Vehicle heat management system

Abstract

Disclosed in an embodiment is a vehicle heat management system comprising: a compressor for compressing and discharging a refrigerant; a condenser for condensing the refrigerant discharged from the compressor; a first vapor injection module for causing a gaseous refrigerant of the refrigerant flowing along a refrigerant line to flow into the compressor; a second vapor injection module for causing the gaseous refrigerant of the refrigerant flowing through the first vapor injection module to flow into the compressor; a heat exchanger by which heat is exchanged between the refrigerant that has passed through or bypassed the first vapor injection module, and a heat medium or outside air; and an evaporator for evaporating the refrigerant that has passed through the second vapor injection module.

Description

Thermal management system for vehicles

[0001] The present invention relates to a thermal management system for a vehicle, and more particularly, to a thermal management system for a vehicle using a plurality of vapor injection modules.

[0002] Automotive air conditioning systems utilize heat pump systems that utilize a refrigerant cycle to selectively cool and heat the vehicle's interior. For example, an indoor heat exchanger is installed inside the air conditioning case, while an outdoor heat exchanger is installed outside. The outdoor heat exchanger acts as an evaporator, absorbing heat from the outside air, while the indoor heat exchanger acts as a condenser, dissipating heat to heat the vehicle's interior.

[0003] In these heat pump systems, sufficient heating capacity is difficult to achieve when the outdoor temperature is low during heating operation. In such cases, the proportion of gaseous refrigerant in the refrigerant condensing in the indoor heat exchanger and flowing to the outdoor heat exchanger increases. Even if this gaseous refrigerant is supplied to the outdoor heat exchanger, it largely fails to contribute to the heat absorption from the outdoor air. Therefore, it is necessary to separate this gaseous refrigerant from the refrigerant and return it to the compressor to increase the compressor's refrigerant output.

[0004] In this way, injecting the gaseous refrigerant separated from the refrigerant into the inlet side of the compressor is called vapor injection.

[0005] Heat pump systems employing this vapor injection cycle have a simple system configuration and exhibit significant performance variations depending on the flow rate and pressure control of the separated liquid and gaseous refrigerants. Therefore, methods to improve performance and efficiency are being sought, and research into these methods is ongoing.

[0006] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a vehicle thermal management system capable of improving cooling and heating performance.

[0007] The tasks of the present invention are not limited to the tasks mentioned above, and other tasks not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description below.

[0008] A vehicle thermal management system according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a compressor that compresses and discharges a refrigerant, a condenser that condenses the refrigerant discharged from the compressor, a first vapor injection module that introduces a gaseous refrigerant among refrigerants flowing along a refrigerant line into the compressor, a second vapor injection module that introduces a gaseous refrigerant among refrigerants flowing through the first vapor injection module into the compressor, a heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the refrigerant that has passed through or bypassed the first vapor injection module and a heat medium or outside air, and an evaporator that evaporates the refrigerant that has passed through the second vapor injection module.

[0009] The first vapor injection module includes a first gas-liquid separator, a first flow path connected to a first inlet of the first gas-liquid separator, a first expansion means and a first internal branch part arranged in the first flow path, a second flow path connected to a first liquid refrigerant outlet of the first gas-liquid separator, a second expansion means arranged in the second flow path, a third flow path connected to a first gas-liquid refrigerant outlet of the first gas-liquid separator, and a first connecting flow path connecting the second expansion means and the first internal branch part, and the second vapor injection module includes a second gas-liquid separator, a fourth flow path connected to a second inlet of the second gas-liquid separator, a third expansion means arranged in the fourth flow path, a fifth flow path connected to a second liquid refrigerant outlet of the second gas-liquid separator, a check valve and a second internal branch part arranged in the fifth flow path, a sixth flow path connected to a second gas-liquid refrigerant outlet of the second gas-liquid separator, and a sixth flow path connecting the second internal branch part and the third expansion means. A second connecting euro may be included.

[0010] The first vapor injection module may be arranged between the condenser and the heat exchanger such that the first flow path is connected to the refrigerant line passing through the condenser through the first internal branch, the second flow path is connected to the refrigerant line passing through the heat exchanger through the second expansion means, and the second vapor injection module may be arranged between the heat exchanger and the evaporator such that the fourth flow path is connected to the refrigerant line passing through the heat exchanger through the third expansion means, and the fifth flow path is connected to the refrigerant line passing through the evaporator through the second internal branch.

[0011] In the heating mode, the refrigerant discharged from the condenser passes through the first expansion means and flows into the first gas-liquid separator, the gaseous refrigerant separated in the first gas-liquid separator moves to the compressor, and the liquid refrigerant separated in the first gas-liquid separator moves to the compressor through the second expansion means and the heat exchanger.

[0012] The first expansion means and the second expansion means expand the refrigerant, and the heat exchanger can evaporate the refrigerant that has passed through the second expansion means.

[0013] In the cooling mode, the first expansion means may block the first flow path so that the refrigerant discharged from the condenser bypasses the first vapor injection module and flows into the second vapor injection module through the heat exchanger, and the liquid refrigerant separated from the refrigerant that flows into the second vapor-liquid separator through the third expansion means in the second vapor injection module may be configured to be discharged from the second vapor injection module through the check valve and the second internal branch, and move to the compressor through the evaporator, and the gaseous refrigerant separated in the second vapor-liquid separator may move to the compressor.

[0014] The above heat exchanger can condense the refrigerant.

[0015] The first vapor injection module includes an economizer, a first flow path connected to the 1-1 inlet and the 1-1 outlet of the economizer, a first internal branch portion arranged upstream of the 1-1 inlet in the first flow path, a second flow path branched from the first internal branch portion and connected to the 1-2 inlet and the 1-2 outlet of the economizer, and a first expansion means arranged upstream of the 1-2 inlet in the second flow path, and the second vapor injection module includes a second gas-liquid separator, a fourth flow path connected to the second inlet of the second gas-liquid separator, a third expansion means arranged in the fourth flow path, a fifth flow path connected to the second liquid refrigerant outlet of the second gas-liquid separator, a check valve and a second internal branch portion arranged in the fifth flow path, a sixth flow path connected to the second gas-liquid refrigerant outlet of the second gas-liquid separator, and a second connection connecting the second internal branch portion and the third expansion means. May include euros.

[0016] The first vapor injection module may be configured such that the first flow path is connected to a refrigerant line passing through the condenser through the first internal branch portion upstream of the first-1 inlet and to a refrigerant line passing through the heat exchanger downstream of the first-1 outlet, and the second vapor injection module may be configured such that the fourth flow path is connected to a refrigerant line passing through the heat exchanger through the third expansion means and the fifth flow path is connected to a refrigerant line passing through the evaporator through the second internal branch portion.

[0017] The above first vapor injection module may be configured such that the second euro is connected to a refrigerant line that is connected to the compressor downstream of the first-second outlet.

[0018] The first vapor injection module includes a first gas-liquid separator, a first flow path connected to a first inlet of the first gas-liquid separator, a first expansion means and a first internal branching part arranged in the first flow path, a second flow path connected to a first liquid refrigerant outlet of the first gas-liquid separator, a second expansion means arranged in the second flow path, a third flow path connected to a first gas-liquid refrigerant outlet of the first gas-liquid separator, and a first connecting flow path connecting the second expansion means and the first internal branching part, and the second vapor injection module includes an economizer, a fourth flow path connected to a 2-1 inlet and a 2-1 outlet of the economizer, a second internal branching part arranged on an upstream side of the 2-1 inlet in the fourth flow path, a fifth flow path branched from the second internal branching part and connected to a 2-2 inlet and a 2-2 outlet of the economizer, and a fifth flow path arranged on an upstream side of the 2-2 inlet in the fifth flow path. A third expansion means may be included.

