Vehicle thermal management system, control method, electronic device, and vehicle

Abstract

A vehicle thermal management system (100), comprising: a compressor (10) and a condenser (20), an air conditioner branch (30), and at least one refrigerator branch (40). An outlet of the compressor is in communication with an inlet of the condenser. The air conditioner branch comprises an air conditioner evaporator (31) and a first expansion valve (32), an inlet of the first expansion valve is in communication with an outlet of the condenser, an outlet of the first expansion valve is in communication with an inlet of the air conditioner evaporator, and an outlet of the air conditioner evaporator is in communication with an inlet of the compressor. The refrigerator branch comprises a refrigerator evaporator (41) and a second expansion valve (42), an inlet of the second expansion valve is in communication with the outlet of the condenser, an outlet of the second expansion valve is in communication with an inlet of the refrigerator evaporator, and an outlet of the refrigerator evaporator is in communication with the inlet of the compressor. Also provided are a control method, an electronic device, and a vehicle. Allocating and managing the cooling demands of an air conditioner and a refrigerator by means of the vehicle thermal management system can improve energy utilization efficiency, so that the compressor can use energy more efficiently, thereby reducing the overall energy consumption of the vehicle.

Description

Vehicle thermal management system, control method, electronic device and vehicle

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202411012393.8, filed on July 25, 2024, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure relates to the technical field of vehicle control, and in particular, to a vehicle thermal management system, a control method, an electronic device and a vehicle. BACKGROUND

[0003] The vehicle thermal management system is one of the important components of the vehicle, which can manage the temperature of the air conditioner in the cabin, the working temperature of the battery system and the equipment such as the vehicle refrigerator in the vehicle, and improve the riding experience of the driver and passengers. SUMMARY

[0004] The present disclosure provides a vehicle thermal management system, a control method, an electronic device and a vehicle, which are used to solve the problem of low thermal management efficiency of the vehicle in the related art.

[0005] In a first aspect, a vehicle thermal management system is provided, comprising: a compressor and a condenser, an air conditioner branch, and at least one refrigerator branch. The outlet of the compressor is in communication with the inlet of the condenser. The air conditioner branch comprises an air conditioner evaporator and a first expansion valve. The inlet of the first expansion valve is in communication with the outlet of the condenser, and the outlet of the first expansion valve is in communication with the inlet of the air conditioner evaporator. The outlet of the air conditioner evaporator is in communication with the inlet of the compressor. Any one of the at least one refrigerator branch comprises a refrigerator evaporator and a second expansion valve. The inlet of the second expansion valve is in communication with the outlet of the condenser, and the outlet of the second expansion valve is in communication with the inlet of the refrigerator evaporator. The outlet of the refrigerator evaporator is in communication with the inlet of the compressor.

[0006] In the vehicle thermal management system in some embodiments of the present disclosure, the air conditioner branch and the refrigerator branch are connected in parallel, and share one compressor and one condenser. In this way, the air conditioner and the refrigerator can be managed by the vehicle thermal management system according to the cooling demand, which can improve the energy utilization efficiency, and the compressor can utilize energy more efficiently, thereby reducing the overall energy consumption of the vehicle.

[0007] In addition, in the case that the vehicle thermal management system has different cooling demands, the cooling mode of the air conditioner and the refrigerator can be adjusted by adjusting the opening degree of the first expansion valve and the second expansion valve, which can improve the orderly control of the vehicle thermal management system, and further ensure that the heat is reasonably distributed and utilized, thereby improving the thermal management efficiency of the system.

[0008] Secondly, a vehicle thermal management system is provided, comprising: a compressor, a condenser, at least one battery circuit, and at least one refrigerator circuit. The compressor outlet is connected to the condenser inlet. Any one of the at least one battery circuit includes a battery cold plate and a third expansion valve. The inlet of the third expansion valve is connected to the condenser outlet, the inlet of the battery cold plate is connected to the third expansion valve outlet, and the outlet of the battery cold plate is connected to the compressor inlet. Any one of the at least one refrigerator circuit includes a refrigerator evaporator and a second expansion valve. The inlet of the second expansion valve is connected to the condenser outlet, the outlet of the second expansion valve is connected to the refrigerator evaporator inlet, and the outlet of the refrigerator evaporator is connected to the compressor inlet.

[0009] Thirdly, a control method is provided for controlling the aforementioned vehicle thermal management system. The method includes: acquiring the thermal management requirements of a thermal management object, the thermal management object including a vehicle cabin and at least one refrigerator; and performing a thermal management operation based on the thermal management requirements and the thermal management priority of the thermal management object, the thermal management operation being used to adjust the operating pressure of at least one of the air conditioning evaporator or the refrigerator evaporator.

[0010] Fourthly, a control method is provided for controlling the aforementioned vehicle thermal management system. The method includes: acquiring the thermal management requirements of thermal management objects, including at least one battery and at least one refrigerator; and performing thermal management operations based on the thermal management requirements and thermal management priorities of the thermal management objects, wherein the thermal management operations are used to adjust the operating pressure of at least one of the battery cold plate or the refrigerator evaporator.

[0011] Fifthly, an electronic device is provided, including a processor and a memory, the processor being connected to the memory, the memory storing computer instructions that, when executed on the electronic device, cause the electronic device to perform the method described above.

[0012] Sixthly, a vehicle is provided, including at least one of the above-described vehicle thermal management system or the above-described electronic device. Attached Figure Description

[0013] Figure 1 is a flowchart of the control logic of a vehicle-mounted refrigerator in the related technology;

[0014] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a vehicle thermal management system according to some embodiments;

[0015] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the refrigerant flow for air conditioning in a vehicle thermal management system according to some embodiments;

[0016] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the refrigerant flow for refrigerator cooling in a vehicle thermal management system according to some embodiments;

[0017] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the refrigerant flow for battery cooling in a vehicle thermal management system according to some embodiments;

[0018] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the coaxial tube in Figure 2;

[0019] Figure 7 is a flowchart of a vehicle thermal management system for controlling the cooling of the vehicle cabin and refrigerator according to some embodiments;

[0020] Figure 8 is a flowchart of the control logic for the vehicle cabin and refrigerator of the vehicle thermal management system according to some embodiments;

[0021] Figure 9 is a flowchart of the control logic for vehicle cabin, refrigerator and air conditioning cooling of the vehicle thermal management system according to some embodiments;

[0022] Figure 10 is a flowchart of a vehicle thermal management system for controlling battery and refrigerator cooling according to some embodiments;

[0023] Figure 11 is a flowchart of the control logic for the battery and refrigerator in a vehicle thermal management system according to some embodiments;

[0024] Figure 12 is a block diagram of a vehicle according to some embodiments.

[0025] Reference numerals: 100, Vehicle thermal management system; 10, Compressor; 20, Condenser; 30, Air conditioning branch; 31, Air conditioning evaporator; 32, First expansion valve; 40, Refrigerator branch; 41, Refrigerator evaporator; 42, Second expansion valve; 50, Battery branch; 51, Battery cold plate; 52, Third expansion valve; 53, Fourth expansion valve; 60, Coaxial tube; 61, Central channel; 62, External pipe channel; 70, Liquid receiver; 80, Gas-liquid separator;

[0026] 90. Heating circuit; 91. In-vehicle condenser; 92. Fifth expansion valve; 93. Plate heat exchanger; 94. Four-way valve; 95. Motor radiator; 96. Powertrain; 97. Water pump. Detailed Implementation

[0027] Some embodiments of this disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0028] In the description of this disclosure, it should be understood that the terms “center,” “upper,” “lower,” “front,” “rear,” “left,” “right,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” “top,” “bottom,” “inner,” and “outer,” etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this disclosure and simplifying the description, and are not intended to indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this disclosure.

[0029] The terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this disclosure, unless otherwise stated, "a plurality of" means two or more.

[0030] In the description of this disclosure, it should be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linkage" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to fixed connections, detachable connections, or integral connections; they can refer to mechanical connections or electrical connections; they can refer to direct connections or indirect connections through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the meaning of the above terms in this disclosure according to the context. Furthermore, when describing pipelines or channels, the terms "connection" and "linkage" as used in this disclosure have the meaning of establishing electrical conductivity. The meaning must be understood in the context.

[0031] In this disclosure, the terms "exemplarily" or "for example" are used to indicate that something is an example, illustration, or description. Any embodiment or design described as "exemplarily" or "for example" in this disclosure should not be construed as being more preferred or advantageous than other embodiments or designs. Specifically, the use of the terms "exemplarily" or "for example" is intended to present the relevant concepts by way of example.

