Heating system and control method therefor, storage medium, and vehicle

Abstract

A heating system, applied to a vehicle. The heating system comprises: an air conditioner heating core body (30), an electronic water pump (40), an engine (10), and a control module (20); the air conditioner heating core body, the electronic water pump and the engine form a heating circuit; a cooling liquid of the engine flows into the air conditioner heating core body through a water inlet pipe of the heating circuit, and the cooling liquid flowing out of the air conditioner heating core body flows through the electronic water pump and then enters the engine again through a water return pipe of the heating circuit; the control module is connected to the engine; and the control module is further connected to the electronic water pump. Further disclosed are a control method for a heating system, a storage medium, and a vehicle. The flow speed and / or the temperature of the cooling liquid in the heating circuit are changed by means of the electronic water pump and / or the engine, thereby adjusting the heat flow of the air conditioner heating core body, and achieving fine control over the heat flow.

Description

Heating systems and their control methods, storage media and vehicles

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese patent application No. 202410690915.3, filed on May 30, 2024, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] This application relates to the field of air conditioning and heating systems, and in particular to a heating system, its control method, storage medium, and vehicle. Background Technology

[0003] In existing hybrid vehicles, the heating system is the same as that of the original fuel vehicle, that is, the original engine mechanical water pump, heating water circuit and heating core system are used. It has the advantages of small modification, low cost, fast cycle and simple layout.

[0004] The heating system is coupled with the engine cooling system, and its control is mostly based on the engine coolant temperature, making it impossible to provide precise compensation control for the heat source of the heater core. Technical issues

[0005] The main objective of this application is to propose a heating system that aims to achieve precise energy control through heating thermal management. Technical solutions

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, this application proposes a heating system, which is applied to a vehicle; the heating system includes:

[0007] Air conditioning heater core, electronic water pump, engine and control module;

[0008] The air conditioning heater core, the electronic water pump, and the engine constitute a heating circuit; wherein, the coolant of the engine flows into the air conditioning heater core through the inlet pipe of the heating circuit, and the coolant flowing out of the air conditioning heater core flows through the electronic water pump and then re-enters the engine through the return pipe of the heating circuit.

[0009] The control module is connected to the engine and is used to output commands to the engine to control the engine speed, thereby changing the coolant temperature.

[0010] The control module is also connected to the electronic water pump and is used to output commands to the electronic water pump to control the speed of the electronic water pump, thereby changing the flow rate of the coolant in the heating circuit.

[0011] The control module is also used to adjust the heat flow of the air conditioner heating core by changing the temperature and flow rate of the coolant in the heating circuit according to the received heating command.

[0012] In one embodiment, the heating system further includes:

[0013] The throttle valve has its input end connected to the water inlet pipe and its output end connected to the air conditioning heating core.

[0014] The throttle valve is connected to the control module and is used to adjust the valve opening under the command of the control module, change the flow rate of the coolant, and adjust the heat flow of the air conditioning heating core.

[0015] In one embodiment, the control module includes:

[0016] Vehicle controller and engine controller;

[0017] The engine controller is connected to both the engine and the vehicle controller, and is used to acquire the engine coolant temperature and engine speed, and output them to the vehicle controller; the vehicle controller controls the engine speed and changes the engine coolant temperature through the engine controller.

[0018] The vehicle controller is connected to the electronic water pump and the throttle valve respectively, and adjusts the temperature of the coolant in the heating circuit through the electronic water pump and the throttle valve;

[0019] The vehicle controller adjusts the temperature and flow rate of the engine coolant based on the received heating command, the current engine coolant temperature, and the engine speed, so that the air conditioning heater core reaches the corresponding heat flow.

[0020] In one embodiment, the heating system further includes:

[0021] A mechanical water pump is mechanically connected to the crankshaft of the engine;

[0022] The mechanical water pump is installed in the heating circuit and is used to change the flow rate of the coolant in the heating circuit when the engine is running.

[0023] This application also proposes a heating system control method, which is applied to the heating system; the heating system control method includes:

[0024] Check if there is a need for heating;

[0025] If there is a need for heating, obtain the required heat flow rate for heating, the engine heat flow rate, and the maximum heat flow rate of the electric water pump.

[0026] Based on the required heat flow rate of the heating air, the heat flow rate of the engine, and the maximum heat flow rate of the electronic water pump, the electronic water pump, the engine, and the throttle valve are controlled to adjust the heat flow rate of the air conditioning heating core.

[0027] In one embodiment, the steps of obtaining the required heat flow rate of the heater, the heat flow rate of the engine, and the maximum heat flow rate of the electric water pump specifically include:

[0028] Acquire ambient temperature, vehicle speed, set target temperature, and actual cabin temperature;

[0029] The required heat flow rate for heating is obtained based on the ambient temperature, the vehicle speed, the set target temperature, and the actual cabin temperature.

[0030] The temperature of the coolant at the inlet pipe of the heating circuit, the temperature of the coolant at the outlet pipe of the heating circuit, the speed of the mechanical water pump, and the duty cycle of the throttle valve are obtained.

[0031] The engine heat flow rate is obtained based on the temperature of the coolant at the inlet pipe of the heating circuit, the temperature of the coolant at the outlet pipe of the heating circuit, the rotational speed of the mechanical water pump, the duty cycle of the throttle valve, and the heat capacity ratio of the coolant.

[0032] The maximum heat flow rate of the electronic water pump is obtained based on the temperature of the coolant at the inlet pipe of the heating circuit, the temperature of the coolant at the outlet pipe of the heating circuit, the maximum load of the electronic water pump, and the heat capacity ratio of the coolant.