[0019] The first vapor injection module may be arranged between the condenser and the heat exchanger such that the first flow path is connected to the refrigerant line passing through the condenser through the first internal branch, the second flow path is connected to the refrigerant line passing through the heat exchanger through the second expansion means, and the second vapor injection module may be configured such that the fourth flow path is connected to the refrigerant line passing through the heat exchanger through the second internal branch at an upstream side of the 2-1 inlet, and to the refrigerant line passing through the evaporator at an downstream side of the 2-1 outlet.

[0020] The second vapor injection module may be configured such that the fifth euro is connected to a refrigerant line that is connected to the compressor downstream of the second-second outlet.

[0021] The system may further include an internal heat exchanger disposed between the first vapor injection module and the second vapor injection module, and exchanging heat between the refrigerant passing through the heat exchanger and moving to the second vapor injection module and the refrigerant passing through the evaporator and moving to the compressor.

[0022] The system further includes an auxiliary evaporator that evaporates the refrigerant that has passed through the internal heat exchanger, and the auxiliary evaporator may be arranged in a branch line in which one side is connected to the refrigerant line at the upstream side of the second vapor injection module and the other side is connected to the refrigerant line at the downstream side of the evaporator.

[0023] The heat exchanger may include a first heat exchanger that heat-exchanges the refrigerant and the heat medium that have passed through or bypassed the first vapor injection module, and a second heat exchanger that heat-exchanges the refrigerant that has passed through the first heat exchanger and the outside air.

[0024] The above heat exchanger may further include a third heat exchanger that heat-exchanges the refrigerant and heat medium that have passed through the second vapor injection module.

[0025] Depending on the air conditioning mode, some of the refrigerant passing through the second vapor injection module and moving to the evaporator may be configured to branch off and pass through the third heat exchanger.

[0026] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a vehicle thermal management system capable of improving cooling and heating performance can be provided.

[0027] The effects of the present invention are not limited to the effects mentioned above, and other effects not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description of the claims.

[0028] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a vehicle heat exchange system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b are schematic drawings each showing the arrangement relationship between components of the first vapor injection module and the second vapor injection module in the vehicle thermal management system of FIG. 1.

[0030] Figure 3 is a schematic drawing showing a modified example of a vehicle thermal management system.

[0031] Fig. 4 is a drawing showing the operation in heating mode of the vehicle thermal management system of Fig. 1.

[0032] Fig. 5 is a drawing showing the operation in cooling mode of the vehicle thermal management system of Fig. 1.

[0033] Fig. 6 is a drawing showing the operation in the dehumidification mode of the vehicle thermal management system of Fig. 1.

[0034] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a vehicle thermal management system according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0035] Fig. 8 is a drawing schematically showing the arrangement relationship between components of the first vapor injection module in the vehicle thermal management system of Fig. 7.

[0036] Fig. 9 is a drawing showing the operation in heating mode of the vehicle thermal management system of Fig. 7.

[0037] Fig. 10 is a drawing showing the operation in cooling mode of the vehicle thermal management system of Fig. 7.

[0038] Fig. 11 is a drawing showing the operation in the dehumidification mode of the vehicle thermal management system of Fig. 7.

[0039] FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram illustrating a vehicle thermal management system according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0040] Fig. 13 is a drawing schematically showing the arrangement relationship between components of the second vapor injection module in the vehicle thermal management system of Fig. 12.

[0041] The present invention is susceptible to various modifications and embodiments, and specific embodiments are illustrated and described in the drawings. However, this is not intended to limit the present invention to specific embodiments, but should be understood to include all modifications, equivalents, and substitutes included in the spirit and technical scope of the present invention. Terms including ordinal numbers, such as first, second, etc., may be used to describe various components, but the components are not limited by the terms. The terms are used only for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another. For example, without departing from the scope of the present invention, a second component may be referred to as a first component, and similarly, a first component may also be referred to as a second component. The term and / or includes a combination of a plurality of related described items or any of a plurality of related described items.

[0042] When a component is referred to as being "connected" or "connected" to another component, it should be understood that it may be directly connected or connected to that other component, but that there may be other components intervening. Conversely, when a component is referred to as being "directly connected" or "connected" to another component, it should be understood that there are no other components intervening.

[0043] In the description of embodiments, when one component is described as being formed "on or under" another component, "on or under" includes both cases where the two components are in direct contact with each other or where one or more other components are formed indirectly between the two components. In addition, when expressed as "on or under," it can include the meaning of not only the upward direction but also the downward direction based on one component.

[0044] The terminology used in this application is only used to describe specific embodiments and is not intended to limit the present invention. The singular expression includes the plural expression unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In this application, it should be understood that the terms "comprise" or "have" indicate the presence of a feature, number, step, operation, component, part, or combination thereof described in the specification, but do not exclude in advance the possibility of the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

[0045] Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. Terms defined in commonly used dictionaries should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant technology, and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless explicitly defined herein.

[0046] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Regardless of the drawing numbers, identical or corresponding components are given the same reference numbers, and redundant descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0047] Vehicles are equipped with air conditioning systems to control air temperature, humidity, cleanliness, and ventilation, creating a comfortable environment inside the vehicle. Here, the air conditioning system can be referred to as HVAC (Heating / Ventilation / Air Conditioning).

[0048] When a vehicle uses a fuel cell or other power source, the vehicle may be equipped with a separate battery coolant circulation system capable of cooling the battery. The vehicle may be an electric vehicle or a fuel cell vehicle.

[0049] Accordingly, the vehicle thermal management system according to the embodiment can improve thermal management efficiency by implementing a heat pump structure in the air conditioning unit that utilizes heat (hereinafter referred to as "waste heat") wasted in the coolant circulation structure of the battery and electrical components. Here, the electrical components may include a motor, inverter, Lidar, radar, sensors, etc. installed in the vehicle.

[0050] That is, the vehicle thermal management system according to the embodiment can improve the cooling and heating performance and quality inside the vehicle by utilizing waste heat according to the air conditioning mode.

[0051] Meanwhile, a vehicle thermal management system according to an embodiment can provide a vehicle thermal management system having a compact size while improving cooling and heating performance by controlling at least one pair of vapor injection modules and a heat exchange medium passing through the vapor injection modules.

[0052] Furthermore, the vehicle thermal management system according to the embodiment can optimize the flow of heat exchange medium by presenting an optimized arrangement relationship between the components of the vapor injection module. Accordingly, the vehicle thermal management system can further improve cooling and heating performance.

[0053] FIG. 1 is a drawing schematically showing a vehicle heat exchange system according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 2a and 2b are drawings schematically showing the arrangement relationship between components of a first vapor injection module and a second vapor injection module in the vehicle heat management system of FIG. 1, respectively.

[0054] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a vehicle thermal management system according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a refrigerant line through which a heat exchange medium moves. Here, the heat exchange medium may be a refrigerant.