[0032] The vehicle thermal management system is an important component of a vehicle. It can manage the thermal temperature of the air conditioning in the passenger compartment, the operating temperature of the battery system, and the thermal temperature of equipment such as the in-vehicle refrigerator, thereby improving the riding experience of passengers.

[0033] A car refrigerator is a portable refrigerator that can be carried in a vehicle. Its main purpose is to keep food and beverages fresh and cool inside the vehicle. It provides both cooling and insulation functions, is portable and convenient, and can help preserve food during long trips, camping, or outdoor activities.

[0034] In related technologies, some vehicles' onboard refrigerators are driven by independent compressors without taking into account the thermal management of the air conditioning and battery systems, resulting in low thermal management efficiency for these vehicles.

[0035] Referring to Figure 1, the related technology provides a control method for a vehicle-mounted refrigerator. When the system detects a new load inside the refrigerator, the refrigerator automatically responds to a rapid cooling mode to quickly cool the new load and prevent the temperature of other items inside the refrigerator from rising due to the new load. At the same time, the number of responses is limited; if the rapid cooling response exceeds the limit multiple times, it will no longer be executed.

[0036] However, this control method only considers the cooling needs of a single onboard refrigerator, neglecting the thermal management needs of components such as air conditioning and batteries, resulting in higher overall vehicle energy consumption. Furthermore, the vehicle's energy distribution method and the range of scenarios considered are not comprehensive enough, leading to low thermal management efficiency.

[0037] Based on this, some embodiments of this disclosure provide a vehicle, including a vehicle thermal management system 100. It should be noted that the vehicle thermal management system 100 can both cool and heat the vehicle. In some embodiments of this disclosure, the vehicle thermal management system 100 is used as an example for vehicle cooling.

[0038] In some embodiments, referring to FIG2, the vehicle thermal management system 100 includes: a compressor 10 and a condenser 20, an air conditioning branch 30, and at least one refrigerator branch 40. The outlet of the compressor 10 is connected to the inlet of the condenser 20.

[0039] The air conditioning branch 30 includes an air conditioning evaporator 31 and a first expansion valve 32. The inlet of the first expansion valve 32 is connected to the outlet of the condenser 20, the outlet of the first expansion valve 32 is connected to the inlet of the air conditioning evaporator 31, and the outlet of the air conditioning evaporator 31 is connected to the inlet of the compressor 10.

[0040] The refrigerator branch circuit 40 includes a refrigerator evaporator 41 and a second expansion valve 42. The inlet of the second expansion valve 42 is connected to the outlet of the condenser 20, the outlet of the second expansion valve 42 is connected to the inlet of the refrigerator evaporator 41, and the outlet of the refrigerator evaporator 41 is connected to the inlet of the compressor 10.

[0041] Understandably, during the refrigeration cycle, the outlet of compressor 10 is connected to the inlet of condenser 20. After compressor 10 starts working, it compresses the refrigerant into a high-temperature and high-pressure gas. The high-temperature and high-pressure gas releases heat through condenser 20 and becomes a high-pressure subcooled liquid refrigerant.

[0042] Referring to Figure 3, when the air conditioner is cooling, the high-pressure subcooled liquid refrigerant passes through the first expansion valve 32 and is throttled and depressurized into low-pressure subcooled liquid refrigerant. The low-pressure subcooled liquid refrigerant absorbs heat and evaporates in the air conditioner evaporator 31, and then returns to the compressor 10 to enter the next cycle.

[0043] Referring to Figure 4, when the refrigerator is cooling, the high-pressure subcooled liquid refrigerant passes through the second expansion valve 42 and is throttled and depressurized into low-pressure subcooled liquid refrigerant. The low-pressure subcooled liquid refrigerant absorbs heat and evaporates in the refrigerator evaporator 41, and then returns to the compressor 10 to enter the next cycle.

[0044] In this way, the air conditioning branch 30 and the refrigerator branch 40 in the vehicle thermal management system 100 are connected in parallel and share a compressor 10 and a condenser 20. Thus, the vehicle thermal management system 100 can allocate and manage the cooling demand of the air conditioning and refrigerator, thereby improving the energy utilization efficiency. The compressor 10 can utilize energy more efficiently, thereby reducing the overall energy consumption of the vehicle.

[0045] In addition, when the vehicle thermal management system 100 has different cooling requirements, the cooling modes of the air conditioner and refrigerator can be adjusted by adjusting the opening of the first expansion valve 32 and the second expansion valve 42, thereby improving the orderly control of the vehicle thermal management system 100, ensuring that heat is rationally distributed and utilized, and improving the thermal management efficiency of the system.

[0046] In some embodiments, the vehicle thermal management system 100 further includes at least one battery branch 50. The battery branch 50 includes a battery cold plate 51 and a third expansion valve 52, the inlet of the third expansion valve 52 being connected to the outlet of the condenser 20, the outlet of the third expansion valve 52 being connected to the inlet of the battery cold plate 51, and the outlet of the battery cold plate 51 being connected to the inlet of the compressor 10.

[0047] As can be understood, referring to Figure 5, during the refrigeration cycle, the outlet of the compressor 10 is connected to the inlet of the condenser 20. After the compressor 10 starts working, it compresses the refrigerant into a high-temperature and high-pressure gas. The high-temperature and high-pressure gas releases heat through the condenser 20 and becomes a high-pressure subcooled liquid refrigerant.

[0048] After passing through the third expansion valve 52, the high-pressure subcooled liquid refrigerant is throttled and depressurized into low-pressure subcooled liquid refrigerant. The low-pressure subcooled liquid refrigerant absorbs heat and evaporates in the battery cold plate 51, and then returns to the compressor 10 to enter the next cycle.

[0049] In this way, the air conditioning branch 30, refrigerator branch 40 and battery branch 50 in the vehicle thermal management system 100 are connected in parallel and share a compressor 10 and condenser 20. Thus, the heat of the air conditioning, refrigerator and battery system can be distributed and managed through the vehicle thermal management system 100, which can improve energy utilization efficiency. The compressor 10 can use energy more efficiently, thereby reducing the overall energy consumption of the vehicle.

[0050] It should be noted that at least one battery branch 50 may include one battery branch 50 or multiple battery branches 50. This disclosure does not limit this, and the number of battery branches 50 can be set according to the actual situation.

[0051] Some embodiments of this invention are illustrated using at least one battery branch 50, including two battery branches 50, as examples.

[0052] In this way, the two battery branches 50 are equipped with two battery cooling plates 51, which can select different cooling modes according to the battery's operating conditions, thereby improving the battery's cooling efficiency and safety.

[0053] In some embodiments, the battery branch 50 further includes a fourth expansion valve 53, the inlet of which is connected to the outlet of the battery cold plate 51, and the outlet of which is connected to the outlet of the compressor 10.

[0054] Thus, a third expansion valve 52 is provided at the inlet of the battery cold plate 51, and a fourth expansion valve 53 is provided at the outlet of the battery cold plate 51. The refrigerant flow rate at the inlet side of the battery cold plate 51 can be adjusted by the third expansion valve 52. The two third expansion valves 52 can adjust the refrigerant flow rate differently according to the different needs of the two battery cold plates 51 to meet the cooling needs of the battery.

[0055] The two fourth expansion valves 53 can adjust the refrigerant evaporation pressure flowing out of the two battery cold plates 51 to be consistent. This ensures that the refrigerant evaporation pressure at the junction of the branches in the pipeline is consistent, which can make the operation of the vehicle thermal management system 100 more stable.

[0056] Understandably, without the two fourth expansion valves 53, the outlet pressures of the two battery branches 50 need to be consistent to ensure the stable operation of the vehicle thermal management system 100, meaning the refrigerant flow rates through the two battery cold plates 51 must be equal. However, with the two fourth expansion valves 53 installed, the refrigerant flow rates through the two battery cold plates 51 can be adjusted to be unequal according to actual conditions.

[0057] In some embodiments, at least one refrigerator branch 40 includes multiple refrigerator branches 40, the inlets of the second expansion valves 42 of the multiple refrigerator branches 40 are all connected to the outlets of the condenser 20, the outlets of the second expansion valves 42 of the multiple refrigerator branches 40 are all connected to the inlets of the refrigerator evaporator 41, and the outlets of the refrigerator evaporators 41 of the multiple refrigerator branches 40 are all connected to the inlets of the compressor 10.

[0058] In this way, multiple refrigerator branch circuits 40 can adjust the refrigerator evaporator 41 separately through the second expansion valve 42.

[0059] Understandably, if a refrigerator is installed in the vehicle, its internal temperature can be divided into zones, and the temperature of each zone can be set independently, which improves the user experience. If multiple refrigerators are installed in the vehicle, the temperature of each refrigerator can be controlled separately. It should be noted that the number of refrigerator branch circuits 40 is limited and can be set according to actual needs.