[0033] In one embodiment, the step of obtaining the required heat flow rate of the heating system based on the ambient temperature, the vehicle speed, the set target temperature, and the actual cabin temperature specifically includes:

[0034] The required heat flow for maintaining the cabin temperature is obtained based on the ambient temperature and the vehicle speed.

[0035] The corrected heat flow required to change the cabin temperature is obtained based on the set target temperature and the actual cabin temperature.

[0036] Calculate the sum of the heat flow required for insulation and the heat flow required for correction, and use this sum as the heat flow required for warm air.

[0037] In one embodiment, the step of controlling the electronic water pump, the engine, and the throttle valve to adjust the heat flow of the air conditioning heater core based on the required heat flow of the heating air, the engine heat flow, and the maximum heat flow of the electronic water pump specifically includes:

[0038] Find the sum of the engine heat flow rate and the maximum heat flow rate of the electric water pump;

[0039] When the required heat flow rate for the heating air is greater than the sum of the values, the speed of the electronic water pump is increased to the maximum value, the speed of the engine is increased, and the duty cycle of the throttle valve is adjusted to the maximum.

[0040] When the required heat flow rate of the heating air is less than the sum of the values, but greater than the heat flow rate of the engine or the maximum heat flow rate of the electric water pump, the required heat flow rate of the electric water pump is obtained based on the required heat flow rate of the heating air and the heat flow rate of the engine.

[0041] Adjust the speed of the electronic water pump so that the actual heat flow of the electronic water pump is equal to the heat flow required by the electronic water pump;

[0042] When the required heat flow rate for the heating air is less than the heat flow rate of the engine or the maximum heat flow rate of the electronic water pump, the engine stops and the speed of the electronic water pump is adjusted so that the actual heat flow rate of the electronic water pump is equal to the required heat flow rate for the heating air.

[0043] In one embodiment of this application, the step of stopping the engine and adjusting the speed of the electronic water pump when the required heat flow of the heater is less than the heat flow of the engine or the maximum heat flow of the electronic water pump, so that the actual heat flow of the electronic water pump is equal to the required heat flow of the heater, specifically includes:

[0044] When the engine speed is zero, the speed of the electronic water pump is controlled so that the actual heat flow of the electronic water pump is equal to the heat flow required by the heater.

[0045] When the engine speed is not zero, the opening degree of the heater damper and the temperature of the engine coolant are detected;

[0046] When the opening degree of the heater vent is less than the first set opening degree and the temperature of the coolant is less than the first set temperature, the electronic water pump stops and the duty cycle of the throttle valve is controlled to make the heat flow of the engine equal to the heat flow required by the heater.

[0047] In one embodiment, after the step of "if there is a need for warm air", the method further includes:

[0048] The opening degree of the heater vent and the temperature of the engine coolant are detected;

[0049] When the opening of the heater vent is greater than the second set opening and the temperature of the coolant is greater than the second set temperature, the steps of obtaining the required heat flow of the heater, the heat flow of the engine, and the maximum heat flow of the electric water pump are executed.

[0050] Otherwise, the electric water pump and the engine are controlled according to the temperature of the engine coolant, and the heat flow of the air conditioning heater core is adjusted.

[0051] This application also proposes a storage medium storing a heating system control program, which, when executed by a processor, implements the steps of the heating system control method as described in any one of claims 5 to 10.

[0052] This application also proposes a vehicle that includes the storage medium and / or the heating system. Beneficial effects

[0053] This application discloses a heating system, its control method, storage medium, and vehicle, wherein the heating system is applied to a vehicle; the heating system includes: an air conditioning heater core, an electric water pump, an engine, and a control module; the air conditioning heater core, the electric water pump, and the engine constitute a heating circuit; wherein, the engine's coolant flows into the air conditioning heater core through the inlet pipe of the heating circuit, and the coolant flowing out of the air conditioning heater core flows through the electric water pump and then re-enters the engine through the return pipe of the heating circuit; the control module is connected to the engine and is used to output commands to the engine to control the engine speed, thereby changing the coolant temperature; the control module is also connected to the electric water pump and is used to output commands to the electric water pump to control the electric water pump speed, thereby changing the coolant flow rate in the heating circuit; the control module is also used to adjust the heat flow of the air conditioning heater core by changing the temperature and flow rate of the coolant in the heating circuit according to the received heating command. This application uses an electronic water pump and / or engine to change the flow rate and / or temperature of the coolant in the heating circuit, thereby adjusting the heat flow of the air conditioning heater core and achieving precise control of the heat flow. Attached Figure Description

[0054] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the structures shown in these drawings without creative effort.

[0055] Figure 1 is a structural schematic diagram of an embodiment of the heating system provided in this application;

[0056] Figure 2 is a structural schematic diagram of another embodiment of the heating system provided in this application;

[0057] Figure 3 is a structural schematic diagram of another embodiment of the heating system provided in this application;

[0058] Figure 4 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of the heating system control method provided in this application;

[0059] Figure 5 is a flowchart illustrating another embodiment of the heating system control method provided in this application;

[0060] Figure 6 is a flowchart illustrating another embodiment of the heating system control method provided in this application.

[0061] Explanation of icon numbers:

[0062] 10. Engine; 20. Control module; 30. Air conditioning / heating core; 40. Electronic water pump; 50. Throttle valve; 60. Mechanical water pump.

[0063] The realization of the purpose, functional features and advantages of this application will be further explained in conjunction with the embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Embodiments of the present invention

[0064] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this application, and not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0065] It should be noted that if the embodiments of this application involve directional indicators (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc.), the directional indicators are only used to explain the relative positional relationship and movement of the components in a specific posture. If the specific posture changes, the directional indicators will also change accordingly.

