Heat transfer medium circuit system, vehicle, method for cooling a vehicle cabin, and pump-valve distribution unit

Abstract

The invention relates to an indirect heat transfer medium circuit system (2) for a vehicle, wherein, in order to cool a vehicle cabin, a liquid cooling circuit section conducted over a first heat exchanger (12) intended for heating the vehicle cabin can, by means of associated control valve functions (SV1, SV2, MWV1), be fluidically adjusted to be parallel to and / or in series with a liquid cooling circuit section conducted over a second heat exchanger (14) for cooling the vehicle cabin, the fluidic adjustment enabling a parallel connection and / or a series connection of the two heat exchangers (12, 14) in order to cool the vehicle cabin. The invention also relates to a vehicle comprising such a heat transfer medium circuit system (2) and to a method for cooling a vehicle cabin.

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] Heat transfer medium circuit system, vehicle, method for cooling a vehicle cabin and pump-valve distribution unit

[0003] The present invention relates to a heat transfer medium circuit system for a vehicle and to a vehicle having such a heat transfer medium circuit system. The invention further relates to a method for cooling a vehicle cabin.

[0004] In electric vehicles, it is necessary to control the temperature of both components of an electric drive train and at least one battery that supplies these components.

[0005] The object of the present invention is to provide an improved heat transfer medium circuit or an improved heat transfer medium circuit system.

[0006] Another object of the present invention is to enable improved cooling of a vehicle cabin.

[0007] This object is achieved by a heat transport medium circuit system proposed and protected according to claim 1.

[0008] The proposed heat transport medium circuit system represents a so-called indirect system in which heat or energy is transported indirectly, i.e. indirectly via the fluid circuit system to the individual heat sinks of the vehicle.

[0009] This allows heat and energy distribution to be implemented largely via the liquid circuit system, i.e., based on a liquid, such as a water-glycol mixture. This has the advantage that the refrigeration circuit—also called a CRU (Compact Refrigerant Unit)—can be greatly simplified and designed to be very compact and as small as possible. This also allows the amount of refrigerant used to be minimized, whether it be a synthetic refrigerant such as R134a or R1234yf, or a natural refrigerant such as R744 or R290.

[0010] The proposed heat transfer medium circuit system also allows the amount of liquid in the liquid circuit system to be reduced to a minimum.

[0011] Furthermore, the proposed heat transfer medium circuit system enables efficient vehicle cabin cooling. In such an indirect heat transfer medium circuit system, a section of a liquid cooling circuit, routed via a first heat exchanger, which is intended for heating the vehicle cabin, is fluidically connected in parallel and / or in series with a section of the liquid cooling circuit, which is routed via a second heat exchanger for cooling the vehicle cabin, via associated control valve functions. This results in a parallel and / or series connection of the two heat exchangers for cooling the vehicle cabin. Thus, the first heat exchanger, which is intended for heating the vehicle cabin, can advantageously also be used for cooling the vehicle cabin—selectively or as needed.

[0012] This parallel and / or series connection of the two heat exchangers increases the surface area used to cool the vehicle cabin. This improves cooling of the vehicle cabin.

[0013] Furthermore, the heat exchangers intended for the vehicle cabin can also be made smaller. The proposed heat transfer medium circuit (circuit) system thus contributes to weight and cost savings.

[0014] The said control valve functions are to be understood in particular as being able to be implemented by at least one multi-way valve which can fluidically connect liquid-conducting line sections within a first, multi-part housing of the valve and line system or the liquid circuit (circuit) system - selectively or as required - across different heights of the multi-way valve - or along a longitudinal axis or longitudinal extension of the multi-way valve.

[0015] In one embodiment, an inlet line section to the second heat exchanger for the vehicle cabin, an inlet line section to the first heat exchanger for the vehicle cabin and an outlet line section from the first heat exchanger for the vehicle cabin can each be opened or closed via an associated one-way control valve function in order to be able to cool the vehicle cabin via the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger.