[0055] The refrigerant line includes a first line (L1) connecting the compressor (100), the condenser (200), and the first vapor injection module (1000), a second line (L2) connecting the first vapor injection module (1000), the first heat exchanger (300), the second heat exchanger (400), the internal heat exchanger (600), and the second vapor injection module (2000), a third line (L3) connecting the second vapor injection module (2000), the evaporator (500), the internal heat exchanger (600), the accumulator (700), and the compressor (100), a fourth line (L4) connecting the first vapor injection module (1000) and the compressor (100), and a fifth line (L5) connecting the second vapor injection module (2000) and the compressor (100), one side of which is connected to the first A first branch line (B1) branched from the second line (L2) on the upstream side of the heat exchanger (300) and the other side branched from the third line (L3) on the upstream side of the evaporator (500), a second branch line (B2) branched from the second line on the downstream side of the first heat exchanger (300) and the other side branched from the third line (L3) on the upstream side of the accumulator (700), a third branch line (B3) branched from the second line (L2) on the upstream side of the second vapor injection module (2000) and the other side branched from the third line (L3) on the downstream side of the evaporator (500) to connect the auxiliary evaporator (900) to the third line (L3), a third branch line (B3) branched from the third line (L3) on the downstream side of the second vapor injection module (2000) and the other side branched from the third line (L3) on the downstream side of the evaporator (500) to connect the auxiliary evaporator (900) to the third line (L3), a third branch line (B3) branched from the third line (L3) on the downstream side of the second vapor injection module (2000) and the other side branched from the third line (L3) on the downstream side of the evaporator (500) A fourth branch line (B4) branching from the third line (L3) and connecting the third heat exchanger (800) to the third line (L3) may be included. The first to fifth lines (L1, L2, L3, L4, L5) and the first to fourth branch lines (B1, B2, B3, B4) may be configured so that the refrigerant can circulate.

[0056] The first vapor injection module (1000) includes a first expansion means (1200), a second expansion means (1300), and a single first vapor-liquid separator (1100), and may be configured to introduce gaseous refrigerant among refrigerants introduced along a refrigerant line into a compressor (100), and to introduce liquid refrigerant through a first heat exchanger (300), a second heat exchanger (400), and an internal heat exchanger (600) along the refrigerant line and then into the second vapor injection module (2000).

[0057] In an embodiment, the first vapor injection module (1000) may include a first flow path (CH1) connected to a first inlet (1110) of a first vapor-liquid separator (1100), a first expansion means (1200) and a first internal branch (1400) arranged in the first flow path (CH1), a second flow path (CH2) connected to a first liquid refrigerant outlet (1120) of the first vapor-liquid separator (1100), a second expansion means (1300) arranged in the second flow path (CH2), a third flow path (CH3) connected to a first vapor refrigerant outlet (1130) of the first vapor-liquid separator (1100), and a first connection flow path (CH4) connecting the second expansion means (1300) and the first internal branch (1400).

[0058] The first vapor injection module (1000) is arranged between the condenser (200) and the first heat exchanger (300), such that the first flow path (CH1) is connected to the first line (L1) passing through the condenser (200) via the first internal branch (1400), and the second flow path (CH2) can be connected to the second line (L2) passing through the first heat exchanger (300) via the second expansion means (1300). In addition, the third flow path (CH3) is connected to the fourth line (L4), and the first connection flow path (CH4) can connect the first flow path (CH1) and the second flow path (CH2).

[0059] Here, the first flow path (CH1), the second flow path (CH2), the third flow path (CH3), and the first connecting flow path (CH4) constitute the internal flow path of the first vapor injection module (1000), and the first expansion means (1200) may be an electronic 2-way expansion valve, and the second expansion means (1300) may be an electronic 3-way expansion valve.

[0060] The second vapor injection module (2000) includes a third expansion means (2200), a check valve (2300), and a single second vapor-liquid separator (2100), and may be configured to introduce gaseous refrigerant among refrigerants introduced along the refrigerant line into the compressor (100), and to introduce liquid refrigerant through the evaporator (500) and internal heat exchanger (600) along the refrigerant line and then back into the compressor (100).

[0061] In an embodiment, the second vapor injection module (2000) may include a fourth flow path (CH5) connected to a second inlet (2110) of a second vapor-liquid separator (2100), a third expansion means (2200) disposed in the fourth flow path (CH5), a fifth flow path (CH6) connected to a second liquid refrigerant outlet (2120) of the second vapor-liquid separator (2100), a check valve (2300) disposed in the fifth flow path (CH6) and a second internal branch (2400), a sixth flow path (CH7) connected to a second vapor refrigerant outlet (2130) of the second vapor-liquid separator (2100), and a second connecting flow path (CH8) connecting the second internal branch (2400) and the third expansion means (2200).

[0062] The second vapor injection module (2000) is arranged between the internal heat exchanger (600) and the evaporator (500), such that the fourth flow path (CH5) can be connected to the second line (L2) passing through the internal heat exchanger (600) via the third expansion means (2200), and the fifth flow path (CH6) can be connected to the third line (L3) passing through the evaporator (500) via the second internal branch (2400). In addition, the sixth flow path (CH7) can be connected to the fifth line (L5), and the second connection flow path (CH8) can connect the fourth flow path (CH5) and the fifth flow path (CH6).

[0063] Here, the fourth flow path (CH5), the fifth flow path (CH6), the sixth flow path (CH7), and the second connecting flow path (CH8) constitute the internal flow path of the second vapor injection module (2000), and the third expansion means (2200) may be an electronic 3-way expansion valve.

[0064] In this way, by arranging the first vapor injection module (1000) equipped with the first vapor-liquid separator (1100) and the first vapor injection module (2000) equipped with the second vapor-liquid separator (2100) along the refrigerant line, a vehicle thermal management system capable of vapor injection for cooling and heating can be implemented.

[0065] A vehicle thermal management system according to the present embodiment can be configured to control cooling / heating inside a vehicle by controlling the movement of refrigerant through a modularized first vapor injection module (1000) and a second vapor injection module (2000), and a first line (L1), a second line (L2), and a third line (L3).

[0066] In detail, the vehicle thermal management system can be configured to control cooling / heating inside the vehicle by independently using the first vapor injection module (1000) and the second vapor injection module (2000) for cooling and heating, respectively.

[0067] The first line (L1), the second line (L2), and the third line (L3) may be pipes arranged to allow refrigerant to circulate based on the first and second vapor injection modules (1000, 2000).

[0068] Based on the flow of refrigerant, a compressor (100), a condenser (200), and a first vapor injection module (1000) may be arranged in a first line (L1). A first heat exchanger (300), a second heat exchanger (400), an internal heat exchanger (600), and a second vapor injection module (2000) may be arranged in a second line (L2). An evaporator (500), an internal heat exchanger (600), and an accumulator (700) may be arranged in a third line (L3).

[0069] The compressor (100) can compress and discharge refrigerant moving along the first line (L1). The compressor (100) is driven by power transmitted from an engine (internal combustion engine) or a motor, etc., and compresses the introduced refrigerant and then discharges it in a high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous state.

[0070] The condenser (200) can condense the refrigerant discharged from the compressor (100).

[0071] The condenser (200) is installed inside the air conditioning case (VC1) and can exchange heat between the air flowing inside the air conditioning case (VC1) and the refrigerant. The air that exchanges heat with the condenser (200) is heated and introduced into the vehicle, thereby heating the interior of the vehicle.

