036] Brief description of the figures

[0037] Other features and advantages of aspects of the invention will become apparent upon reading the detailed description which follows, for the understanding of which reference will be made to the appended drawings described briefly below.

[0038] Figure 1 is a schematic view which represents an example of an air conditioning circuit which equips the thermal management system produced according to one aspect of the invention.

[0039] Figure 2 is a schematic view which represents a circuit of the first heat transfer fluid which equips the thermal management system produced according to one aspect of the invention and which is intended to operate in cooperation with the air conditioning circuit of Figure 1.

[0040] Figure 3 is a view of the circuit of the first heat transfer fluid of Figure 1 operating in a mode of active heating of an internal air flow and passive heating of one or more batteries (i.e. batteries) of the vehicle.

[0041] Figure 4 is a view of the circuit of the first heat transfer fluid of Figure 1 operating in a mode of active cooling (or active heating) of the batteries and passive cooling of an electric motor and / or the power electronics of the vehicle.

[0042] Figure 5 is a view of the circuit of the first heat transfer fluid of Figure 1 operating in an internal heating mode by heat recovery in the two-fluid heat exchanger 14, the heat being supplied by the electric heating device 14 and / or the battery heat exchanger 68 and / or the electric motor heat exchanger 66.

[0043] Figure 6 is a schematic view which represents a circuit of the first heat transfer fluid which equips the thermal management system produced according to another aspect of the invention, and which is intended to operate in cooperation with the air conditioning circuit of Figure 1.

[0044] Figure 7 is a view of the circuit of the first heat transfer fluid of Figure 5 operating in a passive cooling mode of the batteries, the electric motor and / or the power electronics of the vehicle.

[0045] Figure 8 is a view of the circuit of the first heat transfer fluid of Figure 5 operating in a mode of cooling the batteries and passive cooling of the electric motor and / or the power electronics of the vehicle.

[0046] Figure 9 is a view of the circuit of the first heat transfer fluid of Figure 5 operating in an active cooling mode of the batteries of the electric motor and / or the power electronics of the vehicle.

[0047] Detailed description of the invention

[0048] In the remainder of the description, elements having an identical structure or similar functions will be designated by the same reference.

[0049] In the following description, the term "a first element upstream of a second element" means that the first element is placed before the second element relative to the direction of circulation, or path, of a fluid. Similarly, the term "a first element downstream of a second element" means that the first element is placed after the second element relative to the direction of circulation, or path, of the fluid in question. The direction of circulation is defined by the arrows of the compressor or by the arrows of the pumps where applicable.

[0050] The term "branch" here refers to a section of circuit open at both ends comprising only elements arranged in series.

[0051] Also note that the term "batteries" should not be understood as all the batteries in the vehicle but as several batteries.

[0052] The term “battery” should be understood to mean any energy storage unit capable of restoring this energy in electrical form.

[0053] In the drawings, the pipes in which the heat transfer fluid is moving will be shown in bold lines and the pipes in which the heat transfer fluid is not moving will be shown in thin lines.

[0054] As illustrated in the various figures, the invention relates to a thermal conditioning system. This is, for example, a thermal management system for a motor vehicle. This concerns an electric or hybrid motor vehicle which comprises an electric motor which provides engine torque to the drive wheels of the vehicle. The electric motor is supplied with electric current at least by batteries, called traction batteries. During operation of the vehicle, the electric motor and the battery are likely to produce heat.

[0055] As more particularly illustrated in Figure 1, said system comprises a first air conditioning circuit 10 in which a refrigerant fluid (or “refrigerant fluid circuit”) circulates, as shown in Figure 1, and a second circuit 12 of the first heat transfer fluid in which a heat transfer fluid circulates, as shown in Figure 2.

[0056] The heat transfer fluid is, for example, a heat transfer liquid such as water containing an antifreeze, in particular glycolated water, or any other suitable heat transfer fluid. The refrigerant is, for example, a hydrofluorocarbon, such as R-134a or R1234yf or R744.

[0057] The air conditioning circuit 10 comprises a dual-fluid heat exchanger 14 arranged jointly on the second circuit 12 for circulating a heat transfer fluid. The dual-fluid heat exchanger 14 is configured to allow heat exchange between the refrigerant fluid, circulating in the air conditioning circuit 10, and the first heat transfer fluid, circulating in the circuit 12 of the first heat transfer fluid, without mixing between the heat transfer fluid and the refrigerant fluid. This type of heat exchanger is commonly called a “chiller” by those skilled in the art, in the example of FIG. 1.