[0066] Furthermore, if the embodiments of this application involve descriptions such as "first" or "second," these descriptions are for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of those features. Additionally, the use of "and / or" or "and / or" throughout the text includes three parallel solutions. For example, "A and / or B" includes solution A, solution B, or a solution that simultaneously satisfies A and B. Furthermore, the technical solutions of the various embodiments can be combined with each other, but this must be based on the ability of those skilled in the art to implement them. When the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or impossible to implement, it should be considered that such a combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection claimed in this application.

[0067] This application discloses a heating system applied to a vehicle; the heating system includes:

[0068] Air conditioning heater core, electronic water pump, engine and control module;

[0069] The air conditioning heater core, the electronic water pump, and the engine constitute a heating circuit; wherein, the coolant of the engine flows into the air conditioning heater core through the inlet pipe of the heating circuit, and the coolant flowing out of the air conditioning heater core flows through the electronic water pump and then re-enters the engine through the return pipe of the heating circuit.

[0070] The control module is connected to the engine and is used to output commands to the engine to control the engine speed, thereby changing the coolant temperature.

[0071] The control module is also connected to the electronic water pump and is used to output commands to the electronic water pump to control the speed of the electronic water pump, thereby changing the flow rate of the coolant in the heating circuit.

[0072] The control module is also used to adjust the heat flow of the air conditioner heating core by changing the temperature and flow rate of the coolant in the heating circuit according to the received heating command.

[0073] The heating system described herein is applied to vehicles and can utilize engine heat to heat other locations or components of the vehicle, such as the driver's cabin or battery. The primary function of the air conditioning heater core is to provide a heat source to the air conditioning unit in heating mode, thereby providing warm air to the passenger compartment. The heater core is typically located within the air conditioning unit, and its working principle involves transferring heat to the surrounding air through heat exchange.

[0074] The heater core may include inlet and outlet water pipes, upper and lower water chambers (composed of main water chamber fins and water chamber covers), heat dissipation flat tubes, fins, and pressure plates. These components work together to allow the heat from the high-temperature circulating heat medium to be dissipated through the fins, and then blown by the blower from inside the air conditioning unit through various air ducts into the passenger compartment, thereby providing a comfortable temperature for the passengers or defrosting and defogging the windshield.

[0075] The air conditioning heater core, electric water pump, and engine constitute a heating circuit. The engine generates heat during operation and has an engine cooling system to transfer this heat and cool the engine; specifically, engine coolant carries away the heat. In this design, the coolant enters the heating circuit and flows into the air conditioning heater core through the inlet pipe for heat exchange. After heat exchange in the air conditioning heater core, the coolant's temperature decreases; it then re-enters the engine's cooling system through the return pipe of the heating circuit. In this design, the engine provides heat, and the engine speed is positively correlated with the coolant temperature. The coolant transfers heat to the air conditioning heater core. Since the coolant exists in fluid form, the flow rate of the coolant in the heating circuit can be changed by controlling the speed of the electric water pump, thereby altering the heat exchange rate of the air conditioning heater core. A faster coolant flow rate results in a faster heat exchange rate.

[0076] The control module may include a microcontroller unit (MCU), a system-on-chip (SoC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), or a programmable logic controller (PLC), etc. In one embodiment, the control module may be a vehicle controller. The heating command may be issued by the user to the control module through an interactive device connected to the control module. In this embodiment, the interactive device may be the vehicle's central control screen, and the user sends the heating command by clicking on the corresponding area of ​​the central control screen. The heating command may include a target temperature, i.e., the temperature to be adjusted. In another embodiment, the interactive device may also be a knob of the vehicle's air conditioning system, and the user sends the corresponding heating command to the control module by setting the position of the knob.

[0077] When the control module receives the heating command, it adjusts the heat flow of the air conditioning heater core by changing the temperature and flow rate of the coolant in the heating circuit, thereby raising the interior temperature to the target temperature. It's important to understand that heat flow refers to the amount of heat transferred through an object per unit time when there is a temperature difference between its two sides. This heat transfer can occur through conduction, convection, radiation, etc. The unit of heat flow is usually watts (W), which reflects the power in the heat transfer process. Since adjusting the heat flow of the air conditioning heater core can be achieved by controlling either the electric water pump or the engine, the control module can adjust the heat flow by controlling the speed of the electric water pump alone, or by controlling the speed of the engine alone, or by simultaneously controlling the speed of the electric water pump or the engine.

[0078] The control module can independently control the speed of the electronic water pump and the engine speed, thereby adjusting the heat flow of the air conditioning heater core. In this solution, the engine, which is the heat source in the heater circuit, and the electronic water pump, which affects the coolant flow rate in the circuit, are decoupled. The control module is not limited to a strategy based on engine coolant temperature control; instead, it can precisely control the heat flow of the air conditioning heater core according to the heating command based on the electronic water pump and the engine, thereby achieving precise control of cabin temperature changes.

[0079] Furthermore, this solution requires no specific modifications to existing engines; it simply involves adding an electronically controlled water pump to the heating circuit, offering a cost advantage. Additionally, it's easy to understand why, since the heat flow of the air conditioning heater core in this solution is determined only by the temperature and flow rate of the coolant in the heating circuit, it can be adapted to most air conditioning heater cores capable of heat exchange, resulting in high core versatility. The heat exchange area of ​​the air conditioning heater core is a key indicator for heating systems, and different vehicle models use different heater cores. This solution improves the versatility of the heater core through precise control of the decoupled flow in the heating circuit, thereby reducing the development cost and timeframe of the air conditioning system.