[0016] In a further embodiment, alternatively, an inlet line section to the second heat exchanger for the vehicle cabin and an inlet line section to the first heat exchanger for the vehicle cabin can each be opened or closed via an associated one-way control valve function, and an outlet line section from the first heat exchanger can also be fluidically connected to the inlet line section to the second heat exchanger and / or to the outlet line section from the second heat exchanger via an associated multi-way control valve function in the form of a 3 / 2-way control valve function in order to be able to cool the vehicle cabin via the first heat exchanger and / or the second heat exchanger.

[0017] In one embodiment, the second section of the first fluid circuit and the third section of the first fluid circuit are fluidically connected in parallel to a first section of the first fluid circuit, which is guided via a battery for supplying an electric drive train.

[0018] In a further embodiment, the second fluid circuit is also guided via at least one component of the electric drive train.

[0019] In a further embodiment, the second fluid circuit (circuit) can also be routed via a second radiator, which can optionally be connected fluidically in series and / or in parallel. The first radiator can be arranged fluidically upstream of the component of the electric drive train, and the second radiator can be arranged fluidically downstream of the component of the electric drive train.

[0020] In order to modularize the proposed heat transfer medium circuit system, it is proposed to design its liquid circuit system such that at least the first and / or the second liquid pump, at least one of the aforementioned control valve functions of the valve and line system and at least some of the liquid line sections of the valve and line system are accommodated in a multi-part first housing of the liquid circuit system or are integrated into this first housing, to which the at least one heat source and the at least one heat sink of the vehicle are fluidically connected via associated, separate lines connected to the first housing.

[0021] In one embodiment, all of the liquid pumps, the individual control valve functions of the valve and line system mentioned above, and all of the liquid line sections of the valve and line system, with the exception of those assigned, separate liquid line sections or lines, are accommodated or integrated into this first housing, via which the at least one heat source and the at least one heat sink of the vehicle are connected to the first housing or are fluidically connected to this first housing. This first housing fulfills the function of a pump-valve distribution unit, in which the individual valve system modes and the control valve functions mentioned above can be represented by at least one multi-way valve, which selectively controls liquid-carrying line sections within the first housing over different heights of the multi-way valve - or along a longitudinal axis orLongitudinal extension of the multi-way valve - can be fluidly connected to one another.

[0022] In a further embodiment, with regard to the refrigerant circuit, it is proposed that at least the compressor and / or an expansion valve and / or a line section and / or a temperature sensor and / or a pressure sensor of the refrigerant circuit be housed in a multi-part second housing of the refrigerant circuit or be integrated into this second housing. This represents a further contribution to the modularization of the proposed heat transfer medium circuit system.

[0023] In one embodiment, the first and second housings are combined into one unit, forming a housing assembly which, as such, contributes to saving installation space.

[0024] This housing assembly can be combined with the first heat exchanger for the cold section of the refrigerant circuit and the second heat exchanger for the hot section of the refrigerant circuit to form an integrated assembly in the form of a (thermomodule) unit in order to achieve or provide a high degree of modularization of the heat transfer medium circuit system. This also contributes to space savings.

[0025] Furthermore, a vehicle or motor vehicle with a heat transport medium circuit system of the type described above is proposed (claim 13).

[0026] Furthermore, a method for cooling a vehicle cabin using an indirect heat transfer medium circuit system of the type described above is proposed (claim 14). Furthermore, a pump-valve distribution unit is proposed, which is designed in the form of the first housing of the type described above (claim 15).

[0027] The invention will be explained in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Further advantageous developments of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims and the following description of preferred embodiments. These are shown schematically and functionally:

[0028] Fig. 1 a heat transport medium circuit system for a vehicle,

[0029] Fig. 2 shows the heat transport medium circuit system shown in Fig. 1 in a first modification and

[0030] Fig. 3 shows the heat transport medium circuit system shown in Fig. 1 in a second modification.