[0058] The air conditioning circuit 10 is configured to allow, in a heat pump mode, heating of an air flow, illustrated by an arrow marked Fi, by means of compression and expansion of the refrigerant fluid.

[0059] The air flow Fi is, for example, an interior air flow Fi, intended to be sent into the vehicle's passenger compartment to allow it to be heated. The system thus makes it possible to heat the vehicle's passenger compartment using calories taken from the first heat transfer fluid.

[0060] The interior airflow (Fi) circulates, for example, in a heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning (HVAC) device 16 of the passenger compartment.

[0061] As a non-limiting example, the air conditioning circuit 10 shown in Figure 1 more particularly comprises a main refrigerant circulation loop A1 comprising, in the direction of circulation of the refrigerant, the compressor 18, the condenser 20 arranged in the internal air flow Fi, a second expansion device 24, an evaporator-condenser 26 arranged in an external air flow Fe. The evaporator-condenser 26 is thus generally arranged on the front face of the motor vehicle. A flap (not shown) may also be installed in the heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning device 16 in order to prevent or not the internal air flow from passing through the condenser 20. The main refrigerant circulation loop A1 may also comprise an accumulator 28 allowing phase separation of the refrigerant and arranged upstream of the compressor 18, between the evaporator-condenser 26 and said compressor 18.The condenser 20 allows calories to be transmitted to the internal air flow Fi.

[0062] The condenser 20 is here arranged in the heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning device 16 to allow the exchange of heat between the refrigerant fluid and the internal air flow Fi. The condenser 20 is in particular arranged directly in the internal air flow.

[0063] In a variant not shown according to one aspect of the invention, the condenser 20 makes it possible to exchange heat with the internal air flow via a heat transfer fluid circuit. In this case, the condenser 20 transmits calories to this heat transfer fluid, then the heat transfer fluid transmits said calories to the internal air flow via a heat exchanger, called a "heater core", arranged directly in the internal air flow.

[0064] The refrigerant fluid is in the high-pressure gaseous state when leaving the compressor 18. It then undergoes condensation while passing through the condenser 20, giving up calories to the internal air flow Fi, and passes into the liquid state. It then undergoes expansion in the first expansion device 22 and passes into the first two-fluid exchanger 14 where it evaporates, absorbing calories from the heat transfer fluid.

[0065] By recovering calories from the second circuit 1 2 of the first heat transfer fluid, it is possible to heat the internal air flow Fi by means of the condenser 20 even when the outside temperature is too low for the first air conditioning circuit 10 to operate in external heat pump mode by heat exchange with the outside air. This makes it possible in particular to avoid having to equip the heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning device 1 6 with an electric air heating device.

[0066] The air conditioning circuit 10 is reversible here. This means that it is also capable of operating in a cooling mode of the internal air flow Fi.

[0067] The air conditioning circuit 10 also includes a first bypass branch A2 for the circulation of refrigerant fluid, connected in parallel with the evaporator-condenser 26 of the main loop A1. This first bypass branch A2 more particularly connects:

[0068] - a first junction point 30 arranged downstream of the condenser 20 on the main loop A1, between said condenser 20 and the second expansion device 24, and

[0069] - a second junction point 32 arranged downstream of the evapo-condenser 26 on the main loop A1, between said evapo-condenser 26 and the compressor 18, more precisely upstream of the accumulator 28.

[0070] This first branch of derivation A2 notably comprises a third expansion device 33 and an evaporator 34 arranged in the internal air flow Fi.

[0071] The air conditioning circuit 10 further comprises a second bypass branch A3 connecting the outlet of the evaporator-condenser 26 and the inlet of the third expansion device 33. This third circulation line A3 more particularly connects:

[0072] - a third junction point 36 arranged downstream of the evapo-condenser 26 on the main loop A1, between said evapo-condenser 26 and the compressor 18, more precisely upstream of the accumulator 28, and

[0073] - a fourth junction point 38 arranged on the first branch of derivation A2 upstream of the third expansion device 33, between the first junction point 30 and the third expansion device 33.

[0074] The air conditioning circuit 10 also includes a third branch branch A4 connecting the inlet of the third expansion device 33 and the inlet of the compressor 18. This third branch branch A4 precisely connects:

[0075] - a fifth junction point 40 arranged on the first bypass branch A2 upstream of the third expansion device 33, between the fourth junction point 38 of the third circulation pipe A3 and said third expansion device 33, and

[0076] - a sixth junction point 42 arranged upstream of the compressor 18, between the evaporator 34 and the second junction point 32 of the first bypass branch A2, more precisely upstream of the accumulator 28.

