Vehicle heat pump system

Abstract

Disclosed is a vehicle heat pump system that enables cooling and heating in each of a plurality of HVAC devices. The vehicle heat pump system comprises: a compressor for compressing a refrigerant and discharging the refrigerant as a high-temperature, high-pressure gas; an outdoor condenser for cooling and condensing the high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant or absorbing an external heat source using an expanded refrigerant; an expansion valve for expanding or allowing the refrigerant to pass; a chiller for cooling a battery of a vehicle; an accumulator which separates gas and liquid of the refrigerant and separately stores the refrigerant in a liquid state; HVAC devices and compressors configured to exchange heat with the refrigerant and supply cold or heat to the interior of the vehicle; and a refrigerant line providing a flow path for the refrigerant by interconnecting the outdoor condenser, the expansion valve, the chiller, the accumulator, and the HVAC devices, wherein a plurality of the HVAC devices are provided and supply cold or heat to the interior of the vehicle from both the front and rear of the vehicle.

Description

Heat pump system for vehicles

[0001] The present invention relates to a heat pump system for a vehicle.

[0002] Typically, an automotive air conditioning system includes an air conditioning module for cooling and heating the interior of the vehicle.

[0003] The air conditioner module is configured to cool the interior of a vehicle by heat exchange by the evaporator during the process in which the heat exchange medium discharged by the operation of the compressor is circulated back to the compressor through the condenser, receiver dryer, expansion valve, and evaporator, or to heat the interior by introducing coolant into the heater and performing heat exchange.

[0004] Meanwhile, as interest in energy efficiency and environmental pollution issues grows, the use of electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles powered by fuel cells or electricity is increasing.

[0005] Unlike internal combustion engine vehicles, eco-friendly vehicles circulate refrigerant for heating purposes, and this system is called a heat pump system.

[0006] When in cooling mode, a heat pump system operates on the same principles as the air conditioning system in internal combustion engine vehicles. However, in heating mode, a heat pump system changes the refrigerant circulation path, using high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant as a heat source to provide heating.

[0007] Meanwhile, vehicles are usually equipped with one HVAC unit, but vehicles with a large number of passengers or a large interior volume are equipped with multiple HVAC units.

[0008] The plurality of HVAC units are configured with a first HVAC unit positioned at the front side of the vehicle along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and a second HVAC unit positioned at the rear side of the first HVAC unit.

[0009] Accordingly, cooling can be performed simultaneously through multiple HVAC devices.

[0010] However, the first HVAC unit has both a condenser and an evaporator, while the second HVAC unit has only an evaporator, so it can only perform the cooling function, and as a result, heating is possible only in the first HVAC unit, which has the problem of low heating efficiency in the vehicle's interior.

[0011] The present invention aims to provide a vehicle heat pump system capable of both cooling and heating in a plurality of HVAC devices.

[0012] Meanwhile, the technical tasks to be achieved in the present invention are not limited to the technical tasks mentioned above, and other technical tasks not mentioned can be clearly understood by a person having ordinary skill in the technical field to which the present invention belongs from the description below.

[0013] A vehicle heat pump system according to an embodiment of the present invention is a vehicle heat pump system for air conditioning the interior of a vehicle and cooling a battery, comprising: a compressor that compresses a refrigerant and discharges it in a high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous state; an outdoor condenser that cools and condenses the high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant or absorbs an outside heat source with the expanded refrigerant; an expansion valve that expands or passes the refrigerant; a chiller that cools the battery of the vehicle; an accumulator that separates the gas and liquid of the refrigerant and separately stores the liquid refrigerant; an HVAC device configured to supply cold air or heat to the interior of the vehicle by heat exchange with the refrigerant; and a refrigerant line that interconnects the compressor, the outdoor condenser, the expansion valve, the chiller, the accumulator, and the HVAC device to provide a flow path for the refrigerant, wherein the HVAC device is provided in plurality to supply cold air or heat to the interior of the vehicle from the front and rear of the vehicle, respectively.

[0014] The HVAC device may include a first HVAC device for supplying cold air or heat to the interior of the vehicle from the front of the vehicle; and a second HVAC device for supplying cold air or heat to the interior of the vehicle from the rear of the vehicle, wherein the first HVAC device may include a first indoor condenser for condensing a high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant during heating while exchanging heat with surrounding air; and a first indoor evaporator for evaporating an expanded liquid refrigerant during cooling into a low-temperature, low-pressure gaseous state, and the second HVAC device may include a second indoor condenser for condensing a high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant during heating while exchanging heat with surrounding air; and a second indoor evaporator for evaporating an expanded liquid refrigerant into a low-temperature, low-pressure gaseous state during cooling.