[0031] The heat transfer medium circuit system 2 according to Fig. 1 has a refrigerant circuit 4 which is as small or compact as possible and a liquid circuit system 6, to which the refrigerant circuit 4 is thermally connected via a first heat exchanger 8 (chiller; evaporator) for the cold section of the refrigerant circuit 6 and a second heat exchanger 10 (condenser; condenser) for the hot section of the refrigerant circuit 6.

[0032] Refrigerant circuit 4 – also referred to as a CRU (Compact Refrigerant Unit) – comprises, in addition to the two heat exchangers 8, 10, a compressor for conveying a refrigerant and an expansion valve. Furthermore, a pressure sensor and a temperature sensor are provided in the refrigerant circuit 4, at least upstream and downstream of the compressor.

[0033] The fluid circuit system 6 has a valve and line system VL, via which a plurality of fluid circuits can be set, wherein the valve system can be set to individual valve system modes for setting different fluid circuits.

[0034] The vehicle's heat sources and heat sinks are fluidically connected to this valve and line system VL via dedicated, separate lines (see connections Ai to Au). For connections Ar, As* and Au 1 on the other hand, these are those within the valve and piping system VL.

[0035] The fluid circuit system 6 also has a heating element HE downstream of the second heat exchanger 10, which can be activated as needed to heat the conveyed fluid. This heating element HE can be provided inside or outside the valve and piping system VL.

[0036] The individual valve system modes mentioned above have the following in common: A first fluid circuit (in the sense of a liquid cooling circuit) is routed, implemented, or implemented via the first heat exchanger 8, between the refrigerant circuit (in the sense of a liquid cooling circuit) and the fluid circuit system 6, to at least one heat source of the vehicle, and a second fluid circuit (in the sense of a liquid heating circuit) is routed, implemented, or implemented via the second heat exchanger 10, between the refrigerant circuit (in the sense of a liquid heating circuit) and the fluid circuit system 6, to at least one heat sink of the vehicle.

[0037] The valve and line system VL comprises at least one first electric liquid pump EWPi for conveying liquid in the first liquid circuit or liquid cooling circuit and at least one second electric liquid pump EWP2 for conveying liquid in the second liquid circuit or liquid heating circuit.

[0038] In this case, it concerns a valve system mode set for cooling a vehicle cabin. The first or cold liquid circuit is connected to a second section via a second heat exchanger 14 (also called HVAC cooler; HVAC Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) for cooling the vehicle cabin and the second or hot liquid circuit via at least one first radiator 16 for exchanging heat between the liquid circuit system 6 and a vehicle environment.

[0039] It is proposed that a third section can be fluidically connected to the first fluid circuit (run) - selectively or as required - and can be guided via a first heat exchanger 12 (also called HVAC heater), which is otherwise intended for heating the vehicle cabin.

[0040] This third section of the first fluid circuit can be fluidically connected in parallel and / or in series to the second section of the first fluid circuit via associated control valve functions in order to be able to effect a parallel connection and / or a series connection of the two heat exchangers 12, 14 for cooling the vehicle cabin.

[0041] In the embodiment according to Fig. 2, it is proposed to design an inlet line section 26 to the second heat exchanger 14, an inlet line section 22 to the first heat exchanger 12, and an outlet line section 24 from the first heat exchanger 12 so that they can be opened or closed via an associated one-way control valve function SV1, SV2, SV3. These one-way control valve functions SV1, SV2, SV3 are provided or arranged within the valve and line system VL.