[0080] This application discloses a heating system applied to a vehicle. The heating system includes an air conditioning heater core, an electric water pump, an engine, and a control module. The air conditioning heater core, the electric water pump, and the engine constitute a heating circuit. Coolant from the engine flows into the air conditioning heater core through the inlet pipe of the heating circuit. Coolant flowing out of the air conditioning heater core passes through the electric water pump and then re-enters the engine through the return pipe of the heating circuit. The control module is connected to the engine and is used to output commands to the engine to control its speed, thereby changing the coolant temperature. The control module is also connected to the electric water pump and is used to output commands to the electric water pump to control its speed, thereby changing the coolant flow rate in the heating circuit. The control module is further used to adjust the heat flow rate of the air conditioning heater core by changing the temperature and flow rate of the coolant in the heating circuit according to received heating commands. This application uses an electronic water pump and / or engine to change the flow rate and / or temperature of the coolant in the heating circuit, thereby adjusting the heat flow of the air conditioning heater core and achieving precise control of the heat flow.

[0081] In one embodiment of this application, the heating system further includes:

[0082] The throttle valve has its input end connected to the water inlet pipe and its output end connected to the air conditioning heating core.

[0083] The throttle valve is connected to the control module and is used to adjust the valve opening under the command of the control module, change the flow rate of the coolant, and adjust the heat flow of the air conditioning heating core.

[0084] The throttling valve is installed in the heating circuit to change the flow rate of the coolant; specifically, it is installed between the inlet pipe of the heating circuit and the air conditioning heater core. The throttling valve is connected to the control module; the control module can adjust the heat flow of the air conditioning heater core by controlling the opening of the regulating valve to change the flow rate of the coolant.

[0085] It's easy to understand that both engines and electric water pumps require significant energy to operate, and electric water pumps lose their ability to regulate coolant flow rate when power is lost. In contrast, throttle valves do not constantly rely on electrical energy to regulate coolant flow rate. Because throttle valves maintain their opening even after power is lost, they offer advantages such as low energy consumption and stable control. It's important to understand that throttle valves are generally used to reduce coolant flow rate; when adjusting coolant flow rate is necessary, at least one of the electric water pump and the throttle valve can be selected for adjustment, depending on the requirements and usage scenario.

[0086] In one embodiment of this application, the control module includes:

[0087] Vehicle controller and engine controller;

[0088] The engine controller is connected to both the engine and the vehicle controller, and is used to acquire the engine coolant temperature and engine speed, and output them to the vehicle controller; the vehicle controller controls the engine speed and changes the engine coolant temperature through the engine controller.

[0089] The vehicle controller is connected to the electronic water pump and the throttle valve respectively, and adjusts the temperature of the coolant in the heating circuit through the electronic water pump and the throttle valve;

[0090] The vehicle controller adjusts the temperature and flow rate of the engine coolant based on the received heating command, the current engine coolant temperature, and the engine speed, so that the air conditioning heater core reaches the corresponding heat flow.

[0091] In this embodiment, the control module includes a vehicle controller and an engine controller. The engine controller is used to acquire relevant engine parameters and control the engine operation. These relevant parameters include the engine coolant temperature and the engine speed. The vehicle controller is connected to the engine controller. Specifically, after receiving the engine coolant temperature and engine speed output by the engine controller, the vehicle controller, in conjunction with a received heating command, obtains a target engine coolant temperature and a target coolant flow rate. Based on the target coolant temperature, the vehicle controller can control the engine speed, thereby changing the engine coolant temperature. Additionally, based on the target coolant flow rate, the vehicle controller can control the electronic water pump and the throttle valve, thereby changing the engine coolant flow rate so that the air conditioning heater core reaches the heat flow rate corresponding to the heating command.

[0092] Most of the latest hybrid vehicles use dedicated hybrid engines, replacing the mechanical engine coolant water pump with an electronic engine coolant water pump. This decouples the engine from the water pump, allowing the engine to stop running during heating and enabling water flow in the heater loop, thus reducing fuel consumption during low-temperature heating. However, this involves significant engine modifications, a long development cycle, and high costs. Furthermore, the heating system is coupled with the engine's cooling system, and control is mostly based on engine coolant temperature, making it impossible to achieve precise compensation control of the heater core heat source.

[0093] In one embodiment of this application, the heating system further includes:

[0094] A mechanical water pump is mechanically connected to the crankshaft of the engine;

[0095] The mechanical water pump is installed in the heating circuit and is used to change the flow rate of the coolant in the heating circuit when the engine is running.

[0096] In this embodiment, the mechanical water pump, which is mechanically connected to the engine crankshaft, can increase the flow rate of engine coolant in the heating circuit by using the engine's power when the engine is running.

[0097] In one embodiment of this application, the vehicle controller is also connected to the vehicle's internal air conditioning system to obtain heating commands and estimate the heating demand heat flow corresponding to the heating commands.

[0098] This application also proposes a heating system control method, which is applied to the heating system; the heating system control method includes:

[0099] Step S10: Detect whether there is a need for heating;

[0100] Step S20: If there is a need for heating, obtain the required heat flow rate of heating, the engine heat flow rate, and the maximum heat flow rate of the electric water pump;

[0101] Step S30: Based on the required heat flow rate of the heating air, the heat flow rate of the engine, and the maximum heat flow rate of the electronic water pump, control the electronic water pump, the engine, and the throttle valve to adjust the heat flow rate of the air conditioning heating core.