[0060] Some embodiments of this disclosure are illustrated using at least one refrigerator branch line 40, including two refrigerator branch lines 40 as examples.

[0061] In this way, two refrigerators can be installed in the car, one in the front row and one in the back row. The temperature of the two refrigerators can be controlled separately through two refrigerator circuits 40.

[0062] In some embodiments, referring to FIG2, the vehicle thermal management system 100 further includes a heating branch 90. The heating branch 90 includes an in-vehicle condenser 91, a fifth expansion valve 92, and a plate heat exchanger 93.

[0063] The inlet of the vehicle condenser 91 is connected to the compressor 10, the outlet of the vehicle condenser 91 is connected to the inlet of the fifth expansion valve 92, the outlet of the fifth expansion valve 92 is connected to the plate heat exchanger 93, and the outlet of the plate heat exchanger 93 is connected to the inlet of the compressor 10.

[0064] During the heating cycle, the outlet of compressor 10 is connected to the inlet of the vehicle condenser 91. After compressor 10 starts working, it compresses the refrigerant into a high-temperature, high-pressure gas. The high-temperature, high-pressure gas releases heat through the vehicle condenser 91, becoming a high-pressure subcooled liquid refrigerant. After passing through the fifth expansion valve 92, the high-pressure subcooled liquid refrigerant is throttled and depressurized into a low-pressure subcooled liquid refrigerant. The low-pressure subcooled liquid refrigerant absorbs heat and evaporates in the plate heat exchanger 93, returning to compressor 10 to enter the next cycle.

[0065] In addition, another circulation loop within the plate heat exchanger 93 includes a four-way valve 94, a motor radiator 95, a powertrain 96, and a water pump 97. That is, the refrigerant in this circulation loop absorbs heat from the motor radiator 95 and dissipates it within the plate heat exchanger 93.

[0066] In some embodiments, referring to Figures 2 and 6, the vehicle thermal management system 100 further includes a coaxial pipe 60. The coaxial pipe 60 includes a central channel 61 and an outer channel 62 surrounding the central channel. The inlet of the central channel 61 communicates with the outlet of the condenser 20, and the outlet of the central channel 61 communicates with the inlets of the air conditioning evaporator 31 and the refrigerator evaporator 41. The inlet of the outer channel 62 communicates with the outlets of the air conditioning evaporator 31 and the refrigerator evaporator 41, and the outlet of the outer channel 62 communicates with the inlet of the compressor 10.

[0067] In this way, by setting up the coaxial pipe 60, the piping layout of the vehicle thermal management system 100 can be made simpler and more compact, saving interior space.

[0068] In some embodiments, referring to Figures 2 and 6, the vehicle thermal management system 100 further includes a coaxial pipe 60. The coaxial pipe 60 includes a central channel 61 and an outer pipe channel 62 surrounding the central channel. The inlet of the central channel 61 communicates with the outlet of the condenser 20, and the outlet of the central channel 61 communicates with the inlets of the air conditioning evaporator 31, the refrigerator evaporator 41, and the battery cold plate 51. The inlet of the outer pipe channel 62 communicates with the outlets of the air conditioning evaporator 31, the refrigerator evaporator 41, and the battery cold plate 51, and the outlet of the outer pipe channel 62 communicates with the inlet of the compressor 10.

[0069] In this way, by setting up the coaxial pipe 60, the piping layout of the vehicle thermal management system 100 can be made simpler and more compact, saving interior space. In addition, through the design of the central channel 61 and the outer pipe channel 62, the refrigerant can exchange heat with the central channel 61 through the outer pipe channel 62 before returning to the compressor 10, thereby reducing the refrigerant temperature at the compressor 10 inlet and improving the working efficiency of the compressor 10.

[0070] In some embodiments, referring to FIG2, the vehicle thermal management system 100 further includes a liquid reservoir 70. The inlet of the liquid reservoir 70 is connected to the outlet of the condenser 20, and the outlet of the liquid reservoir 70 is connected to the inlet of the central channel 61.

[0071] Since the vehicle thermal management system 100 includes an air conditioning branch 30, a refrigerator branch 40, and a battery branch 50, the refrigerant demand varies depending on the cooling mode. By providing a liquid receiver 70, excess refrigerant in the vehicle thermal management system 100 can be stored to accommodate different cooling modes.

[0072] In some embodiments, the vehicle thermal management system 100 further includes a gas-liquid separator 80, the inlet of which is connected to the outlet of the external pipe channel 62, and the outlet of which is connected to the inlet of the compressor 10.

[0073] In this way, the refrigerant passes through the gas-liquid separator 80 before entering the compressor 10 inlet. The gas-liquid separator 80 can effectively separate the mixed gaseous and liquid refrigerant, ensuring that the refrigerant entering the compressor 10 is gaseous, avoiding damage to the compressor 10 and extending the service life of the compressor 10.

[0074] In some embodiments, the vehicle thermal management system 100 further includes a controller electrically connected to the first expansion valve 32 and the second expansion valve 42.

[0075] The controller is configured to: acquire the thermal management requirements of thermal management objects, including the vehicle cabin and at least one refrigerator; and execute thermal management operations based on the thermal management requirements and thermal management priorities of the thermal management objects, the thermal management operations being used to adjust the operating pressure of at least one of the air conditioning evaporator 31 or the refrigerator evaporator 41.

[0076] It is understandable that the vehicle cabin can be thermally managed by adjusting the air conditioning circuit 30.

[0077] In this way, the controller can acquire the thermal management needs of the vehicle cabin and refrigerator, and execute thermal management operations based on these needs and set priorities. This intelligent control system can ensure that heat is rationally distributed and utilized, improving the system's thermal management efficiency.

[0078] In addition, by adjusting the operating pressure of at least one of the air conditioning evaporator 31 or the refrigerator evaporator 41 according to the thermal management needs and priorities of the thermal management object, the vehicle thermal management system 100 can more accurately control the operation of the equipment, thereby achieving energy efficiency optimization, reducing energy consumption, and improving the overall performance of the vehicle thermal management system 100.

[0079] It should be noted that this disclosure does not limit the number of refrigerators. For example, at least one refrigerator may include one refrigerator, or it may include two refrigerators.

[0080] It is understandable that the controller can obtain the thermal management needs of the thermally managed object by receiving air conditioner switch signals and refrigerator switch signals from the main control board, or by receiving battery cooling signals from the battery management system.

[0081] In some embodiments, thermal management operations include adjusting the opening of the first expansion valve 32 to adjust the operating pressure of the air conditioning evaporator 31.

[0082] In this way, by adjusting the opening degree of the first expansion valve 32, the air conditioning evaporator 31 can be turned on or off, and the operating pressure of the air conditioning evaporator 31 can also be adjusted to regulate the temperature inside the vehicle cabin.

[0083] In some embodiments, thermal management operations include adjusting the opening of the second expansion valve 42 to adjust the operating pressure of the refrigerator evaporator 41.

[0084] In this way, by adjusting the opening degree of the second expansion valve 42, the refrigerator evaporator 41 can be turned on or off, and the operating pressure of the refrigerator evaporator 41 can also be adjusted to regulate the temperature inside the refrigerator.

[0085] In some embodiments, the controller performs thermal management operations based on the thermal management requirements and thermal management priorities of the thermal management object, including: controlling the second expansion valve 42 to close when the thermal management requirements of the battery meet preset conditions, controlling the opening of the first expansion valve 32 based on the thermal management requirements of the vehicle cabin, and adjusting the opening of the third expansion valve 52 in the battery branch 50 corresponding to the battery with cooling requirements based on the cooling level of the battery.

[0086] For example, preset conditions include: the battery's thermal management requirement indicates that the battery has a cooling requirement and the battery's cooling level is greater than a preset level. Or, preset conditions include: the battery's thermal management requirement indicates that the battery has a cooling requirement and the number of battery cooling plates 51 with cooling requirements is greater than a preset number threshold.

[0087] It should be noted that the battery includes a battery management system (BMS). The BMS monitors the battery temperature using temperature sensors installed within the battery and determines the appropriate cooling level based on the battery temperature. Simultaneously, the BMS can also monitor the number of battery cooling plates 51 that require cooling.

[0088] For example, some embodiments of this disclosure are illustrated with the example of three cooling levels for the battery and two battery cold plates 51.

[0089] The thermal management priority of the thermal management object can be set such that the thermal management priority of the battery with a cooling level of three or the battery cold plate 51 with two is greater than the thermal management priority of the vehicle cabin, and the thermal management priority of the battery with a cooling level of three or the battery cold plate 51 with two is greater than the thermal management priority of the refrigerator.