[0015] The system may further include a three-port valve that is connected to the first indoor condenser, the second indoor condenser, and the compressor through the refrigerant line, and that communicates the first indoor condenser, the second indoor condenser, or the first indoor condenser and the second indoor condenser with the compressor according to an input control command.

[0016] The above 3-port valve, when a first heating control command is input, can connect the first indoor condenser to the compressor to allow the refrigerant discharged from the compressor to flow into the first indoor condenser, when a second heating control command is input, can connect the second indoor condenser to the compressor to allow the refrigerant discharged from the compressor to flow into the second indoor condenser, and when a third heating control command is input, can connect both the first indoor condenser and the second indoor condenser to the compressor to allow the refrigerant discharged from the compressor to flow into both the first indoor condenser and the second indoor condenser.

[0017] A first anti-return valve connected to the first indoor condenser and the expansion valve through the refrigerant line; and a second anti-return valve connected to the second indoor condenser and the expansion valve through the refrigerant line, wherein when the first heating control command is input, the first anti-return valve is opened and the second anti-return valve is closed, when the second heating control command is input, the first anti-return valve is closed and the second anti-return valve is opened, and when the third heating control command is input, both the first anti-return valve and the second anti-return valve can be opened.

[0018] The above refrigerant line may include an integrated line connecting the compressor and the three-port valve; a first branch line connecting the three-port valve and the first indoor condenser; a second branch line connecting the three-port valve and the second indoor condenser; a first discharge line connecting the first indoor condenser and the first backflow prevention valve; a second discharge line connecting the second indoor condenser and the second backflow prevention valve; and a joining line connecting the first backflow prevention valve and the second backflow prevention valve and connected to the expansion valve.

[0019] According to an embodiment of the present invention, since both the first HVAC device and the second HVAC device have an indoor condenser and an indoor evaporator, cooling and heating are possible in both the first HVAC device and the second HVAC device, and thus, heating of the vehicle's interior can be selectively operated as needed, thereby increasing heating efficiency.

[0020] In addition, heating is performed by setting one of three heating modes when heating the vehicle, enabling efficient heating operation and further improving indoor air conditioning performance.

[0021] Meanwhile, the effects that can be obtained from the present invention are not limited to the effects mentioned above, and other effects that are not mentioned can be clearly understood by a person having ordinary skill in the technical field to which the present invention belongs from the description below.

[0022] FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram schematically illustrating a vehicle heat pump system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] FIG. 2 is a drawing schematically showing a flow path of refrigerant during the first heating control of a vehicle heat pump system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] FIG. 3 is a drawing schematically showing a flow path of refrigerant during a second heating control of a vehicle heat pump system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing a flow path of refrigerant during the third heating control of a vehicle heat pump system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 5 is an enlarged drawing of a portion of a refrigerant line according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the attached drawings. The embodiments of the present invention may be modified in various ways, and the scope of the present invention should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments described below. These embodiments are provided to more fully explain the present invention to those of ordinary skill in the art. Accordingly, the shapes of elements in the drawings have been exaggerated for clarity.

[0028] In order to clearly solve the problem to be solved by the present invention, the composition of the invention is described in detail with reference to the attached drawings based on a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and when assigning reference numbers to components in the drawings, the same reference numbers are assigned to the same components even if they are in different drawings, and it is made clear in advance that components in other drawings may be cited when necessary when describing the drawings.

[0029] FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram schematically illustrating a vehicle heat pump system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] Referring to FIG. 1, a vehicle heat pump system (100) according to an embodiment of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as “vehicle heat pump system (100)”) is for air conditioning the interior of a vehicle and cooling a battery, and includes a compressor (1), an outdoor condenser (2), an expansion valve (3), a chiller (4), an accumulator (5), an HVAC (Heating Ventilating and Air Conditioning) device (6), and a refrigerant line (7).

[0031] The compressor (1) compresses the refrigerant and discharges it in a high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous state.

[0032] For example, the compressor (1) is driven by an electric motor and compresses low-temperature, low-pressure gaseous refrigerant to create a high-temperature, high-pressure state and discharge it.

[0033] The outdoor condenser (2) cools and condenses high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant, or absorbs the outside heat source with the expanded refrigerant.

[0034] More specifically, the outdoor condenser (2) evaporates the liquid refrigerant during heating to form a low-temperature, low-pressure gaseous state, and condenses the high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant during cooling to form a high-temperature, high-pressure liquid state.

[0035] The expansion valve (3) expands or passes the refrigerant.