[0102] It should be clarified that the execution entity of the heating system control method is the control module of the heating system or the vehicle controller. The detection of whether a heating demand exists can be determined based on whether a heating command is received; if the heating command is received, then a heating demand exists, and the heating demand corresponds to the heating command; if the heating command is not received, then there is no heating demand.

[0103] If a heating command is received and a heating demand is confirmed, the required heating flow rate can be determined first based on the heating command. Then, the current engine heat flow rate and the current maximum heat flow rate of the electric water pump can be determined. It should be noted that the required heating flow rate represents the target heat flow rate for the heating demand, while the engine heat flow rate represents the heat flow rate provided by the mechanical water pump based on engine rotation at the current moment, using the engine as the heat source; and the electric water pump represents the maximum heat flow rate that the electric water pump can provide at the current moment, using the engine as the heat source.

[0104] Wherein, the required heat flow rate for heating represents the heat flow rate that needs to be provided, while the engine heat flow rate and the electric water pump heat flow rate represent the heat flow rate that can be provided at the current moment. Based on the comparison relationship between the required heat flow rate for heating, the engine heat flow rate, and the maximum heat flow rate of the electric water pump, the electric water pump, the engine, and the throttle valve are controlled to change the temperature and flow rate of the engine coolant in the heating circuit, thereby adjusting the heat flow rate of the air conditioning heater core to make it equal to the required heat flow rate for heating.

[0105] In this embodiment of the application, the steps of obtaining the required heat flow rate of the heater, the heat flow rate of the engine, and the maximum heat flow rate of the electric water pump specifically include:

[0106] Step S210: Obtain ambient temperature, vehicle speed, set target temperature, and actual cabin temperature;

[0107] Step S220: Obtain the required heat flow rate for heating based on the ambient temperature, the vehicle speed, the set target temperature, and the actual cabin temperature;

[0108] Step S230: Obtain the temperature of the coolant at the inlet pipe of the heating circuit, the temperature of the coolant at the outlet pipe of the heating circuit, the rotation speed of the mechanical water pump, and the duty cycle of the throttle valve;

[0109] Step S240: Obtain the engine heat flow rate based on the temperature of the coolant at the inlet pipe of the heating circuit, the temperature of the coolant at the outlet pipe of the heating circuit, the speed of the mechanical water pump, the duty cycle of the throttle valve, and the heat capacity ratio of the coolant.

[0110] Step S250: Obtain the maximum heat flow rate of the electronic water pump based on the temperature of the coolant at the inlet pipe of the heating circuit, the temperature of the coolant at the outlet pipe of the heating circuit, the maximum load of the electronic water pump, and the heat capacity ratio of the coolant.

[0111] In this embodiment, considering that the vehicle cabin needs to reach the desired temperature during driving, two requirements need to be addressed: the heat flow required for maintaining the cabin temperature during driving and the heat flow required for correcting the cabin temperature; the sum of the heat flow required for maintaining the cabin temperature and the heat flow required for correcting the cabin temperature is the heat flow required for heating.

[0112] The heat flow required for insulation is related to the ambient temperature and the vehicle speed, while the corrected heat flow required is related to the actual cabin temperature and the user-set target temperature. Therefore, in this solution, the ambient temperature, vehicle speed, target temperature, and actual cabin temperature can be obtained first. The ambient temperature and actual cabin temperature can be obtained using temperature sensors, the vehicle speed can be obtained using a speed sensor, and the target temperature can be obtained from the air conditioning system or the heating command. Then, the heat flow required for insulation and the corrected heat flow required are determined from the ambient temperature, vehicle speed, target temperature, and actual cabin temperature, thereby obtaining the required heat flow for warm air.

[0113] In this embodiment of the application, the formula for obtaining the heat flow required for insulation based on the ambient temperature and vehicle speed is as follows:

[0114] PQb=fb(Ta,V)+fx(Ta,V)

[0115] In the formula, PQb is the required heat flow for insulation, fb(Ta, V) is the initial heat flow, and fx(Ta, V) is the steady-state learned heat flow. The initial heat flow can be calibrated by researchers based on vehicle speed and ambient temperature; the steady-state learned heat flow can be obtained by learning from user behavior patterns during vehicle operation.

[0116] The formula for obtaining the corrected required heat flow based on the set target temperature and the actual cabin temperature is as follows:

[0117] PQt=PQmax*(Tset-Tcab) / (Tset-K)

[0118] In the formula, PQt is the corrected required heat flow, PQmax is the maximum heat flow that the heating system can provide, K is the temperature correction coefficient, Tset is the set target temperature, and Tcab is the actual cabin temperature.

[0119] After obtaining the required heat flow rate of the heating air, the temperature of the coolant at the inlet pipe of the heating circuit, the temperature of the coolant at the outlet pipe of the heating circuit, the speed of the mechanical water pump, and the duty cycle of the throttle valve are obtained.

[0120] The engine heat flow rate is obtained based on the temperature of the coolant at the inlet pipe of the heating circuit, the temperature of the coolant at the outlet pipe of the heating circuit, the rotational speed of the mechanical water pump, the duty cycle of the throttle valve, and the heat capacity ratio of the coolant.

[0121] The maximum heat flow rate of the electronic water pump is obtained based on the temperature of the coolant at the inlet pipe of the heating circuit, the temperature of the coolant at the outlet pipe of the heating circuit, the maximum load of the electronic water pump, and the heat capacity ratio of the coolant.

[0122] The heat flow rate is related to the temperature and flow rate of the engine coolant in the circuit. The heat flow rate of the electronic water pump represents the heat flow rate of the coolant driven by the electronic water pump during heat exchange in the air conditioning heater core. The heat flow rate of the engine represents the heat flow rate of the coolant driven by the mechanical water pump during heat exchange in the air conditioning heater core.