[0072] The first vapor injection module (1000) can control the movement direction of the refrigerant according to the expansion of the refrigerant, the separation of the gaseous refrigerant and the liquid refrigerant, and the air conditioning mode. That is, the first vapor injection module (1000) controls the expansion and movement of the refrigerant introduced through a plurality of expansion means of a two-way expansion valve type and a three-way expansion valve type and a plurality of internal passages, and supplies the liquid refrigerant separated in the first vapor-liquid separator (1100) to the second line (L2).

[0073] Referring to FIG. 2, the first gas-liquid separator (1100) may include a first inlet (1110) through which refrigerant flows in, a first liquid refrigerant outlet (1120) through which liquid refrigerant is discharged, and a first gas-phase refrigerant outlet (1130) through which gas-phase refrigerant is discharged.

[0074] The first inlet (1110) may be connected to the first expansion means (1200) through the first flow path (CH1), and the first liquid refrigerant outlet (1120) may be connected to the second expansion means (1300) through the second flow path (CH2). In addition, the second flow path (CH2) may be connected to the first flow path (CH1) through the first connection flow path (CH4).

[0075] By controlling the first and second expansion means (1200, 1300) according to the air conditioning mode, the refrigerant passing through the condenser (200) can be directly introduced into the first gas-liquid separator (1100) via the first expansion means (1200), or can be discharged into the second line (L2) via the second expansion means (1300) by bypassing the first gas-liquid separator (1100) along the first connecting passage (CH4). The refrigerant introduced into the first gas-liquid separator (1100) can be separated into gaseous refrigerant and liquid refrigerant.

[0076] The liquid refrigerant can move to the first heat exchanger (300) along the second line (L2) via the second expansion valve (1300) or to the evaporator (500) along the first branch line (B1).

[0077] The first vapor refrigerant outlet (1130) may be connected to the fourth line (L4). At this time, the first vapor injection module (1000) may connect the first vapor refrigerant outlet (1130) and the fourth line (L4) through the third flow path (CH3) constituting the internal flow path. Accordingly, the vapor refrigerant discharged through the first vapor refrigerant outlet (1130) may be introduced into the compressor (100) along the fourth line (L4).

[0078] The first heat exchanger (300) can heat-exchange the refrigerant passing through the first vapor injection module (1000) with the heat medium. Here, the heat medium may include coolant passing through the vehicle's electrical components, and the refrigerant may be heat-exchanged with the coolant in the first heat exchanger (300). Accordingly, the vehicle thermal management system can utilize the waste heat of the electrical components as a heat source. In an embodiment, the first heat exchanger (300) may include a water-cooled condenser.

[0079] The first heat exchanger (300) may be arranged on the second line (L2) connecting the first vapor injection module (1000) and the second vapor injection module (1000). Specifically, the second line (L2) may have one end connected to the second expansion means (1300) of the first vapor injection module (1000), and the other end connected to the third expansion means (2200) of the second vapor injection module (2000).

[0080] The first heat exchanger (300) may be configured to evaporate the refrigerant that is discharged from the first gas-liquid separator (1100) in the heating mode and expands while passing through the second expansion means (1300), and to condense the refrigerant that bypasses the first gas-liquid separator (1100) along the first connection path (CH4) and passes through the second expansion means (1300) in the cooling mode. That is, the first heat exchanger (300) may function as an evaporator in the heating mode and as a condenser in the cooling mode.

[0081] The second heat exchanger (400) can exchange heat between the refrigerant passing through the first heat exchanger (300) and the outside air. In an embodiment, the second heat exchanger (400) may include an air-cooled condenser. The second heat exchanger (400) may be arranged in the second line (L2) together with the first heat exchanger (300).

[0082] A branch section (10) is provided at the connection point between the second line (L2) and the first branch line (B1), so that the direction of movement of the refrigerant can be controlled so that it moves along the second line (L2) to the first heat exchanger (300) or along the first branch line (B1) to the evaporator (500) depending on the air conditioning mode.

[0083] In addition, a three-way switching valve (20) is provided at the connection point of the second line (L2) and the second branch line (B2), so that the direction of movement of the refrigerant can be controlled so that it moves along the second line (L2) to the second heat exchanger (400) or along the second branch line (B2) to the accumulator (700) depending on the air conditioning mode.

[0084] The second vapor injection module (2000) can control the direction of movement of the refrigerant depending on whether the refrigerant expands, the separation of the gaseous refrigerant and the liquid refrigerant, and the air conditioning mode. That is, the second vapor injection module (2000) controls the expansion and movement of the refrigerant introduced through the expansion means of the three-way expansion valve type and the plurality of internal channels, and supplies the liquid refrigerant separated in the second vapor-liquid separator (2100) to the third line (L3).

[0085] Referring to FIG. 2, the second gas-liquid separator (2100) may include a second inlet (2110) through which refrigerant flows in, a second liquid refrigerant outlet (2120) through which liquid refrigerant is discharged, and a second gas-phase refrigerant outlet (2130) through which gas-phase refrigerant is discharged.

[0086] The second inlet (2110) may be connected to the third expansion means (2200) through the fourth flow path (CH5), and the second liquid refrigerant outlet (2120) may be connected to the check valve (2300) through the fifth flow path (CH6). In addition, the fifth flow path (CH6) may be connected to the fourth flow path (CH5) through the second connecting flow path (CH8).

[0087] The refrigerant moving along the second line (L2) to the second vapor injection module (2000) is introduced into the second vapor-liquid separator (2100) through the fourth flow path (CH5), and can be separated into a gaseous refrigerant and a liquid refrigerant inside the second vapor-liquid separator.

[0088] The liquid refrigerant can move to the evaporator (500) along the third line (L3) through the check valve (2300) and the second internal branch (2400).

[0089] The second vapor refrigerant outlet (2130) may be connected to the fifth line (L5). At this time, the second vapor injection module (2000) may connect the second vapor refrigerant outlet (2130) and the fifth line (L5) through the sixth flow path (CH7) forming the internal flow path. Accordingly, the vapor refrigerant discharged through the second vapor refrigerant outlet (2130) may be introduced into the compressor (100) along the fifth line (L5).

[0090] The evaporator (500) can evaporate the refrigerant that has passed through the second vapor injection module (2000).

[0091] The evaporator (500) is positioned downstream of the second vapor injection module (2000) in the third line (L3) and may be installed inside the air conditioning case (VC1). A fourth expansion means (510) may be positioned upstream of the inlet side of the evaporator (500). The fourth expansion means (510) may be an electronic two-way expansion valve.

[0092] Additionally, the evaporator (500) can evaporate the refrigerant that has passed through the first vapor injection module (1000) as the first branch line (B1) is connected to the third line (L3) through the branch section (10) upstream of the evaporator (500).

[0093] A two-way switching valve (520) may be placed upstream of the inlet side of the evaporator (500) in the first branch line (B1). The two-way switching valve (520) may function as a dehumidification mode on and off valve.

[0094] The evaporator (500) can exchange heat between the refrigerant moving to the compressor (100) and the air flowing inside the air conditioning case (VC1). Through this, cooling of the vehicle interior can be performed.

[0095] The evaporator (500) and the condenser (200) may be installed at a certain distance from each other inside the air conditioning case (VC1). In addition, a temperature control door (DR) may be installed between the evaporator (500) and the condenser (200) inside the air conditioning case (VC1) to control the amount of air bypassing the condenser (200) and the amount of air passing through the condenser (200).