[0077] The third branch branch A4 comprises in particular the first expansion device 22 and the two-fluid heat exchanger 14. The first expansion device 22 is arranged upstream of the two-fluid heat exchanger 14, between the fifth junction point 40 and said two-fluid heat exchanger 14.

[0078] The air conditioning circuit 10 also includes a device for redirecting the refrigerant fluid in order to define which branch it circulates through. In the example illustrated in Figure 1, this device for redirecting the refrigerant fluid includes in particular:

[0079] - a first stop valve 44 arranged on the first bypass branch A2 between the first junction point 30 and the fourth junction point 38,

[0080] - a second shut-off valve 46 arranged on the first refrigerant circulation loop A1 between the third junction point 36 and the second junction point 32,

[0081] - a non-return valve 48 arranged on the third circulation line A3, arranged so as to prevent the circulation of refrigerant fluid from the fourth junction point 38 to the third junction point 36,

[0082] - a non-return valve 50 arranged on the first bypass branch A2, arranged so as to prevent the circulation of refrigerant fluid from the sixth junction point 42 to the evaporator 34.

[0083] The first 22, second 24 and third 33 expansion devices have a stop function to prevent refrigerant from passing through them when it is activated.

[0084] However, it is quite possible to imagine other means of defining which branch the refrigerant circulates through, such as three-way valves strategically placed at junction points.

[0085] When the air conditioning circuit 10 operates in internal heat pump mode (also commonly called “heat recovery” mode by those skilled in the art), the shutoff valves are controlled so that the refrigerant circulates in the third bypass branch A4 and does not circulate in the evaporator-condenser 26. The dual-fluid heat exchanger 14 then fulfills the function of evaporator of the refrigerant, while the refrigerant does not circulate in the evaporator-condenser 26 so that only the calories of the heat transfer fluid of the circuit 12 of the first heat transfer fluid are used to heat the internal air flow Fi. In this internal heat pump operating mode, the dual-fluid heat exchanger 14 is active with a function of evaporator of the refrigerant.

[0086] The circuit 1 2 of the first heat transfer fluid is now described with reference to figure 2.

[0087] The circuit 12 of the first heat transfer fluid comprises a first branch B1 for circulation of the first heat transfer fluid comprising, according to the direction of circulation of the heat transfer fluid, a device 54 for heating the heat transfer fluid and said two-fluid heat exchanger 14. The circuit 12 also comprises a circulation pump 52, which is for example upstream of the device 54 for heating the heat transfer fluid.

[0088] The device 54 for heating the heat transfer fluid is here an electric heating device, for example which heats the heat transfer fluid for example by means of electric resistors or any other suitable electric heating means.

[0089] The circuit 12 of the first heat transfer fluid also comprises a second branch B2, an upstream end of which is connected directly to the first branch B1 at a first connection point 56 downstream of the two-fluid heat exchanger 14. A downstream end of the second branch B2 is connected directly to the first branch B1 at a second connection point 58 arranged upstream of the electric heating device 54, more particularly upstream of the first pump 52 in this example.

[0090] In addition to the first pump 52, the device 54 for heating the heat transfer fluid and the two-fluid heat exchanger 14, the first branch B1 does not include any other device capable of significantly modifying the quantity of heat accumulated by the heat transfer fluid. The first branch B1 does not include any other heat exchanger. More particularly, the two-fluid heat exchanger 14 is arranged directly downstream of the device for heating the heat transfer fluid without the interposition of any other device.

[0091] Similarly, the second branch B2 does not include any device capable of significantly modifying the quantity of heat accumulated by the heat transfer fluid. The second branch B2 does not include any heat exchanger. Note that the second branch B2 includes, for example, according to a variant not shown, an expansion tank type device.

[0092] The circuit 12 of the first heat transfer fluid is configured so that, in a first mode of heating the internal air flow Fi, all of the heat transfer fluid passing through the heating device 54 then passes through the bifluid heat exchanger 14 before returning to the electric heating device 54 via the second branch B2, thus forming a first loop L1 for circulating the first heat transfer fluid, which also includes the first 52. Note that the pump 52 may be located at another location in the loop L1, for example directly upstream or downstream of the bifluid heat exchanger 14.