[0036] More specifically, the expansion valve (3) rapidly expands the refrigerant during heating to form a low-temperature, low-pressure liquid state, and causes the refrigerant to pass through and circulate during cooling.

[0037] The chiller (4) cools the vehicle's battery (not shown).

[0038] More specifically, the chiller (4) can cool the battery by exchanging heat with the waste heat of the battery using a low-temperature, low-pressure gaseous refrigerant.

[0039] The accumulator (5) separates the gas and liquid of the refrigerant and stores the liquid refrigerant separately.

[0040] That is, the accumulator (5) separates the gas and liquid of the refrigerant so that only the gaseous refrigerant can be introduced into the compressor (1), and stores the liquid refrigerant separately.

[0041] The HVAC device (6) is configured to supply cold air or hot air to the interior of the vehicle by exchanging heat with a refrigerant.

[0042] The refrigerant line (7) interconnects the compressor (1), outdoor condenser (2), expansion valve (3), chiller (4), accumulator (5), and HVAC device (6) to provide a flow path for the refrigerant.

[0043] At this time, the HVAC device (6) is provided in multiple numbers to supply cold air or heat to the interior of the vehicle from the front and rear of the vehicle, respectively.

[0044] The HVAC device (6) may include a first HVAC device (61) and a second HVAC device (62).

[0045] The first HVAC unit (61) may be configured to supply cold or hot air to the interior of the vehicle from the front of the vehicle.

[0046] A second HVAC unit (62) may be configured to supply cold or hot air to the interior of the vehicle from the rear of the vehicle.

[0047] Here, the front of the vehicle may refer to the space where the driver's seat and the passenger's seat are arranged along the length of the vehicle, and the rear of the vehicle may refer to the space behind the driver's seat.

[0048] The first HVAC unit (61) may include a first indoor side condenser (611) and a first indoor side evaporator (612).

[0049] The first indoor condenser (611) can condense the high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant while exchanging heat with the surrounding air during heating.

[0050] That is, the first indoor condenser (611) can condense the high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant during heating into a high-temperature, high-pressure liquid by exchanging heat with the surrounding air. In addition, the first indoor condenser (611) can pass the high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant during cooling.

[0051] The first indoor evaporator (612) can evaporate the expanded liquid refrigerant during cooling into a low-temperature, low-pressure gaseous state.

[0052] That is, the first indoor evaporator (612) evaporates the refrigerant in a liquid state that has expanded during cooling into a low-temperature, low-pressure gaseous state. In addition, the first indoor evaporator (612) can cool the air by removing heat from the air through heat exchange with the air passing through the first indoor evaporator (612) by the operation of the blower fan while the refrigerant is changing into a gaseous state.

[0053] The second HVAC unit (62) may have the same configuration as the first HVAC unit (61).

[0054] More specifically, the second HVAC device (62) may include a second indoor condenser (621) that condenses high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant during heating while exchanging heat with the surrounding air, and a second indoor evaporator (622) that evaporates expanded liquid refrigerant during cooling into a low-temperature, low-pressure gaseous state.

[0055] The heat pump system (100) for this vehicle may further include a 3-port valve (8). The 3-port valve is a valve having three inlet and outlet directions, and may include both a solenoid type and a STEP or BLDC motor type.

[0056] The 3-port valve (8) can be connected to the first indoor condenser (611), the second indoor condenser (621) and the compressor (1) through the refrigerant line (7).

[0057] The 3-port valve (8) can connect the first indoor condenser (611), the second indoor condenser (621), or the first indoor condenser (611) and the second indoor condenser (621) with the compressor (1) according to the input control command.

[0058] FIG. 2 is a drawing schematically showing a flow path of refrigerant during a first heating control of a vehicle heat pump system according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a drawing schematically showing a flow path of refrigerant during a second heating control of a vehicle heat pump system according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a drawing schematically showing a flow path of refrigerant during a third heating control of a vehicle heat pump system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0059] Referring to Fig. 2, when a first heating control command is input, the 3-port valve (8) can connect the first indoor condenser (611) with the compressor (1) and introduce the refrigerant discharged from the compressor (1) into the first indoor condenser (611).

[0060] In more detail, when the first heating control command is input, the high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant discharged from the compressor (1) flows into the first indoor condenser (611) through the three-port valve (8) and exchanges heat with the indoor air of the vehicle. Accordingly, the indoor temperature of the vehicle increases. Then, the refrigerant condensed in the first indoor condenser (611) flows into the expansion valve (3), expands to a low-pressure state, and then flows from the outdoor condenser (2) to the chiller (4). Then, the refrigerant passing through the outdoor condenser (2) and the chiller (4) absorbs external heat through heat exchange, and the absorbed refrigerant passes through the accumulator (5) and flows back into the compressor (1).