[0090] Thus, when the battery's thermal management requirements are met, such as when the battery cooling level is set to three or the battery cold plate 51 is dual-plate cooling, the second expansion valve 42 is closed, and the opening of the first expansion valve 32 is controlled based on the thermal management requirements of the vehicle cabin. The opening of the third expansion valve 52 in the battery branch 50 corresponding to the battery with cooling requirements is adjusted based on the battery's cooling level.

[0091] In other words, when the battery has a high cooling requirement, the vehicle thermal management system 100 prioritizes meeting the cooling needs of the battery and the vehicle cabin, and the refrigerator can be turned off first.

[0092] In some embodiments, when the thermal management requirements of the battery do not meet preset conditions, the opening of the first expansion valve 32 is controlled based on the thermal management requirements of the vehicle cabin, the opening of the second expansion valve 42 is controlled based on the thermal management requirements of the refrigerator, and the opening of the third expansion valve 52 in the battery branch 50 corresponding to the battery with cooling requirements is adjusted based on the cooling level of the battery.

[0093] Thus, when the battery's thermal management requirements do not meet the requirements of the battery cooling level being three or the battery cold plate 51 being a dual-plate cooling system, the opening of the first expansion valve 32 is controlled based on the thermal management requirements of the vehicle cabin, the opening of the second expansion valve 42 is controlled based on the thermal management requirements of the refrigerator, and the opening of the third expansion valve 52 in the battery branch 50 corresponding to the battery with cooling requirements is adjusted based on the battery's cooling level.

[0094] In other words, when the battery's cooling requirements are low, the vehicle thermal management system 100 can meet the cooling requirements of the battery, the refrigerator, and the vehicle cabin according to the actual situation.

[0095] For example, when a vehicle has cooling needs for both the vehicle cabin and the refrigerator, as well as battery cooling needs, the vehicle thermal management system 100 can first close the second expansion valve 42 and the third expansion valve 52. After the temperature of the vehicle cabin reaches the preset temperature, the second expansion valve 42 and the third expansion valve 52 can be opened to switch to a cooling mode that cools the battery, refrigerator and vehicle cabin simultaneously.

[0096] For example, when a vehicle has cooling requirements for both the vehicle cabin and the battery, as well as cooling requirements for the refrigerator, the vehicle thermal management system 100 can switch to a cooling mode that simultaneously cools the battery, the refrigerator, and the vehicle cabin.

[0097] For example, when a vehicle has cooling requirements for both the refrigerator and the battery, as well as for the vehicle cabin, the vehicle thermal management system 100 can first close the third expansion valve 52, and then open the third expansion valve 52 after the temperature of the vehicle cabin reaches the preset temperature, switching to a cooling mode that simultaneously cools the battery, the refrigerator, and the vehicle cabin.

[0098] In some embodiments, when the thermal management requirements of the battery indicate that the battery does not have a cooling requirement, the opening of the first expansion valve 32 is controlled based on the thermal management requirements of the vehicle cabin, the opening of the second expansion valve 42 is controlled based on the thermal management requirements of the refrigerator, and the third expansion valve 52 is controlled to close.

[0099] In this way, when there is no need for battery cooling, the opening of the first expansion valve 32 is controlled based on the thermal management needs of the vehicle cabin, the opening of the second expansion valve 42 is controlled based on the thermal management needs of the refrigerator, and the third expansion valve 52 is controlled to close.

[0100] In other words, when the battery does not require cooling, the vehicle thermal management system 100 can meet the cooling needs of the refrigerator and the vehicle cabin according to the actual situation.

[0101] In some embodiments, the vehicle thermal management system 100 further includes an ambient temperature sensor configured to detect the ambient temperature outside the vehicle.

[0102] The controller controls the opening of the first expansion valve 32 based on the thermal management requirements of the vehicle cabin, including: controlling the opening of the first expansion valve 32 based on the thermal management requirements of the vehicle cabin and the ambient temperature outside the vehicle.

[0103] In this way, if the outside temperature is low, the first expansion valve 32 can be closed, allowing the outside air to circulate into the vehicle by activating the external air circulation, thus lowering the interior temperature. This saves energy and improves heat utilization.

[0104] In some embodiments, the controller controls the opening of the first expansion valve 32 based on the thermal management requirements of the vehicle cabin and the ambient temperature outside the vehicle, including: when the thermal management requirements of the vehicle cabin indicate that the vehicle cabin has a cooling requirement and the ambient temperature outside the vehicle is greater than a preset temperature value, controlling the opening of the first expansion valve 32 based on the target cooling temperature of the cooling requirement.

[0105] In some embodiments, when the thermal management requirement of the vehicle cabin indicates that the vehicle cabin has a cooling requirement and the outside ambient temperature is less than or equal to a preset temperature value, the first expansion valve 32 is controlled to close. When the thermal management requirement of the vehicle cabin indicates that the vehicle cabin does not have a cooling requirement, the first expansion valve 32 is controlled to close.

[0106] In this way, the opening degree of the first expansion valve 32 can be controlled based on the thermal management needs of the vehicle cabin and the ambient temperature outside the vehicle, thereby improving the heat utilization rate of the vehicle thermal management system 100.

[0107] It should be noted that the preset temperature value can be 2℃, 5℃, 7℃, 9℃, etc. This disclosure does not impose any restrictions on this, and the preset temperature value can be set according to the actual situation.

[0108] Some embodiments of this disclosure are illustrated using a preset temperature of 5°C as an example.

[0109] When the vehicle has a cooling requirement for the vehicle cabin, if the ambient temperature outside the vehicle is greater than 5°C, the first expansion valve 32 is opened, and the opening degree of the first expansion valve 32 is controlled according to the target cooling temperature of the vehicle cabin.

[0110] When the vehicle requires cooling of the passenger compartment, if the outside ambient temperature is less than or equal to 5°C, the first expansion valve 32 is closed. When the vehicle does not require cooling of the passenger compartment, the first expansion valve 32 is closed.

[0111] In some embodiments, the controller controls the opening of the second expansion valve 42 based on the refrigerator's thermal management needs, including controlling the opening of the second expansion valve 42 based on the target cooling temperature of the cooling demand when the refrigerator's thermal management needs indicate that the refrigerator has a cooling demand. Alternatively, the controller controls the second expansion valve 42 to close when the refrigerator's thermal management needs indicate that the refrigerator does not have a cooling demand.

[0112] In this way, when the refrigerator has a cooling demand, controlling the opening of the second expansion valve 42 to achieve the target cooling temperature can effectively reduce energy consumption and improve the system's energy efficiency. By controlling the cooling operation according to actual needs, over-cooling or stopping cooling can be avoided, thereby improving energy efficiency.

[0113] Some embodiments of this disclosure also provide another vehicle thermal management system 100, including: a compressor 10, a condenser 20, at least one battery branch 50 and at least one refrigerator branch 40.

[0114] The outlet of compressor 10 is connected to the inlet of condenser 20. Battery branch 50 includes battery cold plate 51 and third expansion valve 52. The inlet of third expansion valve 52 is connected to the outlet of condenser 20, the inlet of battery cold plate 51 is connected to the outlet of third expansion valve 52, and the outlet of battery cold plate 51 is connected to the inlet of compressor 10.

[0115] The refrigerator branch circuit 40 includes a refrigerator evaporator 41 and a second expansion valve 42. The inlet of the second expansion valve 42 is connected to the outlet of the condenser 20, the outlet of the second expansion valve 42 is connected to the inlet of the refrigerator evaporator 41, and the outlet of the refrigerator evaporator 41 is connected to the inlet of the compressor 10.

[0116] In this way, the battery branch 50 and the refrigerator branch 40 in the vehicle thermal management system 100 are connected in parallel, sharing a compressor 10 and a condenser 20. This allows the vehicle thermal management system 100 to allocate and manage the cooling needs of the battery and the refrigerator, thereby improving energy utilization efficiency. The compressor 10 can utilize energy more efficiently, thus reducing the overall energy consumption of the vehicle.

[0117] In addition, when the vehicle thermal management system 100 has different cooling requirements, the cooling mode of the battery and refrigerator can be adjusted by adjusting the opening of the second expansion valve 42 and the third expansion valve 52, thereby improving the orderly control of the vehicle thermal management system 100, ensuring that heat is rationally distributed and utilized, and improving the thermal management efficiency of the system.

[0118] In some embodiments, the vehicle thermal management system 100 includes a controller electrically connected to a second expansion valve 42 and a third expansion valve 52.