[0096] Additionally, a PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient) heater (HT) may be installed inside the air conditioning case (VC1). The PTC heater (HT) is placed inside the air conditioning case (VC1) together with the condenser (200) and is used as a means of heating air, and may be used as a means of supplementing the temperature required for vehicle air conditioning when the condenser (200) does not meet this.

[0097] The internal heat exchanger (600) may be arranged on one side in the first line (L1) between the compressor (100) and the evaporator (500), and on the other side in the third line (L3) between the second heat exchanger (400) and the vapor injection module (1000).

[0098] The internal heat exchanger (600) can be placed between the first vapor injection module (1000) and the second vapor injection module (2000).

[0099] The internal heat exchanger (600) can heat-exchange the refrigerant that passes through the second heat exchanger (400) in the second line (L2) to the second vapor injection module (2000) and the refrigerant that passes through the evaporator (500) in the third line (L3) to the compressor (100). Thus, the heat exchange temperature difference (dT) in the internal heat exchanger (600) can be made large by the first heat exchanger (300) and the second heat exchanger (400), so that the refrigerant before flowing into the evaporator (500) can be further cooled, and the cooling performance through the evaporator (500) can be improved while simultaneously improving the efficiency of the cooling system.

[0100] The accumulator (700) can be placed between the internal heat exchanger (600) and the compressor (100) in the third line (L3).

[0101] When refrigerant that has passed through the internal heat exchanger (600) flows into the accumulator (700), the refrigerant can be separated into gas and liquid phases and supplied as gaseous refrigerant to the compressor (100).

[0102] Meanwhile, the third heat exchanger (800) can heat-exchange the refrigerant that has passed through the second vapor injection module (2000) with the heat medium. Here, the heat medium may include coolant that has passed through the vehicle's battery, and the refrigerant may be heat-exchanged with the coolant in the third heat exchanger (800). Accordingly, the vehicle thermal management system can utilize the waste heat of the battery as a heat source. In an embodiment, the third heat exchanger (800) may include a chiller.

[0103] The third heat exchanger (800) may be arranged in a fourth branch line (B4) which is connected to the third line (L3) through a branch part (10) between the second vapor injection module (2000) and the evaporator (500) on one side and to the third line (L3) through a branch part (10) between the evaporator (500) and the internal heat exchanger (600) on the other side. The third heat exchanger (800) may be connected to the third line (L3) through the fourth branch line (B4). In addition, a fifth expansion means (810) may be arranged upstream of the inlet side of the third heat exchanger (800) on the fourth branch line (B4). The fifth expansion means (810) may be a two-way expansion valve.

[0104] The liquid refrigerant separated in the second vapor-liquid separator (2100) of the second vapor injection module (2000) can be controlled so that, depending on the air conditioning mode, some of it moves along the fourth branch line (B4) branched from the third line (L3), passes through the third heat exchanger (800), and moves again from the third line (L3) to the internal heat exchanger (600).

[0105] The auxiliary evaporator (900) can evaporate the refrigerant that has passed through the internal heat exchanger (600).

[0106] The auxiliary evaporator (900) may be arranged in a third branch line (B3) which is connected to the second line (L2) through a branch part (10) on the upstream side of the second vapor injection module (2000) and to the third line (L3) through a branch part (10) on the downstream side of the evaporator (500) on the other side. The auxiliary evaporator (900) may be connected to the second line (L2) and the third line (L3) through the third branch line (B3). In addition, a two-way switching valve (920) and a sixth expansion means (910) may be arranged upstream of the inlet side of the auxiliary evaporator (900) on the third branch line (B3).

[0107] In an embodiment, the sixth expansion means (910) may be a mechanical two-way expansion valve. Therefore, cost can be reduced compared to using a relatively expensive electronic two-way expansion valve.

[0108] The auxiliary evaporator (900) can be installed inside the air conditioning case (VC2). The auxiliary evaporator (900) can heat exchange the refrigerant flowing along the third branch line (B3) from the second line (L2) with the air flowing inside the air conditioning case (VC2). This can cool the vehicle interior.

[0109] In an embodiment, an auxiliary evaporator (900) separate from the evaporator (500) constituting the first row air conditioner may be provided to constitute the second row air conditioner.

[0110] A PTC heater (HT) can be installed inside the air conditioning case (VC2). The PTC heater (HT) can be placed inside the air conditioning case (VC2) and used as a means of heating air.

[0111] Figure 3 schematically illustrates a modified example of a vehicle thermal management system.

[0112] The vehicle thermal management system according to the embodiment of FIG. 3 has a configuration substantially identical to that of the vehicle thermal management system according to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1. However, the fourth expansion means (510') provided upstream of the inlet side of the evaporator (500) is different.

[0113] In detail, the fourth expansion means (510') may be configured as an electronic 3 / 2-way expansion valve type in which the fourth expansion means (510) of the electronic 2-way expansion valve type of Fig. 1 and a 2-way switching valve (520) are combined. Therefore, the effect of reducing components is achieved.

[0114] Below, the operation according to the air conditioning mode of the vehicle thermal management system according to an embodiment of the present invention is described.

[0115] Figure 4 schematically illustrates the operation in heating mode.

[0116] Referring to FIG. 4, the compressor (100) operates to discharge high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant from the compressor (100). The refrigerant discharged from the compressor (100) moves along the first line (L1). Then, the refrigerant exchanges heat with the air flowing inside the air conditioning case (VC1) while passing through the condenser (200), and the heated air is supplied as warm air into the vehicle interior to perform heating.

[0117] The refrigerant passing through the condenser (200) moves to the first vapor injection module (1000) along the first line (L1), expands while passing through the first expansion means (1200), and flows into the first gas-liquid separator (1100). At this time, the second expansion means (1300) may be in a closed state with respect to the first connection path (CH4).

[0118] The gaseous refrigerant separated in the first gas-liquid separator (1100) is discharged to the fourth line (L4) through the third flow path (CH3), moves along the fourth line (L4), and is again introduced into the compressor (100).

[0119] The liquid refrigerant separated in the first gas-liquid separator (1100) expands through the second expansion means (1300) and is discharged through the second line (L2). It then passes through the first heat exchanger (300) and exchanges heat with the cooling water to evaporate. Then, it moves along the second branch line (B2) through the three-way switching valve (20), passes through the accumulator (700), and is then introduced into the compressor (100) again.

[0120] In this way, the heating performance can be improved by configuring the refrigerant, which has recovered waste heat from the electrical components by passing through the first heat exchanger (300), to flow directly into the compressor (100) without passing through the internal heat exchanger (600).

[0121] Figure 5 schematically illustrates the operation in cooling mode.

[0122] Referring to FIG. 5, the compressor (100) operates and high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant is discharged from the compressor. The refrigerant discharged from the compressor (100) moves through the condenser (200) along the first line (L1) to the first vapor injection module (1000).

[0123] In the first vapor injection module (1000), the refrigerant bypasses the first gas-liquid separator (1100) along the first connection path (CH4), passes through the second expansion means (1300) in a non-expanded state, is discharged through the second line (L2), and moves to the first heat exchanger (300). At this time, the first expansion means (1200) is closed.