[0061] Referring to Fig. 3, when a second heating control command is input, the 3-port valve (8) can connect the second indoor condenser (621) with the compressor (1) to allow the refrigerant discharged from the compressor (1) to flow into the second indoor condenser (621).

[0062] More specifically, when the second heating control command is input, the high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant discharged from the compressor (1) flows into the second indoor condenser (621) through the three-port valve (8) and exchanges heat with the air inside the vehicle. Accordingly, the temperature inside the vehicle increases. Then, the refrigerant condensed in the second indoor condenser (621) flows into the expansion valve (3), expands to a low-pressure state, and then flows from the outdoor condenser (2) to the chiller (4). Then, the refrigerant passing through the outdoor condenser (2) and the chiller (4) absorbs external heat through heat exchange, and the absorbed refrigerant passes through the accumulator (5) and flows back into the compressor (1).

[0063] Referring to Fig. 4, when a third heating control command is input, the 3-port valve (8) can connect both the first indoor condenser (611) and the second indoor condenser (621) to the compressor (1) so that the refrigerant discharged from the compressor (1) can be introduced into both the first indoor condenser (611) and the second indoor condenser (621).

[0064] In more detail, when the third heating control command is input, the high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant discharged from the compressor (1) is branched from the three-port valve (8) and simultaneously flows into the first indoor condenser (611) and the second indoor condenser (621), and exchanges heat with the indoor air of the vehicle. Accordingly, the indoor temperature of the vehicle rises more quickly and evenly. Then, the refrigerants condensed in the first indoor condenser (611) and the second indoor condenser (621) are combined and then flow into the expansion valve (3), where they are expanded to a low-pressure state, and flow from the outdoor condenser (2) to the chiller (4). Then, the refrigerant passing through the outdoor condenser (2) and the chiller (4) absorbs external heat through heat exchange, and the absorbed refrigerant passes through the accumulator (5) and flows back into the compressor (1).

[0065] That is, the vehicle heat pump system (100) can implement any one of three heating modes as needed, thereby enabling more efficient heating of the vehicle's interior.

[0066] Referring to FIGS. 2 to 4, the vehicle heat pump system (100) may further include a first anti-return valve (9) and a second anti-return valve (10).

[0067] The first anti-return valve (9) is connected to the first indoor condenser (611) and expansion valve (3) through the refrigerant line (7), and can be selectively opened and closed according to an input control command.

[0068] The second backflow prevention valve (10) is connected to the second indoor condenser (621) and expansion valve (3) through the refrigerant line (7), and can be selectively opened and closed according to an input control command.

[0069] More specifically, when a first heating control command is input, the first backflow prevention valve (9) can be opened and the second backflow prevention valve (10) can be closed. And, when a second heating control command is input, the first backflow prevention valve (9) can be closed and the second backflow prevention valve (10) can be opened. In addition, when a third heating control command is input, both the first backflow prevention valve (9) and the second backflow prevention valve (10) can be opened.

[0070] For example, the first check valve (9) and the second check valve (10) are each a two-port valve utilizing a solenoid type, a STEP, a BLDC motor, etc., or a check valve.

[0071] For example, the first check valve (9) and the second check valve (10) may each be a two-phase solenoid valve.

[0072] Figure 5 is an enlarged drawing of a portion of a refrigerant line according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0073] Referring to FIG. 5, a portion of the refrigerant line (7) connecting the compressor (1), the three-port valve (8), the first indoor condenser (611), the second indoor condenser (621), the first backflow prevention valve (9), the second backflow prevention valve (10), and the expansion valve (3) may be composed of an integrated line (71), a plurality of branch lines, a plurality of discharge lines, and a joining line (76).

[0074] More specifically, a portion of the refrigerant line (7) may include an integrated line (71) connecting the compressor (1) and the three-port valve (8), a first branch line (72) connecting the three-port valve (8) and the first indoor condenser (611), a second branch line (73) connecting the three-port valve (8) and the second indoor condenser (621), a first discharge line (74) connecting the first indoor condenser (611) and the first backflow prevention valve (9), a second discharge line (75) connecting the second indoor condenser (621) and the second backflow prevention valve (10), and a junction line (76) connecting the first backflow prevention valve (9) and the second backflow prevention valve (10) and connected to the expansion valve (3).