[0123] The formula for calculating the engine heat flow rate, based on the coolant temperature at the inlet pipe of the heating circuit, the coolant temperature at the outlet pipe of the heating circuit, the rotational speed of the mechanical water pump, the duty cycle of the throttle valve, and the heat capacity ratio of the coolant, is as follows:

[0124] PQs = ms * Cp * (Te - Tout)

[0125] In the formula, PQs is the engine heat flow rate, ms is the flow rate of coolant in the heating circuit due to the operation of the mechanical water pump, ms=f(n,Zj), which is related to the speed n of the mechanical water pump and the duty cycle Zj of the throttle valve. The specific correlation can be obtained by calibration; Cp is the coolant heat capacity ratio, Tset is the set target temperature, and Tcab is the actual cabin temperature.

[0126] The formula for calculating the maximum heat flow rate of the electronic water pump based on the temperature of the coolant at the inlet pipe of the heating circuit, the temperature of the coolant at the outlet pipe of the heating circuit, the maximum load of the electronic water pump, and the heat capacity ratio of the coolant is as follows:

[0127] PQe = me * Cp * (Te - Tout)

[0128] In the formula, PQe is the heat flow rate of the electric water pump, ms is the flow rate of coolant in the heating circuit due to the operation of the electric water pump, me=fe(Z) is related to the load Z of the electric water pump, and the specific relationship can be obtained by calibration, Cp is the heat capacity ratio of the coolant, Tset is the set target temperature, and Tcab is the actual cabin temperature.

[0129] The electronic water pump has the maximum heat flow rate when Z is at its maximum.

[0130] In this embodiment of the application, the step of controlling the electronic water pump, the engine, and the throttle valve to adjust the heat flow of the air conditioning heater core based on the required heat flow of the heating air, the engine heat flow, and the maximum heat flow of the electronic water pump specifically includes:

[0131] Step S310: Calculate the sum of the engine heat flow rate and the maximum heat flow rate of the electronic water pump;

[0132] Step S320: When the required heat flow of the heating air is greater than the sum of the values, increase the speed of the electronic water pump to the maximum value, increase the speed of the engine, and adjust the duty cycle of the throttle valve to the maximum.

[0133] Step S330: When the required heat flow rate of the heating air is less than the sum value, but greater than the heat flow rate of the engine or the maximum heat flow rate of the electric water pump, the required heat flow rate of the electric water pump is obtained based on the required heat flow rate of the heating air and the heat flow rate of the engine.

[0134] Step S340: Adjust the rotation speed of the electronic water pump so that the actual heat flow of the electronic water pump is equal to the heat flow required by the electronic water pump;

[0135] Step S350: When the required heat flow rate of the heating air is less than the heat flow rate of the engine or the maximum heat flow rate of the electronic water pump, the engine stops and the speed of the electronic water pump is adjusted so that the actual heat flow rate of the electronic water pump is equal to the required heat flow rate of the heating air.

[0136] In this embodiment, the sum of the engine heat flow and the maximum heat flow of the electric water pump represents the maximum heat flow that can be provided at the current engine speed and electric water pump speed. This is compared with the required heat flow for the heater.

[0137] When the required heat flow rate for heating is greater than the sum of the values, it means that the available heat flow rate is less than the required heat flow rate for heating, and the maximum heat flow rate needs to be supplied. This means increasing the speed of the electronic water pump to the highest value, increasing the speed of the engine, and adjusting the duty cycle of the throttle valve to the maximum.

[0138] When the required heat flow rate for the heater is less than the sum of the values, but greater than the engine heat flow rate or the maximum heat flow rate of the electric water pump, it means that a combination of engine heat flow rate and electric water pump heat flow rate is needed to provide the required heat flow rate for the heater. Specifically, the required heat flow rate of the electric water pump is obtained based on the required heat flow rate for the heater and the engine heat flow rate; the speed of the electric water pump is adjusted so that the actual heat flow rate of the electric water pump is equal to the required heat flow rate of the electric water pump.

[0139] When the required heat flow for heating is less than the engine's heat flow or the electric water pump's maximum heat flow, it means that either the engine's heat flow or the electric water pump's heat flow can meet the heating demand. In this case, either the engine's heat flow or the electric water pump's heat flow can be used alone; from a cost perspective, using the electric water pump's heat flow to meet the heating demand is more economical. The engine is stopped, and the electric water pump's speed is adjusted so that the electric water pump's actual heat flow equals the required heating demand.

[0140] When there is no need for air conditioning or heating, the system enters the normal control mode, which allows the engine to stop and the electric water pump and throttle valve for heating to be uncontrolled.

[0141] When there is a demand for air conditioning heating, the system executes the energy management strategy selection; when the air conditioning vent opening is greater than 90% (100% is full heat) and the air conditioning fan speed is greater than level 2 and the engine coolant temperature is greater than 50℃, the system executes the energy management strategy based on the heat flow of the heating air; otherwise, the system executes the heat management strategy based on the coolant temperature, i.e., the coolant temperature control mode.

[0142] The water temperature control mode is based on the subsystems of the engine water temperature control execution module. When the water temperature is greater than 70°C, the engine is allowed to stop. When the engine stops, the heater electronic water pump is controlled to run at full load. When the water temperature is lower than 60°C, the engine is not allowed to stop, the heater electronic water pump does not work, and the throttle valve is always open (fully open, not controlled).