[0119] The controller is configured to: acquire the thermal management requirements of thermally managed objects, including at least one battery and at least one refrigerator; and, based on the thermal management requirements and thermal management priorities of the thermally managed objects, execute thermal management operations to adjust the operating pressure of at least one of the battery cold plate 51 or the refrigerator evaporator 41.

[0120] In this way, the controller can acquire the thermal management needs of the battery and refrigerator, and perform thermal management operations based on these needs and set priorities. This intelligent control system can ensure that heat is rationally distributed and utilized, improving the system's thermal management efficiency.

[0121] It should be noted that this disclosure does not limit the number of refrigerators and batteries. For example, at least one battery may include one battery or two batteries. At least one refrigerator may include one refrigerator or two refrigerators.

[0122] In some embodiments, thermal management operations include adjusting the opening of the second expansion valve 42 to adjust the operating pressure of the refrigerator evaporator 41.

[0123] In this way, by adjusting the opening degree of the second expansion valve 42, the refrigerator evaporator 41 can be turned on or off, and the operating pressure of the refrigerator evaporator 41 can also be adjusted to regulate the temperature inside the refrigerator.

[0124] In some embodiments, thermal management operations include adjusting the opening of the third expansion valve 52 to adjust the operating pressure of the battery cold plate 51.

[0125] In this way, by adjusting the opening degree of the third expansion valve 52, the battery cold plate 51 can be closed or opened, and the operating pressure of the battery cold plate 51 can also be adjusted to regulate the battery temperature.

[0126] In some embodiments, the controller performs thermal management operations based on the thermal management requirements and thermal management priorities of the thermal management object, including: when the thermal management requirements of the battery meet preset conditions, adjusting the opening of the third expansion valve 52 in the battery branch 50 corresponding to the battery with cooling requirements based on the cooling level of the battery, and closing the second expansion valve 42.

[0127] For example, preset conditions include: the battery's thermal management requirement indicates that the battery has a cooling requirement and the battery's cooling level is greater than a preset level. Or, preset conditions include: the battery's thermal management requirement indicates that the battery has a cooling requirement and the number of battery cooling plates 51 with cooling requirements is greater than a preset number threshold.

[0128] In this way, the heat in the thermal management system can be rationally allocated according to the thermal management priority of the thermal management objects, which is conducive to improving the thermal management efficiency of the system.

[0129] In some embodiments, when the thermal management requirements of the battery do not meet preset conditions, the opening of the second expansion valve 42 is controlled based on the thermal management requirements of the refrigerator, and the opening of the third expansion valve 52 in the battery branch 50 corresponding to the battery with cooling requirements is adjusted based on the cooling level of the battery.

[0130] Thus, when the battery's thermal management requirements are met, the opening of the third expansion valve 52 in the battery branch 50 corresponding to the battery with cooling requirements is adjusted based on the battery's cooling level, which is either at the third cooling level or the battery cold plate 51 is a dual-plate cooling system.

[0131] In other words, when the battery has a high cooling requirement, the vehicle thermal management system 100 prioritizes meeting the battery's cooling needs.

[0132] When the battery's thermal management requirements are not met, and the battery cooling level is set to three or the battery cold plate 51 is a dual-plate cooling system, the opening of the second expansion valve 42 is controlled based on the refrigerator's thermal management requirements, and the opening of the third expansion valve 52 in the battery branch 50 corresponding to the battery with cooling requirements is adjusted based on the battery's cooling level.

[0133] In other words, when the battery's cooling requirements are low, the vehicle thermal management system 100 can meet the battery's cooling requirements and the refrigerator's refrigeration requirements according to the actual situation.

[0134] In some embodiments, the vehicle thermal management system 100 further includes an ambient temperature sensor configured to detect the outside ambient temperature. The controller controls the opening of the second expansion valve 42 based on the refrigerator's thermal management needs, including controlling the opening of the second expansion valve 42 and the third expansion valve 52 based on the refrigerator's thermal management needs and the outside ambient temperature.

[0135] By controlling the opening of the second expansion valve 42 and the third expansion valve 52 in conjunction with the refrigerator's thermal management requirements and the external ambient temperature, the heat distribution of the vehicle's thermal management system 100 can be made more rational. This can save energy and improve heat utilization efficiency.

[0136] In some embodiments, referring to FIG7, some embodiments of this disclosure also provide a control method for controlling the vehicle thermal management system 100 described above. The method includes steps S101-S102.

[0137] S101. Obtain the thermal management requirements of the thermal management objects, including the vehicle cabin and at least one refrigerator.

[0138] S102. Based on the thermal management requirements and thermal management priority of the thermal management object, perform thermal management operations to adjust the operating pressure of at least one of the air conditioner evaporator or refrigerator evaporator.

[0139] In this way, the controller can acquire the thermal management needs of the vehicle cabin and refrigerator, and execute thermal management operations based on these needs and set priorities. This intelligent control system can ensure that heat is rationally distributed and utilized, improving the system's thermal management efficiency.

[0140] In addition, by adjusting the operating pressure of at least one of the air conditioner evaporator or refrigerator evaporator according to the thermal management needs and priorities of the thermal management objects, the system can more accurately control the cooling needs of each device, thereby achieving energy efficiency optimization, reducing energy consumption, and improving the overall system performance.

[0141] In some embodiments, thermal management operations include adjusting the opening of a first expansion valve to adjust the operating pressure of the air conditioner evaporator.

[0142] In this way, by adjusting the opening degree of the first expansion valve 32, the air conditioning evaporator 31 can be turned on or off, and the operating pressure of the air conditioning evaporator 31 can also be adjusted to regulate the temperature inside the vehicle cabin.

[0143] In some embodiments, thermal management operations include adjusting the opening of the second expansion valve to adjust the operating pressure of the refrigerator evaporator.

[0144] In this way, by adjusting the opening degree of the second expansion valve 42, the refrigerator evaporator 41 can be turned on or off, and the operating pressure of the refrigerator evaporator 41 can also be adjusted to regulate the temperature inside the refrigerator.

[0145] In some embodiments, the vehicle thermal management system further includes an ambient temperature sensor configured to detect the outside ambient temperature. Thermal management operations are used to adjust the openings of the first expansion valve and the second expansion valve, including controlling the openings of the second expansion valve and the third expansion valve based on the outside ambient temperature.

[0146] In this way, if the outside temperature is low, the first expansion valve 32 can be closed, allowing the outside air to circulate into the vehicle by activating the external air circulation, thus lowering the interior temperature. This saves energy and improves heat utilization.

[0147] It should be noted that the preset temperature value can be 2℃, 5℃, 7℃, 9℃, etc. This disclosure does not impose any restrictions on this, and it can be set according to the actual situation.

[0148] Some embodiments of this disclosure are illustrated using a preset temperature of 5°C as an example.

[0149] In some embodiments, referring to FIG8, after the vehicle is started (step S801), the controller obtains the thermal management requirements of the vehicle thermal management system (step S802). When the vehicle has a cooling requirement for the vehicle cabin and a cooling requirement for the refrigerator (step S803), or when the vehicle has a cooling requirement for the refrigerator and a cooling requirement for the vehicle cabin (step S804), it determines whether the ambient temperature is greater than the preset temperature (step S805). If yes, the first expansion valve is opened and the second expansion valve is opened (step S806). If no, the first expansion valve is closed and the second expansion valve is opened (step S807).

[0150] In other words, if the ambient temperature outside the vehicle is greater than 5°C, the first expansion valve and the second expansion valve will open. If the ambient temperature outside the vehicle is less than or equal to 5°C, the first expansion valve will close and the second expansion valve will open.

[0151] In some embodiments, the vehicle thermal management system 100 further includes at least one battery branch 50, which includes a battery cold plate 51 and a third expansion valve 52. The inlet of the third expansion valve 52 is connected to the outlet of the condenser 20, and the outlet of the battery cold plate 51 is connected to the inlet of the compressor 10. The thermal management object also includes at least one battery. The thermal management operation is also used to adjust the operating pressure of the battery cold plate.

[0152] Some embodiments of this disclosure also provide a control method for a vehicle thermal management system, the method including: thermal management operation further used to adjust the operating pressure of the battery cold plate.

[0153] In this way, the controller can obtain the thermal management requirements of thermal management objects such as the vehicle cabin, refrigerator, and battery, and perform thermal management operations according to these requirements and set priorities, thereby ensuring the rational distribution and utilization of heat and improving the thermal management efficiency of the system.

[0154] In some embodiments, thermal management operations include adjusting the opening of a third expansion valve to adjust the operating pressure of the battery cold plate.