[0093] In this first mode of heating the internal air flow Fi, the heating device 54 is active and the two-fluid heat exchanger 14 is active with a function of evaporator of the refrigerant fluid. This operating mode is illustrated in particular in FIG. 3 in which the pipes in which the heat transfer fluid circulates are indicated in bold, the heat transfer fluid remaining substantially immobile in the pipes which are not in bold. The direction of circulation of the heat transfer fluid is indicated by the direction of the triangle in the pump 52.

[0094] The air conditioning circuit 10 operates at the same time in internal heat pump mode. Thus, the heating device 54 provides calories to the heat transfer fluid circulated by the first pump 52. A portion of these calories are transmitted to the refrigerant fluid via the two-fluid heat exchanger 14, so as to then heat the internal air flow Fi via the condenser 20. All of the circulating heat transfer fluid then returns to the first pump 52 via the second branch B2 to be heated again by the heating device 54. Thus, the heat accumulated by the heat transfer fluid increases rapidly with each new cycle in a first loop formed by the first branch B1 and the second branch B2. This makes it possible to rapidly increase the temperature of the internal air flow Fi via the air conditioning circuit 10.To allow rapid heating, the first loop formed solely by the first branch B1 and the second branch B2 is advantageously very short. Advantageously, this loop comprises only the first pump 52, the heating device 54 and the dual-fluid heat exchanger 14 and optionally an expansion vessel 60, as well as means for redirecting the heat transfer fluid solely in this first loop L1.

[0095] The circuit 12 of the first heat transfer fluid comprises a third branch B3 which comprises a second pump 64 for circulating the first heat transfer fluid and an “electrical machine” heat exchanger, which is configured to allow the exchange of heat between power electronics and / or an electric motor of the vehicle, on the one hand, and the heat transfer fluid, on the other hand. Alternatively, it is a heat exchanger dedicated to another function in the vehicle. Generally speaking, it is a heat exchanger in which the heat transfer fluid circulates.

[0096] The term "power electronics" means electronic devices that are separate from the batteries and the electric motor.

[0097] In the embodiment shown in the figures, the "electric machines" heat exchanger exchanges heat with the electric motor.

[0098] The circuit 1 2 of the first heat transfer fluid also comprises a fourth branch B4 which comprises a battery heat exchanger 68, which is configured to allow the exchange of heat between batteries of the vehicle and the heat transfer fluid. The fourth branch B4 comprising an upstream end which is connected to a downstream end of the first branch B1 and a downstream end which is connected to the second branch (B2), an upstream end of the fourth branch (B4) also being connected to a downstream end of the third branch (B3), and a downstream end of the fourth branch (B4) being connected to an upstream end of the third branch (B3).

[0099] As illustrated in Figure 3, the circuit 12 of the first heat transfer fluid is configured so that, in a second loop L2 of the first heat transfer fluid, the heat transfer fluid passing through the "batteries" heat exchanger 68, for example all of the heat transfer fluid passing through the "batteries" heat exchanger 68 passes through the "electrical machines" heat exchanger 66 and into the second pump 64.

[0100] The second loop L2 illustrated in Figure 3 makes it possible to heat the heat transfer fluid passing through the "batteries" heat exchanger 68 using the heat recovered by the "electrical machines" heat exchanger 66.

[0101] In addition to the second pump 64 and the "electrical machine" heat exchanger 66, the third branch B3 does not include any other device capable of significantly modifying the quantity of heat accumulated by the heat transfer fluid. The third branch B3 does not include any heat exchanger.

[0102] As shown in Figure 4, the circuit 12 of the first heat transfer fluid is configured to be able to circulate all of the refrigerant fluid passing through the heating device 54 and the two-fluid heat exchanger 14 through the “battery” heat exchanger 68 in a third loop L3 of the first heat transfer fluid.

[0103] The circulation of the first heat transfer fluid in the loop L3 allows, for example, a battery cooling mode in which the air conditioning circuit 10 evaporates the refrigerant in the dual-fluid heat exchanger 14 to cool the heat transfer fluid circulating in the dual-fluid heat exchanger 14. The dual-fluid heat exchanger 14 is then active.

[0104] The circulation of the first heat transfer fluid in the loop L3 also allows a heating mode of the vehicle batteries when the electric heating device 54 is active. The two-fluid heat exchanger 14 is then inactive, that is to say that it is passing for the heat transfer fluid, without significant heat exchange with the refrigerant fluid of the air conditioning circuit 10, for example by completely closing the first expansion device 22.