[0143] In this embodiment of the application, the step of stopping the engine and adjusting the speed of the electronic water pump when the required heat flow of the heater is less than the heat flow of the engine or the maximum heat flow of the electronic water pump, so that the actual heat flow of the electronic water pump is equal to the required heat flow of the heater, specifically includes:

[0144] When the engine speed is zero, the speed of the electronic water pump is controlled so that the actual heat flow of the electronic water pump is equal to the heat flow required by the heater.

[0145] When the engine speed is not zero, the opening degree of the heater damper and the temperature of the engine coolant are detected;

[0146] When the opening degree of the heater vent is less than the first set opening degree and the temperature of the coolant is less than the first set temperature, the electronic water pump stops and the duty cycle of the throttle valve is controlled to make the heat flow of the engine equal to the heat flow required by the heater.

[0147] The first set opening degree and the first set temperature are specifically determined by the researchers. In one embodiment of this application, the first set opening degree is 90%, and the first set temperature is 90 degrees Celsius.

[0148] In one embodiment of this application, after the step of "if there is a need for warm air", the method further includes:

[0149] The opening degree of the heater vent and the temperature of the engine coolant are detected;

[0150] When the opening of the heater vent is greater than the second set opening and the temperature of the coolant is greater than the second set temperature, the steps of obtaining the required heat flow of the heater, the heat flow of the engine, and the maximum heat flow of the electric water pump are executed.

[0151] Otherwise, the electric water pump and the engine are controlled according to the temperature of the engine coolant, and the heat flow of the air conditioning heater core is adjusted.

[0152] The second set opening degree and the second set temperature are determined by the R&D personnel. In this embodiment, the second set opening degree can be 90% and the second set temperature can be 50°C.

[0153] When the air conditioning vent is open to more than 90% (100% is full heat), the air conditioning fan speed is set to more than 2, and the engine coolant temperature is greater than 50°C, the system executes the steps of obtaining the required heat flow of the heating system, the engine heat flow, and the maximum heat flow of the electric water pump; otherwise, the system executes the above-mentioned heat management strategy based on water temperature.

[0154] In one embodiment, if the system enters the overheating energy boundary, i.e., the opening of the heating / cooling damper is less than 95% and the engine coolant temperature is below 90°C; if the system is within the overheating energy boundary, then the overheating energy-saving control mode is executed. Here, overheating refers to the heater being overheated, but the engine temperature is not high; at this time, it is necessary to control the heat flow through the heater, so that the heat remains in the engine coolant.

[0155] The overheating energy-saving control mode controls the overheating energy passing through the heater core, allowing the engine coolant temperature to rise rapidly. This mode allows the P1 assembly to shut down, the heater electronic water pump to stop working, and controls the coolant flow rate of the heater throttle valve. The heater throttle valve duty cycle Zj is executed as follows: PQs=PQr, that is, f(n,Zj)*Cp*(Te-Tout)=fb(Ta,V)+fx(Ta,V)+ PQmax*(Tset-Tcab) / (Tset-K); where n is the real-time speed.

[0156] The technical solution proposed in this application has at least the following beneficial effects:

[0157] 1) This solution allows the air conditioning heating system to be separated from the engine cooling system, improving fuel economy and NVH (noise, vibration, and harshness) during heating.

[0158] 2) This solution adopts an energy management strategy based on heat flow, which can keep the air conditioning hot and cold air dampers in the maximum heat zone, avoid the increase in system energy consumption caused by mixed air, and improve economy; and can link the control of the heating water pump and engine when the heat is insufficient to improve heating comfort.

[0159] 3) This solution uses a heater electronic water pump to decouple the cooling water flow of the heater circuit from the engine cooling flow, accurately control the heating heat of the heater circuit, improve the standardization of the heater core, and reduce the development cost and cycle of the air conditioning system.

[0160] This application also proposes a storage medium storing a heating system control program, which, when executed by a processor, implements the steps of the heating system control method.

[0161] This application also proposes a vehicle that includes the aforementioned storage medium and / or the aforementioned heating system.

[0162] The above description is merely an exemplary embodiment of this application and does not limit the patent scope of this application. Any equivalent structural transformations made based on the technical concept of this application and the contents of the specification and drawings of this application, or direct / indirect applications in other related technical fields, are included within the patent protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. A heating system, wherein, The heating system is applied to a vehicle; the heating system includes: Air conditioning heater core, electronic water pump, engine and control module; The air conditioning heater core, the electronic water pump, and the engine constitute a heating circuit; wherein, the coolant of the engine flows into the air conditioning heater core through the inlet pipe of the heating circuit, and the coolant flowing out of the air conditioning heater core flows through the electronic water pump and then re-enters the engine through the return pipe of the heating circuit. The control module is connected to the engine and is used to output commands to the engine to control the engine speed, thereby changing the coolant temperature. The control module is also connected to the electronic water pump and is used to output commands to the electronic water pump to control the speed of the electronic water pump, thereby changing the flow rate of the coolant in the heating circuit. The control module is also used to adjust the heat flow of the air conditioner heating core by changing the temperature and flow rate of the coolant in the heating circuit according to the received heating command.

2. The heating system as described in claim 1, wherein, The heating system also includes: The throttle valve has its input end connected to the water inlet pipe and its output end connected to the air conditioning heating core. The throttle valve is connected to the control module and is used to adjust the valve opening under the command of the control module, change the flow rate of the coolant, and adjust the heat flow of the air conditioning heating core.