[0124] The refrigerant passes through the first heat exchanger (300) and exchanges heat with the cooling water to be condensed, passes through the second heat exchanger (400) and is further condensed and moves to the internal heat exchanger (600). Then, the refrigerant passes through the evaporator (500) in the internal heat exchanger (600) and exchanges heat with the refrigerant moving to the compressor (100), and then moves to the second vapor injection module (2000).

[0125] The refrigerant passing through the third expansion means (2200) along the fourth passage (CH5) flows into the second gas-liquid separator (2100), and the gaseous refrigerant separated in the second gas-liquid separator (2100) is discharged to the fifth line (L5) through the sixth passage (CH7), moves along the fifth line (L5), and flows back into the compressor (100). In addition, the liquid refrigerant separated in the second gas-liquid separator (2100) is discharged to the third line (L3) through the fifth passage (CH6), and the refrigerant evaporated while passing through the evaporator (500) passes through the internal heat exchanger (600), passes through the accumulator (700), and flows back into the compressor (100).

[0126] In an embodiment, a portion of the liquid refrigerant separated in the second gas-liquid separator (2100) may be controlled to pass through the fifth expansion means (810) and the third heat exchanger (800) along the fourth branch line (B4) in the third line (L3). The refrigerant passes through the third heat exchanger (800) and exchanges heat with the cooling water, and then rejoins the refrigerant that passed through the evaporator (500) in the first line (L3) and passes through the internal heat exchanger (600).

[0127] In addition, some of the refrigerant that passes through the internal heat exchanger (600) and moves along the second line (L2) to the second vapor injection module (2000) can be controlled to pass through the sixth expansion means (910) and the auxiliary evaporator (900) along the third branch line (B3). The refrigerant passes through the auxiliary evaporator (900) and exchanges heat with the air inside the air conditioning case (VC2) constituting the two-row air conditioning unit, and then passes through the internal heat exchanger (600) again with the refrigerant that has passed through the evaporator (500) inside the air conditioning case (VC1) constituting the one-row air conditioning unit through the third line (L3).

[0128] In this way, in exchanging heat in the internal heat exchanger (600) between the refrigerant that passes through the first heat exchanger (300) and the second heat exchanger (400) and moves to the internal heat exchanger (600) and the refrigerant that passes through the evaporator (500) and moves to the internal heat exchanger (600), the cooling performance can be improved by configuring the refrigerant to pass through the second vapor injection module (2000) upstream of the evaporator (500).

[0129] Figure 6 schematically illustrates the operation in dehumidification mode.

[0130] Referring to FIG. 6, the compressor (100) operates and high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant is discharged from the compressor. The refrigerant discharged from the compressor (100) moves through the condenser (200) along the first line (L1) to the first vapor injection module (1000).

[0131] In the first vapor injection module (1000), the refrigerant passes through the first expansion means (1200) along the first flow path (CH1), expands, and then flows into the first gas-liquid separator (1100). At this time, the second expansion means (1300) may be closed with respect to the first connection flow path (CH4).

[0132] The gaseous refrigerant separated in the first gas-liquid separator (1100) is discharged to the fourth line (L4) through the third flow path (CH3), moves along the fourth line (L4), and is again introduced into the compressor (100).

[0133] The liquid refrigerant separated in the first gas-liquid separator (1100) expands while passing through the second expansion means (1300) and is discharged through the second line (L2), and some of it evaporates through heat exchange with the cooling water while passing through the first heat exchanger (300). Then, it moves along the second branch line (B2) through the three-way switching valve (20) and flows into the compressor (100) again through the accumulator (700).

[0134] The remainder of the liquid refrigerant moves along the first branch line (B1) through the branch section (10) in the second line (L2), passes through the evaporator (500), is evaporated, and then flows back into the compressor (100) through the internal heat exchanger (600) and the accumulator (700).

[0135] FIGS. 7 and 8 schematically illustrate a vehicle thermal management system according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0136] FIG. 7 is a drawing schematically showing a vehicle thermal management system according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a drawing schematically showing the arrangement relationship between components of a first vapor injection module in the vehicle thermal management system of FIG. 7.

[0137] The vehicle thermal management system according to this embodiment has substantially the same basic configuration as the vehicle thermal management system according to the embodiment of FIG. 1. However, it differs in the configuration of the first vapor injection module and the connection structure of the third branch line. The following will primarily describe these differences.

[0138] Referring to the drawing, the first vapor injection module (3000) includes a single first expansion means (3200) and a single economizer (3100), and may be configured to introduce gaseous refrigerant among refrigerants introduced along a refrigerant line into a compressor (100), and to introduce liquid refrigerant into a second vapor injection module (2000) through a first heat exchanger (300), a second heat exchanger (400), and an internal heat exchanger (600) along the refrigerant line.

[0139] The first vapor injection module (3000) may include a first flow path (CH1) connected to the 1-1 inlet (3110) and the 1-1 outlet (3120) of the economizer (3100), a first internal branch (3300) disposed upstream of the 1-1 inlet (3110) in the first flow path (CH1), a second flow path (CH2) branched from the first internal branch (3300) and connected to the 1-2 inlet (3130) and the 1-2 outlet (3140) of the economizer (3100), and a first expansion means (3200) disposed upstream of the 1-2 inlet (3130) in the second flow path (CH2). The first expansion means (3200) may be an electronic 2-way expansion valve.

[0140] The first vapor injection module (3000) is arranged between the condenser (200) and the first heat exchanger (300), so that the first flow path (CH1) can be connected to the first line (L1) passing through the condenser (200) through the first internal branch (3300) upstream of the 1-1 inlet (3110), and to the second line (L2) passing through the first heat exchanger (300) downstream of the 1-1 outlet (3120).

[0141] Additionally, the second flow (CH2) can be connected to the fourth line (L4) which is connected to the compressor (100) downstream of the first-second outlet (3140).

[0142] In this way, the first vapor injection module (3000) is configured to move the liquid refrigerant among the refrigerants flowing in according to the air conditioning mode to the second vapor injection module (2000) or to the evaporator (500) through the first heat exchanger (300) and the second heat exchanger (400), and to move the gaseous refrigerant to the compressor (100), thereby implementing a vehicle thermal management system capable of vapor injection for cooling and heating.

[0143] Meanwhile, the third branch line (B3) can be connected to the third line (L3) between the second vapor injection module (2000) and the evaporator (500) through the branch section (10) at one end, and connected to the third line (L3) between the evaporator (500) and the internal heat exchanger (600) at the other end.

[0144] Below, the operation according to the air conditioning mode of the vehicle thermal management system according to an embodiment of the present invention is described.

[0145] Figure 9 schematically illustrates the operation in heating mode.

[0146] Referring to Fig. 9, the compressor (100) operates and high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant is discharged from the compressor (100). The refrigerant discharged from the compressor (100) moves along the first line (L1). Then, the refrigerant exchanges heat with the air flowing inside the air conditioning case (VC1) while passing through the condenser (200), and the heated air is supplied as warm air into the vehicle interior to perform heating.

[0147] The refrigerant passing through the condenser (200) moves to the first vapor injection module (3000) along the first line (L1) and flows into the economizer (3100) along the first flow path (CH1).

[0148] The refrigerant passing through the economizer (3100) along the first flow path (CH1) is discharged through the second line (L2), and evaporates through heat exchange with the cooling water while passing through the first heat exchanger (300). Then, it moves along the second branch line (B2) through the three-way switching valve (20), passes through the accumulator (700), and is then fed back into the compressor (100).