[0105] The circulation of the first heat transfer fluid in the loop L3 also allows a second mode of heating the internal air flow Fi in which the air conditioning circuit 10 operates in internal heat pump mode and in which the heat transfer fluid of the circuit of the first heat transfer fluid 1 2 is heated in the battery heat exchanger 68, i.e. a mode of recovering heat from the batteries to heat the passenger compartment.

[0106] The circuit of the first heat transfer fluid comprises a first three-way valve 70 connecting the first branch B1 downstream of the two-fluid heat exchanger 14, the fourth branch B4 upstream of the “battery” heat exchanger 68 and the upstream end of the second branch B2. The first three-way valve 70 makes it possible to alternately select the circulation of the first heat transfer fluid to the second branch B2 and thus the circulation in the second loop B2 of the first heat transfer fluid, or to the fourth branch B4 and thus the circulation of the first heat transfer fluid in the third loop B3.

[0107] As illustrated in Figure 2, the circuit 12 of the first heat transfer fluid comprises a fifth branch B5 equipped with an expansion tank 60, a radiator 72 arranged in an external air flow (Fe). A downstream end of the fifth branch B5 is connected to an upstream end of the third branch B3 and an upstream end of the fifth branch B5 is connected to a downstream end of the third branch B3.

[0108] The expansion tank 60 is alternatively located in another branch of the circuit. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the circuit of the first heat transfer fluid is thus configured to be able to circulate, in a fourth loop of the first heat transfer fluid L4, all of the heat transfer fluid passing through the “electrical machines” heat exchanger 66 through the external radiator 72 and the second pump 64, in particular so as to allow passive cooling of the heat transfer fluid passing through the “electrical machines” heat exchanger 66 by cooling in the external radiator 72.

[0109] The circulation of the first heat transfer fluid in the fourth loop L4 allows passive cooling of the electric motor by evacuating the heat from the electric motor into the heat transfer fluid 1 2 through the electric machine heat exchanger 66, then evacuating the heat into the external air flow Fe through the external radiator 72.

[0110] The circuit 12 of the first heat transfer fluid comprises a second three-way valve 80 connecting the third branch B3 downstream of the “electrical machines” heat exchanger 66, the fourth branch B4 upstream of the “batteries” heat exchanger 68 and the fifth branch B5 upstream of the external radiator 72.

[0111] The second three-way valve 80 makes it possible to alternately select the heat transfer fluid towards the fourth branch B4 to form the second loop L2 for circulating the first heat transfer fluid or towards the fifth branch B5 to form the fourth loop L4 for circulating the first heat transfer fluid.

[0112] Furthermore, as illustrated in Figure 5, the circuit described above simultaneously allows the circulation of the first heat transfer fluid in the second loop L2 of the first heat transfer fluid and in the third loop L3 of circulation of the first heat transfer fluid.

[0113] The flow rate in each of the loops L2 and L3 is adjusted by the flow rate of their respective pump 52, 64. The two loops L2 and L3 have in common the battery heat exchanger 68, in which the flow rate of the first heat transfer fluid is the sum of the flow rate of the first heat transfer fluid in each of the two loops L2 and L3.

[0114] The circulation of the first heat transfer fluid simultaneously in the loops L2 and L3 allows a third mode of heating the internal air flow in which the two-fluid heat exchanger is active to recover heat from the batteries and / or the electric motor 66 and / or the electric heating device 54 if the latter is active.

[0115] Figure 6 is a schematic view which represents a circuit of the first heat transfer fluid which equips the thermal management system produced according to another aspect of the invention, and which is intended to operate in cooperation with the air conditioning circuit of Figure 1.

[0116] The circuit 12 of the first heat transfer fluid comprises a sixth branch B6 connecting the fifth branch B5 upstream of the external radiator 72 and the fourth branch B4 downstream of the “battery” heat exchanger 68.

[0117] The circuit of the first heat transfer fluid comprises a third three-way valve 82 connecting the fourth branch B4 downstream of the “battery” heat exchanger 68, the second branch B2 and the sixth branch B6, in particular so as to connect or not the battery heat exchanger to the external radiator 72.

[0118] The circuit 12 of the first heat transfer fluid also comprises a fourth valve 84 connecting the fourth branch B4 downstream of the “batteries” heat exchanger (68), the third valve (82) and the third branch (B3) upstream of the “electrical machines” heat exchanger (66).