3. The heating system as described in claim 2, wherein, The control module includes: Vehicle controller and engine controller; The engine controller is connected to both the engine and the vehicle controller, and is used to acquire the engine coolant temperature and engine speed, and output them to the vehicle controller; the vehicle controller controls the engine speed and changes the engine coolant temperature through the engine controller. The vehicle controller is connected to the electronic water pump and the throttle valve respectively, and adjusts the temperature of the coolant in the heating circuit through the electronic water pump and the throttle valve; The vehicle controller adjusts the temperature and flow rate of the engine coolant based on the received heating command, the current engine coolant temperature, and the engine speed, so that the air conditioning heater core reaches the corresponding heat flow.

4. The heating system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The heating system also includes: A mechanical water pump is mechanically connected to the crankshaft of the engine; The mechanical water pump is installed in the heating circuit and is used to change the flow rate of the coolant in the heating circuit when the engine is running.

5. A method for controlling a heating system, wherein, The heating system control method is applied to the heating system; The heating system control method includes: Check if there is a need for heating; If there is a need for heating, obtain the required heat flow rate for heating, the engine heat flow rate, and the maximum heat flow rate of the electric water pump. Based on the required heat flow rate of the heating air, the heat flow rate of the engine, and the maximum heat flow rate of the electronic water pump, the electronic water pump, the engine, and the throttle valve are controlled to adjust the heat flow rate of the air conditioning heating core.

6. The heating system control method as described in claim 5, wherein, The specific steps for obtaining the required heat flow rate of the heater, the heat flow rate of the engine, and the maximum heat flow rate of the electric water pump include: Acquire ambient temperature, vehicle speed, set target temperature, and actual cabin temperature; The required heat flow rate for heating is obtained based on the ambient temperature, the vehicle speed, the set target temperature, and the actual cabin temperature. The temperature of the coolant at the inlet pipe of the heating circuit, the temperature of the coolant at the outlet pipe of the heating circuit, the speed of the mechanical water pump, and the duty cycle of the throttle valve are obtained. The engine heat flow rate is obtained based on the temperature of the coolant at the inlet pipe of the heating circuit, the temperature of the coolant at the outlet pipe of the heating circuit, the rotational speed of the mechanical water pump, the duty cycle of the throttle valve, and the heat capacity ratio of the coolant. The maximum heat flow rate of the electronic water pump is obtained based on the temperature of the coolant at the inlet pipe of the heating circuit, the temperature of the coolant at the outlet pipe of the heating circuit, the maximum load of the electronic water pump, and the heat capacity ratio of the coolant.

7. The heating system control method as described in claim 6, wherein, The step of obtaining the required heat flow rate of the heating system based on the ambient temperature, the vehicle speed, the set target temperature, and the actual cabin temperature specifically includes: The required heat flow for maintaining the cabin temperature is obtained based on the ambient temperature and the vehicle speed. The corrected heat flow required to change the cabin temperature is obtained based on the set target temperature and the actual cabin temperature. Calculate the sum of the heat flow required for insulation and the heat flow required for correction, and use this sum as the heat flow required for warm air.

8. The heating system control method as described in claim 7, wherein, The step of controlling the electronic water pump, engine, and throttle valve to adjust the heat flow of the air conditioning heater core based on the required heat flow of the heater, the heat flow of the engine, and the maximum heat flow of the electronic water pump specifically includes: Find the sum of the engine heat flow rate and the maximum heat flow rate of the electric water pump; When the required heat flow rate for the heating air is greater than the sum of the values, the speed of the electronic water pump is increased to the maximum value, the speed of the engine is increased, and the duty cycle of the throttle valve is adjusted to the maximum. When the required heat flow rate of the heating air is less than the sum of the values, but greater than the heat flow rate of the engine or the maximum heat flow rate of the electric water pump, the required heat flow rate of the electric water pump is obtained based on the required heat flow rate of the heating air and the heat flow rate of the engine. Adjust the speed of the electronic water pump so that the actual heat flow of the electronic water pump is equal to the heat flow required by the electronic water pump; When the required heat flow rate for the heating air is less than the heat flow rate of the engine or the maximum heat flow rate of the electronic water pump, the engine stops and the speed of the electronic water pump is adjusted so that the actual heat flow rate of the electronic water pump is equal to the required heat flow rate for the heating air.

9. The heating system control method as described in claim 8, wherein, The step of stopping the engine and adjusting the speed of the electronic water pump when the required heat flow of the heater is less than the heat flow of the engine or the maximum heat flow of the electronic water pump, so that the actual heat flow of the electronic water pump is equal to the required heat flow of the heater, specifically includes: When the engine speed is zero, the speed of the electronic water pump is controlled so that the actual heat flow of the electronic water pump is equal to the heat flow required by the heater. When the engine speed is not zero, the opening degree of the heater damper and the temperature of the engine coolant are detected; When the opening degree of the heater vent is less than the first set opening degree and the temperature of the coolant is less than the first set temperature, the electronic water pump stops and the duty cycle of the throttle valve is controlled to make the heat flow of the engine equal to the heat flow required by the heater.

10. The heating system control method according to any one of claims 5 to 9, wherein, Following the step of "if there is a need for heating", the following is also included: The opening degree of the heater vent and the temperature of the engine coolant are detected; When the opening of the heater vent is greater than the second set opening and the temperature of the coolant is greater than the second set temperature, the steps of obtaining the required heat flow of the heater, the heat flow of the engine, and the maximum heat flow of the electric water pump are executed. Otherwise, the electric water pump and the engine are controlled according to the temperature of the engine coolant, and the heat flow of the air conditioning heater core is adjusted.

11. A storage medium, wherein, The storage medium stores a heating system control program, which, when executed by a processor, implements the steps of the heating system control method as described in any one of claims 5 to 10.

12. A vehicle, wherein, The vehicle includes the storage medium as described in claim 11, and / or the heating system as described in any one of claims 1 to 4.

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