[0149] Meanwhile, a portion of the refrigerant is branched off from the first internal branch (3300) and moves along the second flow path (CH2), expands while passing through the first expansion means (3200), and flows into the economizer (1100).

[0150] The refrigerant that passes through the economizer (3100) along the second flow path (CH2) is discharged to the fourth line (L4), moves along the fourth line (L4), and flows back into the compressor (100). At this time, the refrigerant discharged from the economizer (3100) along the fourth line (L4) may be a gaseous refrigerant.

[0151] Figure 10 schematically illustrates the operation in cooling mode.

[0152] Referring to FIG. 10, the compressor (100) operates and high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant is discharged from the compressor. The refrigerant discharged from the compressor (100) moves through the condenser (200) along the first line (L1) to the first vapor injection module (3000).

[0153] The refrigerant that passes through the economizer (3100) along the first flow path (CH1) while the first expansion means (3200) is closed is discharged to the second line (L2), and is condensed through heat exchange with the cooling water while passing through the first heat exchanger (300) and the second heat exchanger (400). Then, the refrigerant that passes through the evaporator (500) in the internal heat exchanger (600) and moves to the compressor (100) is heat-exchanged with the refrigerant and then moves to the second vapor injection module (2000).

[0154] The refrigerant that passes through the third expansion means (2200) along the fourth path (CH5) in the second vapor injection module (2000) flows into the second gas-liquid separator (2100), and the gaseous refrigerant separated in the second gas-liquid separator (2100) is discharged to the fifth line (L5) through the sixth path (CH7), moves along the fifth line (L5), and flows back into the compressor (100). In addition, the liquid refrigerant separated in the second gas-liquid separator (2100) is discharged to the third line (L3) through the fifth path (CH6), and the refrigerant that has been evaporated while passing through the evaporator (500) passes through the internal heat exchanger (600), passes through the accumulator (700), and flows back into the compressor (100).

[0155] In an embodiment, some of the liquid refrigerant separated in the second gas-liquid separator (2100) may be controlled to pass through the fifth expansion means (810) and the third heat exchanger (800) along the fourth branch line (B4) in the third line (L3).

[0156] Additionally, some of the liquid refrigerant separated in the second gas-liquid separator (2100) can be controlled to pass through the sixth expansion means (910) and the auxiliary evaporator (900) along the third branch line (B3) in the third line (L3).

[0157] Figure 11 schematically illustrates the operation in dehumidification mode.

[0158] Referring to FIG. 11, the compressor (100) operates and high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant is discharged from the compressor. The refrigerant discharged from the compressor (100) moves through the condenser (200) along the first line (L1) to the first vapor injection module (3000).

[0159] In the first vapor injection module (3000), the refrigerant flows into the economizer (3100) along the first flow path (CH1).

[0160] The refrigerant passing through the economizer (3100) along the first flow path (CH1) is discharged through the second line (L2), and some of it is evaporated through heat exchange with the cooling water while passing through the first heat exchanger (300). Then, it moves along the second branch line (B2) through the three-way switching valve (20), passes through the accumulator (700), and is then fed back into the compressor (100).

[0161] The remainder of the refrigerant moves along the first branch line (B1) through the branch section (10) in the second line (L2), passes through the evaporator (500), is evaporated, and then flows back into the compressor (100) through the internal heat exchanger (600) and the accumulator (700).

[0162] Meanwhile, a portion of the refrigerant is branched off from the first internal branch section (3300) and moves along the second flow path (CH2), expands while passing through the first expansion means (3200), and flows into the economizer (1100). Then, the refrigerant that has passed through the economizer (3100) along the second flow path (CH2) is discharged into the fourth line (L4), moves along the fourth line (L4), and flows back into the compressor (100).

[0163] Figures 12 and 13 schematically illustrate a vehicle thermal management system according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0164] FIG. 12 is a drawing schematically showing a vehicle thermal management system according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 13 is a drawing schematically showing the arrangement relationship between components of a second vapor injection module in the vehicle thermal management system of FIG. 12.

[0165] The vehicle thermal management system according to this embodiment has substantially the same basic configuration as the vehicle thermal management system according to the embodiment of FIG. 7. However, it differs in the configuration and connection structure of the second vapor injection module. The following will primarily describe these differences.

[0166] Referring to the drawing, the second vapor injection module (4000) includes a single third expansion means (4200) and a single economizer (4100), and may be configured to introduce gaseous refrigerant among refrigerants introduced along the refrigerant line into the compressor (100), and to introduce liquid refrigerant into the compressor (100) through the internal heat exchanger (600) and the evaporator (500) along the refrigerant line.

[0167] The second vapor injection module (4000) may include a fourth flow path (CH5) connected to the 1-1 inlet (4110) and the 1-1 outlet (4120) of the economizer (4100), a second internal branch (4300) disposed upstream of the 1-1 inlet (4110) from the fourth flow path (CH5), a fifth flow path (CH6) branched from the second internal branch (4300) and connected to the 1-2 inlet (4130) and the 1-2 outlet (4140) of the economizer (4100), and a third expansion means (4200) disposed upstream of the 1-2 inlet (4130) from the fifth flow path (CH6). The third expansion means (4200) may be an electronic 2-way expansion valve.

[0168] The second vapor injection module (4000) is arranged between the second heat exchanger (400) and the internal heat exchanger (600), so that the fourth flow path (CH5) can be connected to the second line (L2) passing through the second heat exchanger (400) through the second internal branch (4300) upstream of the 1-1 inlet (4110), and can be connected to the third line (L3) passing through the internal heat exchanger (600) downstream of the 1-1 outlet (4120).

[0169] Additionally, the fifth euro (CH6) can be connected to the fifth line (L5) which is connected to the compressor (100) downstream of the first-second outlet (4140).

[0170] Meanwhile, in the case where the second vapor injection module (4000) is configured as an economizer (4100) as in the present embodiment, a mechanical 2-way expansion valve may be used as the 6th expansion means (910) positioned upstream of the inlet side of the auxiliary evaporator (900) in the 3rd branch line (B3). Accordingly, costs can be reduced compared to cases where an electronic 2-way expansion valve is used (e.g., FIGS. 1 and 7).

[0171] That is, in the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 7, the refrigerant passes through the third expansion means (2200) of the second vapor injection module (2000) and moves to the third branch line (B3) with the pressure reduced, so a mechanical 2-way expansion valve cannot be used and an electronic 2-way expansion valve must be used.

[0172] On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the refrigerant moves to the third branch line (B3) in a high-pressure state without passing through the third expansion means (4200). Therefore, it becomes possible to use a relatively inexpensive mechanical two-way expansion valve as the sixth expansion means (910).