[0119] The third and fourth valves 82, 84 make it possible in particular to prevent the circulation of the first heat transfer fluid from the third loop L3 of the first heat transfer fluid to the fourth loop of the first heat transfer fluid L4 by preventing the first heat transfer fluid from passing from one loop L3 to the other L4 via the sixth branch B6 and via the third branch B3.

[0120] The circuit 1 2 of the first heat transfer fluid also comprises a seventh branch B7 connecting the first branch B1 upstream of the heating device 54 and the fifth branch B5 downstream of the external radiator 72.

[0121] The circuit 12 of the first heat transfer fluid is thus configured, as illustrated in FIG. 7, to allow, in addition to the circulation modes previously illustrated which remain possible, the circulation of the first heat transfer fluid in a fifth mouth L5 of the first heat transfer fluid in which all of the fluid passing through the “battery” heat exchanger 68 passes through the external radiator 72, in particular by passing through the seventh branch B7 and the sixth branch B6, in particular so as to allow the passive cooling of the first heat transfer fluid passing through the “battery” heat exchanger 68 by cooling in the external radiator 72. In this configuration, the fourth valve 84 prevents the circulation of the first heat transfer fluid towards the third branch B3 and the third valve 82 prevents the circulation of the first heat transfer fluid towards the second branch B2.Furthermore, the third valve 83 and the third valve 84 connect the sixth branch B6 with the fourth branch B4.

[0122] As illustrated in Figure 7, the circulation in the fifth loop is for example carried out jointly with the circulation of the first heat transfer fluid in the fourth loop B4. The flow rate of the first heat transfer fluid in the external radiator then corresponds to the sum of the flow rates in the first pump 52 (or in the battery heat exchanger 68) and in the second pump 64 (or in the electrical machine heat exchanger 66). It is thus possible to passively cool the batteries and the electrical machines (or power electronics).

[0123] As illustrated in Figure 8, the circuit 12 of the first heat transfer fluid is configured to allow the circulation of the first heat transfer fluid in the third loop L4 of the first heat transfer fluid in which all of the fluid passing through the “electrical machines” heat exchanger 66 passes through the external radiator 72 and in the fourth loop L4 of the first heat transfer fluid in which all of the refrigerant fluid passing through the “batteries” heat exchanger 68 passes through the heating device 54 and the two-fluid heat exchanger 14.

[0124] In this circulation mode, the third valve 82 and the fourth valve 84 prevent the circulation of the first heat transfer fluid between the third and fourth loops of the first heat transfer fluid L3, L4 by preventing the fluid from passing through the sixth branch B6 to the external radiator 72 and through the third branch B3

[0125] Note that if no valve prevents the circulation of the first heat transfer fluid through the seventh branch B7, such a valve is in fact useless because the conservation of the flow in each loop implies a natural non-circulation in the seventh branch B7.