[0042] Alternatively, in the embodiment according to Fig. 3 it is proposed to design the drain line section 24 from the first heat exchanger 12 via an associated multi-way control valve function in the form of a 3 / 2-way control valve function MW i to be fluidly connectable to the inlet line section 26 to the second heat exchanger 14 and / or to the drain line section 28 from the second heat exchanger 14 in order to be able to cool the vehicle cabin via the first heat exchanger 12 and / or the second heat exchanger 14. This 3 / 2-way control valve function MWVi replaces the third one-way control valve function SV3 in Fig. 2 and is likewise provided or arranged within the valve and line system VL. The embodiments according to Figs.1 to 3 is that a first section of the first fluid circuit (circuit) is guided via a battery B for supplying an electric drive train 18, wherein the second and the third section of the first fluid circuit (circuit) are each fluidically connected in parallel to the first section of the first fluid circuit (circuit).

[0043] 1 to 3 also have in common that in the first fluid circuit (run) downstream or upstream of battery B and downstream of heat exchanger 8 - and within the valve and line system VL - an associated second multi-way control valve function in the form of a 4 / 3-way control valve function M V2 is provided or arranged, via which fluid flowing from or coming from battery B can be returned to battery B if required. In addition, fluid flowing from or coming from heat exchanger 8 can be supplied to battery B via this 4 / 3-way control valve function M V2 in order to temperature-control or cool battery B. Additionally or alternatively, fluid flowing from or coming from heat exchanger 10 can be supplied to battery B via this 4 / 3-way control valve function MWV2 in order to be able to effect a desired temperature control of battery B.

[0044] Downstream of this 4 / 3-way control valve function MWV2 – and within the valve and line system VL – as well as upstream of battery B (or in a supply line section to battery B), a third electric fluid pump EWP3 is also provided, which supports the circulation of fluid within another fluid circuit – as part of the first section of the first fluid circuit – whereby this additional fluid circuit comprises battery B, the 4 / 3-way control valve function MWV2, and the third electric fluid pump EWP3. This additional fluid circuit supports the desired temperature control of battery B.

[0045] In the case of supplying or mixing liquid from the liquid cooling circuit (run) and / or liquid heating circuit (run) to the further liquid circuit (run) circulating via the battery B, correspondingly assigned outlets or returns to the liquid cooling circuit (run) on the one hand and to the liquid heating circuit (run) on the other hand are required, which are not shown as such in Figs. 1 to 3 for the sake of simplicity.

[0046] The embodiments according to Figs. 1 to 3 also have in common that the second fluid circuit (circuit) is also routed via at least one component of the electric drive train 18. This includes at least one electric motor or e-motor for driving the vehicle, as well as at least one power electronics unit, for example in the form of an inverter, an on-board charger (OBC), a DC-DC converter, and / or possibly in the form of further control units in the form of high-performance computers.

[0047] The second fluid circuit (run) can also be guided via a second radiator 20, which can optionally be fluidically connected in series and / or parallel via an associated third multi-way control valve function in the form of a 3 / 2-way control valve function MWV3.

[0048] The first radiator 16 is fluidically arranged upstream of the component of the electric drive train 18 and the second radiator 20 is fluidically arranged downstream of the component of the electric drive train 18.

[0049] All of the previously mentioned control valve functions SV1, SV2, SV3 (control valve) and MWV1, MWV2, MWV3 (MWV = multi-way valve) of the valve and line system VL have in common that they can partially or completely open or open or close or close assigned liquid line sections - selectively or as required.

[0050] For the purpose of modularization - to form a pump-valve module - it is proposed to accommodate at least the first and / or the second liquid pump EWP1, EWP2, at least one of the aforementioned control valve functions of the valve and line system VL and at least part of the liquid line sections of the valve and line system VL in a multi-part - not shown - first housing of the liquid circuit (circuit) system 6 or to integrate them into this first housing, to which the at least one heat source and the at least one heat sink of the vehicle are fluidically connected via associated, separate lines.

[0051] In a further embodiment, all liquid pumps EWPi, EWP2, EWP3, the individual previously mentioned control valve functions of the valve and line system VL as well as all liquid line sections of the valve and line system VL are accommodated or integrated into this first housing - not shown - to which the at least one heat source and the at least one heat sink of the vehicle are fluidically connected via assigned, separate lines.