[0173] While the present invention has been described above with reference to specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications and variations can be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims below. Furthermore, any differences resulting from such modifications and variations should be construed as being within the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A compressor that compresses and discharges refrigerant; A condenser that condenses the refrigerant discharged from the compressor; A first vapor injection module that introduces gaseous refrigerant among the refrigerant flowing along the refrigerant line into the compressor; A second vapor injection module that introduces gaseous refrigerant among the refrigerant flowing through the first vapor injection module into the compressor; A heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the refrigerant passing through or bypassing the first vapor injection module and the heat medium or outside air; and An evaporator that evaporates the refrigerant that has passed through the second vapor injection module; A thermal management system for a vehicle comprising:

2. In paragraph 1, The first vapor injection module includes a first gas-liquid separator, a first flow path connected to a first inlet of the first gas-liquid separator, a first expansion means and a first internal branch part arranged in the first flow path, a second flow path connected to a first liquid refrigerant outlet of the first gas-liquid separator, a second expansion means arranged in the second flow path, a third flow path connected to a first gas-liquid refrigerant outlet of the first gas-liquid separator, and a first connecting flow path connecting the second expansion means and the first internal branch part. A vehicle thermal management system, wherein the second vapor injection module comprises a second vapor-liquid separator, a fourth channel connected to a second inlet of the second vapor-liquid separator, a third expansion means arranged in the fourth channel, a fifth channel connected to a second liquid refrigerant outlet of the second vapor-liquid separator, a check valve and a second internal branch arranged in the fifth channel, a sixth channel connected to a second vapor refrigerant outlet of the second vapor-liquid separator, and a second connecting channel connecting the second internal branch and the third expansion means.

3. In paragraph 2, The first vapor injection module is arranged between the condenser and the heat exchanger, such that the first flow path is connected to a refrigerant line passing through the condenser through the first internal branch, and the second flow path is connected to a refrigerant line passing through the heat exchanger through the second expansion means. A vehicle thermal management system characterized in that the second vapor injection module is arranged between the heat exchanger and the evaporator, such that the fourth flow path is connected to a refrigerant line passing through the heat exchanger through the third expansion means, and the fifth flow path is connected to a refrigerant line passing through the evaporator through the second internal branch.

4. In paragraph 2, In heating mode, the refrigerant discharged from the condenser passes through the first expansion means and flows into the first gas-liquid separator. The gaseous refrigerant separated in the first gas-liquid separator moves to the compressor, A vehicle thermal management system in which the liquid refrigerant separated from the first gas-liquid separator passes through the second expansion means and the heat exchanger and moves to the compressor.

5. In paragraph 4, The first expansion means and the second expansion means expand the refrigerant, A vehicle thermal management system, characterized in that the heat exchanger evaporates the refrigerant that has passed through the second expansion means.

6. In paragraph 2, In cooling mode, the first expansion means blocks the first flow path so that the refrigerant discharged from the condenser bypasses the first vapor injection module and flows into the second vapor injection module through the heat exchanger. The liquid refrigerant separated from the refrigerant flowing into the second gas-liquid separator through the third expansion means in the second vapor injection module is discharged from the second vapor injection module through the check valve and the second internal branch, and moves to the compressor through the evaporator. A vehicle thermal management system configured to move the gaseous refrigerant separated from the second gas-liquid separator to the compressor.

7. In paragraph 6, A vehicle thermal management system characterized in that the heat exchanger condenses the refrigerant.

8. In paragraph 1, The first vapor injection module comprises an economizer, a first flow path connected to the 1-1 inlet and the 1-1 outlet of the economizer, a first internal branch portion arranged upstream of the 1-1 inlet in the first flow path, a second flow path branched from the first internal branch portion and connected to the 1-2 inlet and the 1-2 outlet of the economizer, and a first expansion means arranged upstream of the 1-2 inlet in the second flow path. A vehicle thermal management system, wherein the second vapor injection module comprises a second vapor-liquid separator, a fourth channel connected to a second inlet of the second vapor-liquid separator, a third expansion means arranged in the fourth channel, a fifth channel connected to a second liquid refrigerant outlet of the second vapor-liquid separator, a check valve and a second internal branch arranged in the fifth channel, a sixth channel connected to a second vapor refrigerant outlet of the second vapor-liquid separator, and a second connecting channel connecting the second internal branch and the third expansion means.

9. In paragraph 8, The first vapor injection module is connected to a refrigerant line passing through the condenser through the first internal branch at the upstream of the first inlet and to a refrigerant line passing through the heat exchanger at the downstream of the first outlet. A vehicle thermal management system characterized in that the second vapor injection module is configured such that the fourth flow path is connected to a refrigerant line passing through the heat exchanger through the third expansion means, and the fifth flow path is connected to a refrigerant line passing through the evaporator through the second internal branch.

10. In paragraph 9, A vehicle thermal management system, characterized in that the first vapor injection module is configured such that the second euro is connected to a refrigerant line connected to the compressor downstream of the first-second outlet.

11. In paragraph 1, The first vapor injection module includes a first gas-liquid separator, a first flow path connected to a first inlet of the first gas-liquid separator, a first expansion means and a first internal branch part arranged in the first flow path, a second flow path connected to a first liquid refrigerant outlet of the first gas-liquid separator, a second expansion means arranged in the second flow path, a third flow path connected to a first gas-liquid refrigerant outlet of the first gas-liquid separator, and a first connecting flow path connecting the second expansion means and the first internal branch part. A vehicle thermal management system, wherein the second vapor injection module comprises an economizer, a fourth flow path connected to the 2-1 inlet and the 2-1 outlet of the economizer, a second internal branch portion arranged upstream of the 2-1 inlet in the fourth flow path, a fifth flow path branched from the second internal branch portion and connected to the 2-2 inlet and the 2-2 outlet of the economizer, and a third expansion means arranged upstream of the 2-2 inlet in the fifth flow path.

12. In paragraph 11, The first vapor injection module is arranged between the condenser and the heat exchanger, such that the first flow path is connected to a refrigerant line passing through the condenser through the first internal branch, and the second flow path is connected to a refrigerant line passing through the heat exchanger through the second expansion means. A vehicle thermal management system, characterized in that the second vapor injection module is configured such that the fourth flow path is connected to a refrigerant line passing through the heat exchanger through the second internal branch portion upstream of the second-1 inlet, and is connected to a refrigerant line passing through the evaporator downstream of the second-1 outlet.

13. In paragraph 12, A vehicle thermal management system, characterized in that the second vapor injection module is configured such that the fifth euro is connected to a refrigerant line connected to the compressor downstream of the second-second outlet.

14. In paragraph 1, A vehicle thermal management system further comprising an internal heat exchanger disposed between the first vapor injection module and the second vapor injection module, the internal heat exchanger exchanging heat between the refrigerant passing through the heat exchanger and moving to the second vapor injection module and the refrigerant passing through the evaporator and moving to the compressor.

15. In paragraph 14, It further includes an auxiliary evaporator that evaporates the refrigerant that has passed through the internal heat exchanger, A vehicle thermal management system, characterized in that the auxiliary evaporator is arranged in a branch line whose one side is connected to the refrigerant line at the upstream side of the second vapor injection module and whose other side is connected to the refrigerant line at the downstream side of the evaporator.

16. In paragraph 1, A vehicle thermal management system comprising a first heat exchanger for heat-exchanging refrigerant and a heat medium that have passed through or bypassed the first vapor injection module, and a second heat exchanger for heat-exchanging refrigerant that has passed through the first heat exchanger with outside air.

17. In paragraph 16, A vehicle thermal management system, wherein the heat exchanger further includes a third heat exchanger that heat-exchanges the refrigerant and heat medium that have passed through the second vapor injection module.

18. In paragraph 17, A vehicle thermal management system characterized in that a portion of the refrigerant that passes through the second vapor injection module and moves to the evaporator according to the air conditioning mode is branched and configured to pass through the third heat exchanger.

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