[0155] In this way, by adjusting the opening degree of the third expansion valve, the opening and closing of the battery cold plate can be adjusted, as well as the operating pressure of the battery cold plate to regulate the temperature inside the battery.

[0156] In some embodiments, the controller performs thermal management operations based on the thermal management requirements and thermal management priorities of the thermal management object, including: when the thermal management requirements of the battery meet preset conditions, controlling the first expansion valve and the second expansion valve to close, and adjusting the opening of the third expansion valve in the battery branch corresponding to the battery with cooling requirements based on the battery's cooling level.

[0157] For example, preset conditions include: the battery's thermal management requirement indicates that the battery has a cooling requirement and the battery's cooling level is greater than a preset level. Or, preset conditions include: the battery's thermal management requirement indicates that the battery has a cooling requirement and the number of battery cooling plates with cooling requirements is greater than a preset threshold number.

[0158] It should be noted that the battery includes a battery management system (BMS). The BMS monitors the battery temperature using temperature sensors installed within the battery and determines the appropriate cooling level based on the battery temperature. Simultaneously, the BMS can also monitor the number of battery cooling plates 51 that require cooling.

[0159] Some embodiments of this disclosure are illustrated using the example of a battery with three cooling levels and two battery cold plates 51.

[0160] The thermal management priority of the thermal management object can be set as follows: the thermal management priority of the battery with a cooling level of three or the battery cold plate 51 with two is greater than the thermal management priority of the vehicle cabin, and the thermal management priority of the battery with a cooling level of three or the battery cold plate 51 with two is greater than the thermal management priority of the refrigerator.

[0161] Thus, when the battery's thermal management requirements meet the conditions of the battery cooling level being three or the battery cold plate 51 being dual-plate cooling, the second expansion valve 42 is controlled to close, the opening of the first expansion valve 32 is controlled based on the thermal management requirements of the vehicle cabin, and the opening of the third expansion valve 52 in the battery branch 50 corresponding to the battery with cooling requirements is adjusted based on the battery's cooling level.

[0162] In other words, when the battery has a high cooling requirement, the vehicle thermal management system 100 prioritizes meeting the cooling needs of the battery and the vehicle cabin, and the refrigerator can be turned off first.

[0163] In some embodiments, the controller performs thermal management operations based on the thermal management requirements and thermal management priorities of the thermal management object, including: when the thermal management requirements of the battery do not meet preset conditions, controlling the opening of the first expansion valve based on the thermal management requirements of the vehicle cabin, controlling the opening of the second expansion valve based on the thermal management requirements of the refrigerator, and adjusting the opening of the third expansion valve in the battery branch corresponding to the battery with cooling requirements based on the cooling level of the battery.

[0164] Thus, when the battery's thermal management requirements do not meet the requirements of the battery cooling level being three or the battery cold plate 51 being a dual-plate cooling system, the opening of the first expansion valve 32 is controlled based on the thermal management requirements of the vehicle cabin, the opening of the second expansion valve 42 is controlled based on the thermal management requirements of the refrigerator, and the opening of the third expansion valve 52 in the battery branch 50 corresponding to the battery with cooling requirements is adjusted based on the battery's cooling level.

[0165] In other words, when the battery's cooling requirements are low, the vehicle thermal management system 100 can meet the cooling requirements of the battery, the refrigerator, and the vehicle cabin according to the actual situation.

[0166] For example, when a vehicle has cooling needs for both the vehicle cabin and the refrigerator, as well as battery cooling needs, the vehicle thermal management system 100 can first close the second expansion valve 42 and the third expansion valve 52. After the temperature of the vehicle cabin reaches the preset temperature, the second expansion valve 42 and the third expansion valve 52 can be opened to switch to a cooling mode that cools the battery, refrigerator and vehicle cabin simultaneously.

[0167] For example, when a vehicle has cooling requirements for both the vehicle cabin and the battery, as well as cooling requirements for the refrigerator, the vehicle thermal management system 100 can switch to a cooling mode that simultaneously cools the battery, the refrigerator, and the vehicle cabin.

[0168] For example, when a vehicle has cooling requirements for both the refrigerator and the battery, as well as for the vehicle cabin, the vehicle thermal management system 100 can first close the third expansion valve 52, and then open the third expansion valve 52 after the temperature of the vehicle cabin reaches the preset temperature, switching to a cooling mode that simultaneously cools the battery, the refrigerator, and the vehicle cabin.

[0169] In some embodiments, the controller performs thermal management operations based on the thermal management needs and thermal management priorities of the thermal management object, including: controlling the opening of the first expansion valve based on the thermal management needs of the vehicle cabin when the thermal management needs of the battery indicate that the battery does not have cooling requirements, controlling the opening of the second expansion valve based on the thermal management needs of the refrigerator, and controlling the third expansion valve to close.

[0170] In this way, when there is no need for battery cooling, the opening of the first expansion valve 32 is controlled based on the thermal management needs of the vehicle cabin, the opening of the second expansion valve 42 is controlled based on the thermal management needs of the refrigerator, and the third expansion valve 52 is controlled to close.

[0171] In other words, when the battery does not require cooling, the vehicle thermal management system 100 can meet the cooling needs of the refrigerator and the vehicle cabin according to the actual situation.

[0172] In some embodiments, the control method further includes: acquiring the ambient temperature outside the vehicle. Controlling the opening of the first expansion valve based on the thermal management requirements of the vehicle cabin includes: controlling the opening of the first expansion valve based on the thermal management requirements of the vehicle cabin and the ambient temperature outside the vehicle.

[0173] In this way, if the outside temperature is low, the first expansion valve 32 can be closed, allowing the outside air to circulate into the vehicle by activating the external air circulation, thus lowering the interior temperature. This saves energy and improves heat utilization.

[0174] In some embodiments, the controller controls the opening of the first expansion valve based on the thermal management requirements of the vehicle cabin and the ambient temperature outside the vehicle, including: when the thermal management requirements of the vehicle cabin indicate that the vehicle cabin has a cooling requirement and the ambient temperature outside the vehicle is greater than a preset temperature value, controlling the opening of the first expansion valve based on the target cooling temperature of the cooling requirement.

[0175] In some embodiments, the controller closes the first expansion valve when the thermal management demand of the vehicle cabin indicates that the vehicle cabin has a cooling demand and the outside ambient temperature is less than or equal to a preset temperature value. Conversely, the controller closes the first expansion valve when the thermal management demand of the vehicle cabin indicates that the vehicle cabin does not have a cooling demand.

[0176] In this way, the opening degree of the first expansion valve 32 can be controlled based on the thermal management needs of the vehicle cabin and the ambient temperature outside the vehicle, thereby improving the heat utilization rate of the vehicle thermal management system 100.

[0177] It should be noted that the preset temperature value can be 2℃, 5℃, 7℃, 9℃, etc. This disclosure does not impose any restrictions on this, and the preset temperature value can be set according to the actual situation.

[0178] Some embodiments of this disclosure are illustrated using a preset temperature of 5°C as an example.

[0179] When the vehicle has a cooling requirement for the vehicle cabin, if the ambient temperature outside the vehicle is greater than 5°C, the first expansion valve 32 is opened, and the opening degree of the first expansion valve 32 is controlled according to the target cooling temperature of the vehicle cabin.

[0180] When the vehicle requires cooling of the passenger compartment, if the outside ambient temperature is less than or equal to 5°C, the first expansion valve 32 is closed. When the vehicle does not require cooling of the passenger compartment, the first expansion valve 32 is closed.

[0181] In some embodiments, the controller controls the opening of the second expansion valve based on the refrigerator's thermal management requirements, including: when the refrigerator's thermal management requirements indicate that the refrigerator has cooling requirements, controlling the opening of the second expansion valve based on the target cooling temperature of the cooling requirements.

[0182] In some embodiments, the controller controls the expansion valve to close when the refrigerator's thermal management requirement indicates that the refrigerator does not have a cooling requirement.

[0183] In some embodiments, referring to Figure 9, after the vehicle is started (step S901), the controller obtains the thermal management requirements of the vehicle thermal management system (step S902). When the vehicle has cooling requirements for the vehicle cabin and battery, and also has cooling requirements for the refrigerator (step S903), or when the vehicle has cooling requirements for the refrigerator and battery, and also has cooling requirements for the vehicle cabin (step S904), or when the vehicle has cooling requirements for the vehicle cabin, refrigerator, and battery (step S905), it is determined whether the ambient temperature is greater than a preset temperature (step S906). If so, it is determined whether a preset condition is met (step S908). If the preset condition is met, the first expansion valve is opened, the second expansion valve is closed, and the third expansion valve is opened (step S909). If the preset condition is not met, the first expansion valve is opened, the second expansion valve is opened, and the third expansion valve is opened (step S910). If not (i.e., the ambient temperature is less than or equal to the preset temperature), the first expansion valve is closed, the second expansion valve is opened, and the third expansion valve is opened (step S907).