[0052] This first housing can be seen as illustrated by the rectangle with the reference symbol VL in Figures 1 to 3 - in the sense of a system boundary for this first housing - in which the valve and line system VL is accommodated or integrated, with the exception of those assigned, separate liquid line sections or lines via which the at least one heat source and the at least one heat sink of the vehicle are connected to the first housing or fluidically connected to this first housing. The individual valve system modes of the valve and line system VL as well as the aforementioned control valve functions can be represented in this first housing, namely by at least one multi-way valve, which controls liquid-carrying line sections within this first, multi-part housing - selectively or as required - over different heights of the multi-way valve - or along a longitudinal axis orLongitudinal extension of the multi-way valve - can be fluidly connected to one another.

[0053] In addition, for the purpose of modularizing the refrigerant circuit (run) 4, it is proposed that at least the compressor and / or an expansion valve and / or a line section and / or a temperature sensor and / or a pressure sensor of the refrigerant circuit (run) be accommodated in a multi-part - not shown - second housing of the refrigerant circuit (run) 4 or be integrated into this second housing.

[0054] It is proposed to combine these first and second housings into a single unit, thereby forming a housing assembly. These first and second housings can be joined or connected to each other indirectly via a coupling plate.

[0055] It is further proposed to combine this housing assembly with the first heat exchanger 8 for the cold section of the refrigerant circuit 6 and the second heat exchanger 10 for the hot section of the refrigerant circuit 6 to form a (highly) integrated assembly in the form of a thermomodule unit.

Claims

Patent claims:

1. A heat transfer medium circuit system (2) for a vehicle, comprising: a refrigerant circuit (4) with a compressor for conveying a refrigerant, a liquid circuit system (6) to which the refrigerant circuit (4) is thermally connected via a first heat exchanger (8) for the cold section of the refrigerant circuit (6) and a second heat exchanger (10) for the hot section of the refrigerant circuit (6), wherein the liquid circuit system (6) has a valve and line system (VL) via which a plurality of liquid circuits can be set, wherein the valve system can be set to individual valve system modes for setting different liquid circuits,wherein in the individual valve system modes, a first liquid circuit - in the sense of a liquid cooling circuit - is led via the first heat exchanger (8) between the refrigerant circuit (4) and the liquid circuit system (6) to at least one heat source of the vehicle (B, 14) and a second liquid circuit - in the sense of a liquid heating circuit - is led via the second heat exchanger (10) between the refrigerant circuit (4) and the liquid circuit system (6) to at least one heat sink of the vehicle (16, 20), at least one first electric liquid pump (EWPi) for conveying liquid in the first liquid circuit and at least one second electric liquid pump (EWP2) for conveying liquid in the second liquid circuit,wherein in a set valve system mode for cooling a vehicle cabin, the first liquid circuit (circuit) with a second section via a second heat exchanger (14) for cooling the vehicle cabin and the second liquid circuit (circuit) via at least one first radiator, (16) for the exchange of heat between the fluid circuit system (6) and a vehicle environment, wherein a third section can be fluidically connected to the first fluid circuit (circuit) via associated control valve functions and can be guided via a first heat exchanger (12), which is otherwise provided for heating the vehicle cabin, wherein the third section of the first fluid circuit (circuit) can be fluidically connected in parallel and / or in series to the second section of the first fluid circuit (circuit) via associated control valve functions in order to effect a parallel connection and / or a series connection of the two heat exchangers (12, 14) for cooling the vehicle cabin.

2. Heat transport medium circuit (circuit) system according to claim 1, wherein an inlet line section (26) to the second heat exchanger (14) for the vehicle cabin, an inlet line section (22) to the first heat exchanger (12) for the vehicle cabin and an outlet line section (24) from the first heat exchanger (12) for the vehicle cabin can be opened or closed via an associated one-way control valve function (SVi, SV2, SV3) in order to effect cooling of the vehicle cabin via the first heat exchanger (12) and the second heat exchanger (14).