[0126] As illustrated in Figure 9, the circuit 12 of the first heat transfer fluid is configured to allow the fluid circulating through the “battery” heat exchanger 68 to pass upstream on the one hand into the heating device 54, the two-fluid heat exchanger 14 and the first pump 54, thus forming the third loop L3 of the first heat transfer fluid and on the other hand into a sixth loop L6 of the first heat transfer fluid passing through the “electrical machines” heat exchanger 66 and the second pump 64, so as to allow in particular a heat recovery mode by the refrigerant fluid circuit, the calories being supplied by the “electrical machines” heat exchanger 66, the electric heating device 54 and / or the “battery” heat exchanger (68).This mode of operation is analogous to the mode of operation of Figure 5, but using, in the mode of operation of Figure 7, the return of the first heat transfer fluid to the sixth loop via the second branch B2 then via the seventh branch B7, which can minimize heat losses compared to the mode of operation of Figure 5.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Thermal management system for a hybrid or electric vehicle, the thermal management system comprising a reversible air conditioning circuit (10) in which a refrigerant circulates and comprising a two-fluid heat exchanger (14) arranged jointly on a circuit (12) of a first heat transfer fluid, the air conditioning circuit (10) successively comprising, in a main loop, a compressor, a first heat exchanger (20) arranged to exchange calories with a heat transfer fluid, directly or indirectly, the heat transfer fluid being for example an internal air flow (Fi) blown into the passenger compartment of the vehicle, an expansion member (33) for the refrigerant and a second heat exchanger (34) arranged to exchange calories with a heat transfer fluid, directly or indirectly, the heat transfer fluid being for example an internal air flow (Fi) blown into the passenger compartment of the vehicle,the circuit (12) of the first heat transfer fluid comprising:, - a first branch (B1) comprising a first pump (52), a device (54) for heating the first heat transfer fluid and the two-fluid heat exchanger (14), - a second branch (B2) of which an upstream end is connected directly to the first branch (B1) downstream of the two-fluid heat exchanger (14) and of which a downstream end is connected directly to an upstream end of the first branch (B1), in which the circuit of the first heat transfer fluid (12) comprises: - a third branch (B3) which comprises a second pump (64) and a third heat exchanger (66), for example an "electrical machines" heat exchanger (66) which allows the exchange of heat between power electronics and / or a electric motor of the vehicle, on the one hand, and the first heat transfer fluid, on the other hand, -a fourth branch (B4) which comprises a fourth heat exchanger (68), for example a "battery" heat exchanger (68) which is configured to allow the exchange of heat between batteries of the vehicle and the first heat transfer fluid, the fourth branch (B4) comprising an upstream end which is connected to a downstream end of the first branch (B1) and a downstream end which is connected to the second branch (B2), an upstream end of the fourth branch (B4) being connected to a downstream end of the third branch (B3), and a downstream end of the fourth branch (B4) being connected to an upstream end of the third branch (B3). - the circuit (12) of the first heat transfer fluid being configured so that, in a first mode of heating the internal air flow (Fi): - in a first loop (L1) of the first heat transfer fluid, the first heat transfer fluid passing through the heating device (54), for example the entire fluid passing through the heating device (54), passes through the two-fluid heat exchanger (14) and into the first pump (52), the heating device (54) and the two-fluid heat exchanger (14) being active, in particular so as to heat the refrigerant fluid passing through the two-fluid heat exchanger (14), and, simultaneously or independently of the circulation of the first heat transfer fluid in the first loop (L1) of the first heat transfer fluid, the circuit is configured so that, in a second loop (L2) of the first heat transfer fluid, the first heat transfer fluid passing through the "battery" heat exchanger (68), for example the entire first heat transfer fluid passing through the "batteries" heat exchanger (68) passes through the "electrical machines" heat exchanger (66) and into the second pump (64), in particular so as to heat the first heat transfer fluid passing through the "batteries" heat exchanger (68) using the heat recovered by the "electrical machines" heat exchanger (66).

2. System according to the preceding claim, in which, in the first branch (B1), the two-fluid heat exchanger (14) is arranged downstream of the device (54) for heating the first heat transfer fluid (14), preferably directly downstream.

3. System according to the preceding claim, in which, in addition to the first pump (52), the device (54) for heating the first heat transfer fluid and the two-fluid heat exchanger (14), the first branch (B1) does not include any other device capable of significantly modifying the quantity of heat accumulated by the first heat transfer fluid.

4. System according to the preceding claim, in which the second branch (B2) does not include any device capable of significantly modifying the quantity of heat accumulated by the first heat transfer fluid.

5. System according to the preceding claim, in which the circuit (1 2) of the first heat transfer fluid is configured to be able to circulate all of the refrigerant fluid passing through the heating device (54) and the dual-fluid heat exchanger through the “battery” heat exchanger (68) in a third loop (L3) of the first heat transfer fluid, in particular so as to heat the first heat transfer fluid passing through the “battery” heat exchanger (68) when the heating device (54) is active or alternatively so as to cool the first heat transfer fluid passing through the “battery” heat exchanger (68) when the dual-fluid heat exchanger (14) is active.

6. System according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the circuit (1 2) of the first heat transfer fluid comprises a first three-way valve (70) connecting the first branch (B1) downstream of the two-fluid heat exchanger (14), the fourth branch (B4) upstream of the “battery” heat exchanger (68) and the upstream end of the second branch (B2).

7. System according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the circuit (1 2) of the first heat transfer fluid comprises a fifth branch (B5) equipped with a radiator (72) arranged in an external air flow (Fe), a downstream end of the fifth branch (B5) being connected to an upstream end of the third branch (B3) and an upstream end of the fifth branch (B5) being connected to a downstream end of the third branch (B3), the circuit being configured to be able to circulate, in a fourth loop of the first heat transfer fluid (L4), all of the first heat transfer fluid passing through the "electrical machines" heat exchanger (66) through the external radiator (72) and the second pump (64), in particular so as to allow passive cooling of the first heat transfer fluid passing through the "electrical machines" heat exchanger (66) by cooling in the external radiator (72).