[0184] In other words, if the ambient temperature outside the vehicle is less than or equal to 5°C, the first expansion valve is closed, and the second and third expansion valves are opened. If the ambient temperature outside the vehicle is greater than 5°C, it is determined whether the battery cooling setting is at level three or the battery cooling plate is dual-plate cooling. If so, the first expansion valve is opened, the second expansion valve is closed, and the third expansion valve is opened. If not, the first expansion valve is opened, the second expansion valve is opened, and the third expansion valve is opened.

[0185] Referring to Figure 10, some embodiments of this disclosure also provide a control method for a vehicle thermal management system, the method including steps S201-S202.

[0186] S201. Obtain the thermal management requirements of the thermal management objects, which include at least one battery and at least one refrigerator.

[0187] S202. Based on the thermal management requirements and thermal management priority of the thermal management object, perform thermal management operations, which are applied to the operating pressure of at least one of the battery cold plate or refrigerator evaporator.

[0188] In this way, the controller can acquire the thermal management needs of the vehicle cabin and refrigerator, and execute thermal management operations based on these needs and set priorities. This intelligent control system can ensure that heat is rationally distributed and utilized, improving the system's thermal management efficiency.

[0189] In some embodiments, thermal management operations include adjusting the opening of the second expansion valve to adjust the operating pressure of the refrigerator evaporator.

[0190] In this way, by adjusting the opening degree of the second expansion valve 42, the refrigerator evaporator 41 can be turned on or off, and the operating pressure of the refrigerator evaporator 41 can also be adjusted to regulate the temperature inside the refrigerator.

[0191] In some embodiments, thermal management operations include adjusting the opening of a third expansion valve to adjust the operating pressure of the battery cold plate.

[0192] In this way, by adjusting the opening degree of the third expansion valve 52, the battery cold plate 51 can be closed or opened, and the operating pressure of the battery cold plate 51 can also be adjusted to regulate the battery temperature.

[0193] In some embodiments, the thermal management requirements of a thermally managed object are obtained, the thermally managed object including at least one battery and at least one refrigerator. Based on the thermal management requirements and thermal management priority of the thermally managed object, a thermal management operation is performed to adjust the opening of a second expansion valve and a third expansion valve.

[0194] In this way, the controller can obtain the thermal management needs of objects such as refrigerators and batteries, and perform thermal management operations according to these needs and set priorities, so as to ensure the rational distribution and utilization of heat and improve the thermal management efficiency of the system.

[0195] In some embodiments, the controller performs thermal management operations based on the thermal management needs and thermal management priority of the thermally managed object, including:

[0196] When the battery's thermal management requirements meet preset conditions, the opening of the third expansion valve in the battery branch corresponding to the battery with cooling requirements is adjusted based on the battery's cooling level.

[0197] For example, preset conditions include: the battery's thermal management requirements indicate that the battery has cooling requirements and the battery's cooling level is greater than the preset level.

[0198] In some embodiments, the preset conditions include: the battery's thermal management requirements indicate that the battery has cooling requirements and the number of battery cold plates with cooling requirements is greater than a preset number threshold.

[0199] Thus, when the battery's thermal management requirements meet the conditions of either a three-level battery cooling setting or dual-plate cooling for the battery cold plate 51, the opening of the third expansion valve 52 in the battery branch 50 corresponding to the battery with cooling needs is adjusted based on the battery's cooling setting. In other words, when the battery's cooling demand is high, the vehicle thermal management system 100 prioritizes meeting the cooling needs of the battery and the vehicle's cabin, and the refrigerator can be turned off first.

[0200] In some embodiments, when the thermal management requirements of the battery do not meet preset conditions, the opening of the second expansion valve is controlled based on the thermal management requirements of the refrigerator, and the opening of the third expansion valve in the battery branch corresponding to the battery with cooling requirements is adjusted based on the cooling level of the battery.

[0201] Thus, when the battery's thermal management requirements do not meet the needs of a three-level battery cooling system or a dual-plate cooling system for the battery cold plate 51, the opening of the second expansion valve 42 is controlled based on the refrigerator's thermal management requirements, and the opening of the third expansion valve 52 in the battery branch 50 corresponding to the battery with cooling requirements is adjusted based on the battery's cooling level. In other words, when the battery's cooling requirements are not high, the vehicle thermal management system 100 can meet both the battery's cooling requirements and the refrigerator's cooling requirements according to the actual situation.

[0202] In some embodiments, the control method further includes: detecting the ambient temperature outside the vehicle. Controlling the opening of the second expansion valve based on the refrigerator's thermal management requirements includes: controlling the opening of the second expansion valve and the third expansion valve based on the refrigerator's thermal management requirements and the ambient temperature outside the vehicle.

[0203] In this way, the opening degree of the first expansion valve 32 can be controlled based on the thermal management needs of the vehicle cabin and the ambient temperature outside the vehicle, thereby improving the heat utilization rate of the vehicle thermal management system 100.

[0204] In some embodiments, referring to Figure 11, after the vehicle is started (step S1101), the controller obtains the thermal management requirements of the vehicle thermal management system (step S1102). When the vehicle has a cooling requirement for the battery and a cooling requirement for the refrigerator (step S1103), or when the vehicle has a cooling requirement for the refrigerator and a cooling requirement for the battery (step S1104), it determines whether the ambient temperature is greater than a preset temperature (step S1105). If so, it determines whether a preset condition is met (step S1107). If the preset condition is met, the second expansion valve is closed and the third expansion valve is opened (step S1108). If the preset condition is not met, the second expansion valve is opened and the third expansion valve is opened (step S1109). If not (i.e., the ambient temperature is less than or equal to the preset temperature), the second expansion valve is opened and the third expansion valve is opened (step S1106).

[0205] In other words, if the ambient temperature outside the vehicle is greater than 5°C, the system checks whether the battery cooling setting is at level three or the battery cooling plate is dual-plate cooling. If so, the second expansion valve is closed and the third expansion valve is opened. If not, both the second and third expansion valves are opened. If the ambient temperature outside the vehicle is less than or equal to 5°C, both the second and third expansion valves are opened.

[0206] As shown in Figure 12, some embodiments of this disclosure provide an electronic device 200, which includes a processor 210 and a memory 220. The processor 210 is connected to the memory 220, and the memory 220 stores computer instructions. When the computer instructions are executed on the electronic device 200, the electronic device 200 performs the above-described method.

[0207] In this way, by storing the device control method in the memory 220 in the form of computer instructions, automated control can be achieved when the device is running, reducing manual intervention and improving the stability and efficiency of system operation.

[0208] In some embodiments, the memory may be a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, such as read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), CD-ROM, magnetic tape, floppy disk, and optical data storage device.

[0209] As shown in Figure 12, some embodiments of this disclosure also provide a vehicle 1000, including the electronic device 200 described above.

[0210] Some embodiments of this disclosure also provide a computer program product, which includes a computer program that, when executed by a device, causes the device to perform the methods described above.

[0211] In this way, the computer program in the computer program product can be customized according to the needs and operating conditions of the equipment, realizing personalized control methods and improving the adaptability and flexibility of equipment control.

[0212] In addition, computer program products can be executed on different devices or systems, achieving cross-platform applicability, providing a unified control method for different types of devices, and improving system integration and interoperability.

[0213] Although this disclosure has been described in conjunction with its features and embodiments, it will be apparent that various modifications and combinations can be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. Accordingly, this specification and drawings are merely exemplary illustrations of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims and are to be considered as covering any and all modifications, variations, combinations, or equivalents within the scope of this disclosure. It is obvious that those skilled in the art can make various alterations and modifications to this disclosure without departing from its spirit and scope. Thus, this disclosure is also intended to include any such modifications and modifications that fall within the scope of the claims of this disclosure and their equivalents.

[0214] The above are merely specific embodiments of this disclosure, but the scope of protection of this disclosure is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in this disclosure should be included within the scope of protection of this disclosure. Therefore, the scope of protection of this disclosure should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A vehicle thermal management system comprising: a compressor (10) and a condenser (20), an outlet of the compressor (10) being in communication with an inlet of the condenser (20); an air conditioning branch (30) comprising an air conditioning evaporator (31) and a first expansion valve (32), an inlet of the first expansion valve (32) being in communication with an outlet of the condenser (20), an outlet of the first expansion valve (32) being in communication with an inlet of the air conditioning evaporator (31), an outlet of the air conditioning evaporator (31) being in communication with an inlet of the compressor (10); and at least one refrigerator branch (40) comprising a refrigerator evaporator (41) and a second expansion valve (42), an inlet of the second expansion valve (42) being in communication with an outlet of the condenser (20), an outlet of the second expansion valve (42) being in communication with an inlet of the refrigerator evaporator (41), an outlet of the refrigerator evaporator (41) being in communication with an inlet of the compressor (10).