3. Heat transport medium circuit system according to claim 1, wherein a supply line section (26) to the second heat exchanger (14) for the vehicle cabin, a supply line section (22) to the first heat exchanger (12) for the vehicle cabin can be opened or closed via an associated one-way control valve function (SV1, SV2) and wherein a drain line section (24) from the first heat exchanger (12) can be fluidically connected to the supply line section (26) to the second heat exchanger (14) and / or to the drain line section (28) from the second heat exchanger (14) via an associated multi-way control valve function in the form of a 3 / 2-way control valve function (MWV1) in order to cool the vehicle cabin via the first heat exchanger (12) and / or the second heat exchanger (14).

4. Heat transport medium circuit system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the second section of the first liquid circuit and the third section of the first liquid circuit are fluidically connected in parallel to a first section of the first liquid circuit, which is guided via a battery (B) for supplying an electric drive train (18).

5. Heat transport medium circuit system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the second fluid circuit is also guided via at least one component (18) of a / the electric drive train.

6. Heat transfer medium circuit system according to claim 5, wherein the second fluid circuit is also guided via a second radiator (20), which can optionally be connected fluidically in series and / or in parallel.

7. Heat transport medium circuit system according to claim 6, wherein the first radiator (16) is arranged fluidically upstream of the component (18) of the electric drive train and the second radiator (20) is arranged fluidically downstream of the component (18) of the electric drive train.

8. Heat transport medium circuit (circuit) system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least the first and / or the second liquid pump (EWPi, EWP2), at least one of the control valve functions of the valve and line system (VL) and at least some of the liquid line sections of the valve and line system (VL) are accommodated in a multi-part first housing of the liquid circuit (circuit) system (6), to which the at least one heat source and the at least one heat sink of the vehicle are fluidically connected via associated, separate lines connected to the first housing.

9. Heat transport medium circuit (circuit) system according to claim 8, wherein all liquid pumps (EWPi, EWP2, EWP3), the individual control valve functions of the valve and line system (VL) and all liquid line sections of the valve and line system (VL) are accommodated in the first housing, to which the at least one heat source and the at least one heat sink of the vehicle are fluidically connected via associated, separate lines connected to the first housing.

10. Heat transfer medium circuit system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least the compressor and / or an expansion valve and / or a line section and / or a temperature sensor and / or a pressure sensor of the refrigerant circuit are accommodated in a multi-part second housing of the refrigerant circuit.

11. The heat transfer medium circuit system according to claim 10, wherein the first and second housings are combined into a unit and thereby form a housing assembly.

12. Heat transport medium circuit system according to claim 11, wherein said housing assembly is combined with the first heat exchanger (8) for the cold section of the refrigerant circuit (6) and the second heat exchanger (10) for the hot section of the refrigerant circuit (6) to form an integrated assembly in the form of a (thermomodule) unit.

13. Vehicle with a heat transfer medium circuit system according to one of the preceding claims.

14. Method for cooling a vehicle cabin by means of an indirect heat transfer medium circuit system according to one of claims 1 to 12, in which a section of a liquid cooling circuit, which is guided via a first heat exchanger (12), which is provided for heating the vehicle cabin, to a section via a second heat exchanger (14) for cooling the vehicle cabin, the section of the liquid cooling circuit (run) is fluidically set in parallel and / or in series via an associated control valve function in order to effect a parallel connection and / or a series connection of the two heat exchangers (12, 14) for cooling the vehicle cabin.

15. Pump-valve distribution unit, which is designed in the form of the first housing according to claim 8 or 9, wherein this first housing has at least one multi-way valve or several multi-way valves, via which the control valve functions according to one of the preceding Claims 1 to 7 can be depicted, wherein by means of the at least one multi-way valve, liquid-conducting line sections within the first housing can be fluidically connected to one another optionally via different heights of the multi-way valve.

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