8. System according to the preceding claim, in which the circuit (12) of the first heat transfer fluid comprises a second three-way valve (80) connecting the third branch (B3) downstream of the “electrical machines” heat exchanger (66), the fourth branch (B4) upstream of the “batteries” heat exchanger (68) and the fifth branch (B5) upstream of the external radiator (72).

9. System according to claim 7 or 8, in which the circuit comprises a sixth branch (B6) connecting the fifth branch (B5) upstream of the external radiator (72) and the fourth branch (B4) downstream of the “battery” heat exchanger (68), and a seventh branch (B7) connecting the first branch (B1) in upstream of the heating device (54) and the fifth branch (B5) downstream of the external radiator (72).

10. System according to the preceding claim, in which the circuit (1 2) of the first heat transfer fluid is configured to allow the circulation of the first heat transfer fluid in a fifth mouth (L5) of the first heat transfer fluid in which all of the fluid passing through the “battery” heat exchanger (68) passes through the external radiator (72), in particular by passing through the seventh branch (B7) and the sixth branch (B6), in particular so as to allow the passive cooling of the first heat transfer fluid passing through the “battery” heat exchanger (68) by cooling in the external radiator (72). 1 1. System according to the preceding claim, in which the circuit (1 2) of the first heat transfer fluid is configured to allow, in parallel with the fifth loop (L5) of the first heat transfer fluid, the circulation of the first heat transfer fluid in the fourth loop (L4) of the first heat transfer fluid in which all of the fluid passing through the “electrical machines” heat exchanger (66) passes through the external radiator (72), the fluid circulating in the fifth branch (B5) being divided between the seventh branch (B7) towards the battery heat exchanger (68) and the third branch (B3) towards the “electrical machines” heat exchanger (66), in particular so as to simultaneously allow the passive cooling of the first heat transfer fluid passing through the “battery” heat exchanger (68) and of the first heat transfer fluid passing through the “electrical machines” heat exchanger (66) by cooling in the external radiator (72).

12. System according to the preceding claim, in which the circuit (12) of the first heat transfer fluid comprises a third three-way valve (82) connecting the fourth branch (B4) downstream of the “battery” heat exchanger (68), the second branch (B2) and the sixth bank (B6), in particular so as to connect or not the battery heat exchanger (68) to the external radiator (72).

13. System according to any one of claims 10 to 12 taken together with claim 5, wherein the circuit (12) of the first heat transfer fluid is configured to allow the circulation of the heat transfer fluid in the third loop (L4) of the first heat transfer fluid in which all of the fluid passing through the “electrical machines” heat exchanger (66) passes through the external radiator (72) and in the fourth loop of the first heat transfer fluid in which all of the refrigerant fluid passing through the “batteries” heat exchanger (68), passes through the heating device (54) and the two-fluid heat exchanger (14.

14. System according to the preceding claim, in which the circuit (1 2) of the first heat transfer fluid comprises a fourth valve (84) connecting the fourth branch (B4) downstream of the “batteries” heat exchanger (68), the third valve (82) and the third branch (B3) upstream of the “electrical machines” heat exchanger (66), in particular so as to be able to prevent with the third and fourth valves (82, 84) the circulation of the first heat transfer fluid from the third loop (L3) of the first heat transfer fluid to the fourth loop of the first heat transfer fluid (L4) via the sixth branch (B6) and via the third branch (B3).

15. System according to the preceding claim, in which the circuit (1 2) of the first heat transfer fluid is configured to allow the fluid circulating through the “battery” heat exchanger (68) to pass upstream on the one hand into the heating device (54), the two-fluid heat exchanger (14) and the first pump (54) thereby forming the third loop (L3) of the first heat transfer fluid and on the other hand into a sixth loop (L6) of the first heat transfer fluid passing through the “electrical machines” heat exchanger (66) and the second pump (64), so as to to enable in particular a heat recovery mode by the refrigerant circuit, the calories being supplied by the “electrical machines” heat exchanger (66), the heating device (54) and / or the “battery” heat exchanger (68).

16. Method of operating a system produced according to any one of the preceding claims, in which, in a first mode of heating the internal air flow (Fi), all of the first heat transfer fluid passing through the heating device (54) then passes through the two-fluid heat exchanger (14) before returning to the first pump (52) via the second branch (B2), the heating device (54) and the two-fluid heat exchanger (14) being active.

17. Computer program comprising instructions which cause the thermal conditioning system according to one of claims 1 to 15 to execute the step(s) of the operating method according to the preceding claim.

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