[0075] In this way, according to an embodiment of the present invention, since both the first HVAC device (61) and the second HVAC device (62) are equipped with a condenser and an evaporator, cooling and heating are possible in both the first HVAC device (61) and the second HVAC device (62), and through this, heating of the vehicle's interior can be selectively operated as needed, thereby increasing heating efficiency.

[0076] In addition, heating is performed by setting one of three heating modes when heating the vehicle, enabling efficient heating operation and further improving indoor air conditioning performance.

[0077] The detailed description above is illustrative of the present invention. Furthermore, the foregoing description illustrates preferred embodiments of the present invention, and the present invention can be used in various other combinations, modifications, and environments. In other words, changes or modifications may be made within the scope of the inventive concepts disclosed herein, the scope equivalent to the written disclosure, and / or the scope of technology or knowledge in the art. The written embodiments illustrate the best possible state for implementing the technical idea of ​​the present invention, and various modifications required for specific applications and uses of the present invention are also possible. Therefore, the detailed description of the present invention above is not intended to limit the present invention to the disclosed embodiments. Furthermore, the appended claims should be construed to include other embodiments.

Claims

1. In a vehicle heat pump system for vehicle interior air conditioning and battery cooling, A compressor that compresses refrigerant and discharges it as a high-temperature, high-pressure gas; An outdoor condenser that cools and condenses high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant or absorbs outside heat with expanded refrigerant; An expansion valve that expands or passes refrigerant; A chiller that cools the vehicle's battery; An accumulator that separates the gaseous and liquid phases of the refrigerant and stores the liquid phase of the refrigerant separately; An HVAC device configured to supply cold or hot air to the interior of a vehicle by exchanging heat with a refrigerant; and A refrigerant line is included to interconnect the compressor, the outdoor condenser, the expansion valve, the chiller, the accumulator and the HVAC device to provide a flow path for the refrigerant. A vehicle heat pump system in which the above HVAC devices are provided in multiple units to supply cold or hot air to the interior of the vehicle from the front and rear of the vehicle, respectively.

2. In paragraph 1, The above HVAC device, A first HVAC device for supplying cooling or heating to the interior of the vehicle from the front of the vehicle; and A second HVAC device is included at the rear of said vehicle to supply cooling or heating to the interior of said vehicle, The above first HVAC device, A first indoor condenser that condenses the high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant while exchanging heat with the surrounding air during heating; and It includes a first indoor evaporator that evaporates the expanded liquid refrigerant during cooling into a low-temperature, low-pressure gaseous state, The second HVAC device, A second indoor condenser that condenses the high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant while exchanging heat with the surrounding air during heating; and A vehicle heat pump system including a second indoor side evaporator that evaporates expanded liquid refrigerant during cooling into a low-temperature, low-pressure gaseous state.

3. In paragraph 2, A vehicle heat pump system further comprising a three-port valve connected to the first indoor condenser, the second indoor condenser, and the compressor through the refrigerant line, and connecting the first indoor condenser or the second indoor condenser or the first indoor condenser and the second indoor condenser with the compressor according to an input control command.

4. In paragraph 3, The above 3-port valve, When the first heating control command is input, the first indoor condenser is connected to the compressor to cause the refrigerant discharged from the compressor to flow into the first indoor condenser. When the second heating control command is input, the second indoor condenser is connected to the compressor to cause the refrigerant discharged from the compressor to flow into the second indoor condenser. A vehicle heat pump system, wherein when a third heating control command is input, both the first indoor condenser and the second indoor condenser are connected to the compressor so that the refrigerant discharged from the compressor is introduced into both the first indoor condenser and the second indoor condenser.

5. In paragraph 4, A first anti-return valve connected to the first indoor condenser and the expansion valve through the refrigerant line; and Further comprising a second anti-return valve connected to the second indoor condenser and the expansion valve through the refrigerant line; When the first heating control command is input, the first anti-reflux valve is opened and the second anti-reflux valve is closed. When the second heating control command is input, the first anti-reflux valve is closed and the second anti-reflux valve is opened. A vehicle heat pump system, wherein when the third heating control command is input, both the first anti-return valve and the second anti-return valve are opened.

6. In paragraph 5, The above refrigerant line, An integrated line connecting the above compressor and the above 3-port valve; A first branch line connecting the above three-port valve and the first indoor-side condenser; A second branch line connecting the above three-port valve and the second indoor-side condenser; A first discharge line connecting the first indoor condenser and the first anti-return valve; A second discharge line connecting the second indoor condenser and the second anti-return valve; and A vehicle heat pump system comprising a junction line connecting the first anti-return valve and the second anti-return valve and connected to the expansion valve.

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