2. The vehicle thermal management system of claim 1, further comprising: at least one battery branch (50) comprising a battery cold plate (51) and a third expansion valve (52), an inlet of the third expansion valve (52) being in communication with an outlet of the condenser (20), an outlet of the third expansion valve (52) being in communication with an inlet of the battery cold plate (51), an outlet of the battery cold plate (51) being in communication with an inlet of the compressor (10).

3. The vehicle thermal management system of claim 2, wherein, The at least one battery branch (50) comprises a plurality of battery branches (50).

4. The vehicle thermal management system of claim 2, wherein, The at least one battery branch (50) further comprises a fourth expansion valve (53), an inlet of the fourth expansion valve (53) being in communication with an outlet of the battery cold plate (51), an outlet of the fourth expansion valve (53) being in communication with an outlet of the inlet of the compressor (10).

5. The vehicle thermal management system of any one of claims 1-4, wherein, The at least one refrigerator branch (40) comprises a plurality of refrigerator branches (40), inlets of the second expansion valves (42) of the plurality of refrigerator branches (40) are in communication with an outlet of the condenser (20), outlets of the second expansion valves (42) of the plurality of refrigerator branches (40) are in communication with inlets of the refrigerator evaporators (41), outlets of the refrigerator evaporators (41) of the plurality of refrigerator branches (40) are in communication with an inlet of the compressor (10).

6. The vehicle thermal management system of any one of claims 1-5, further comprising: a coaxial tube (60) comprising a central passage (61) and an outer tube passage (62) surrounding the central passage (61), an inlet of the central passage (61) being in communication with an outlet of the condenser (20), an outlet of the central passage (61) being in communication with inlets of the air conditioning evaporator (31) and the refrigerator evaporator (41), an inlet of the outer tube passage (62) being in communication with outlets of the air conditioning evaporator (31) and the refrigerator evaporator (41), an outlet of the outer tube passage (62) being in communication with an inlet of the compressor (10).

7. The vehicle thermal management system of any one of claims 2-5, further comprising: a coaxial pipe (60) comprising a central passage (61) and an outer pipe passage (62) surrounding the central passage (61); an inlet of the central passage (61) is in communication with an outlet of the condenser (20), an outlet of the central passage (61) is in communication with inlets of the air conditioning evaporator (31), the refrigerator evaporator (41), and the battery cold plate (51); an inlet of the outer pipe passage (62) is in communication with outlets of the air conditioning evaporator (31), the refrigerator evaporator (41), and the battery cold plate (51), an outlet of the outer pipe passage (62) is in communication with an inlet of the compressor (10).

8. The vehicle thermal management system of claim 6 or 7, further comprising: a liquid storage tank (70), an inlet of the liquid storage tank (70) is in communication with an outlet of the condenser (20), an outlet of the liquid storage tank (70) is in communication with an inlet of the central passage (61).

9. The vehicle thermal management system of claim 8, further comprising: a gas-liquid separator (80), an inlet of the gas-liquid separator (80) is in communication with an outlet of the outer pipe passage (62), an outlet of the gas-liquid separator (80) is in communication with an inlet of the compressor (10).

10. The vehicle thermal management system of any one of claims 1-9, further comprising: a controller electrically connected with the first expansion valve (32) and the second expansion valve (42), the controller is configured to: obtain a thermal management requirement of a thermal management object; wherein the thermal management object comprises a vehicle cabin and at least one refrigerator; perform a thermal management operation based on the thermal management requirement of the thermal management object and a thermal management priority of the thermal management object; wherein the thermal management operation is used to adjust a running pressure of at least one of the air conditioning evaporator (31) or the refrigerator evaporator (41).

11. The vehicle thermal management system of claim 10, wherein, the thermal management operation comprises adjusting an opening degree of at least one of the first expansion valve (32) or the second expansion valve (42) to adjust the running pressure of at least one of the air conditioning evaporator (31) or the refrigerator evaporator (41).

12. The vehicle thermal management system of any one of claims 1-9, further comprising: a controller electrically connected with the first expansion valve (32), the second expansion valve (42), and a third expansion valve (52), the controller is configured to: obtain a thermal management requirement of a thermal management object; wherein the thermal management object comprises a vehicle cabin, at least one refrigerator, and at least one battery; perform a thermal management operation based on the thermal management requirement of the thermal management object and a thermal management priority of the thermal management object; wherein the thermal management operation is further used to adjust a running pressure of the battery cold plate (51).

13. The vehicle thermal management system of claim 12, wherein, the thermal management operation comprises adjusting an opening degree of the third expansion valve (52) to adjust the running pressure of the battery cold plate (51).

14. The vehicle thermal management system of claim 13, wherein, The controller performs a thermal management operation based on the thermal management requirement of the thermal management object and the thermal management priority of the thermal management object, including one of: In the case that the thermal management requirement of the battery meets a preset condition, the second expansion valve (42) is controlled to be closed, the opening degree of the first expansion valve (32) is controlled based on the thermal management requirement of the vehicle cabin, and the opening degree of the third expansion valve (52) in the battery branch (50) corresponding to the battery with cooling requirement is adjusted based on the cooling gear of the battery; wherein the preset condition includes one of: the thermal management requirement of the battery indicates that the battery has cooling requirement and the refrigeration gear of the battery is greater than a preset gear; or, the thermal management requirement of the battery indicates that the battery has cooling requirement and the number of batteries with cooling requirement is greater than a preset number threshold; In the case that the thermal management requirement of the battery does not meet the preset condition, the opening degree of the first expansion valve (32) is controlled based on the thermal management requirement of the vehicle cabin, the opening degree of the second expansion valve (42) is controlled based on the thermal management requirement of the refrigerator, and the opening degree of the third expansion valve (52) in the battery branch (50) corresponding to the battery with cooling requirement is adjusted based on the cooling gear of the battery; or, In the case that the thermal management requirement of the battery indicates that the battery does not have cooling requirement, the opening degree of the first expansion valve (32) is controlled based on the thermal management requirement of the vehicle cabin, the opening degree of the second expansion valve (42) is controlled based on the thermal management requirement of the refrigerator, and the third expansion valve (52) is controlled to be closed.

15. The vehicle thermal management system of claim 14, further comprising: an ambient temperature sensor configured to detect an outside environment temperature; The controller controls the opening degree of the first expansion valve (32) based on the thermal management requirement of the vehicle cabin, including: controlling the opening degree of the first expansion valve (32) based on the thermal management requirement of the vehicle cabin and the outside environment temperature.

16. The vehicle thermal management system of claim 15, wherein, The controller controls the opening degree of the first expansion valve (32) based on the thermal management requirement of the vehicle cabin and the outside environment temperature, including one of: in the case that the thermal management requirement of the vehicle cabin indicates that the vehicle cabin has refrigeration requirement and the outside environment temperature is greater than a preset temperature value, controlling the opening degree of the first expansion valve (32) based on a target refrigeration temperature of the refrigeration requirement; in the case that the thermal management requirement of the vehicle cabin indicates that the vehicle cabin has refrigeration requirement and the outside environment temperature is less than or equal to the preset temperature value, controlling the first expansion valve (32) to be closed; or, in the case that the thermal management requirement of the vehicle cabin indicates that the vehicle cabin does not have refrigeration requirement, controlling the first expansion valve (32) to be closed.

17. The vehicle thermal management system of claim 14, wherein, The controller controls the opening degree of the second expansion valve (42) based on the thermal management requirement of the refrigerator, including one of: in a case that the thermal management requirement of the refrigerator indicates that the refrigerator has a refrigeration requirement, controlling an opening degree of the second expansion valve (42) based on a target refrigeration temperature of the refrigeration requirement; or, in a case that the thermal management requirement of the refrigerator indicates that the refrigerator does not have a refrigeration requirement, controlling the second expansion valve (42) to be closed.

18. A vehicle thermal management system, comprising: a compressor (10) and a condenser (20), an outlet of the compressor (10) being in communication with an inlet of the condenser (20); at least one battery branch (50), the at least one battery branch (50) comprising a battery cold plate (51) and a third expansion valve (52), an inlet of the third expansion valve (52) being in communication with an outlet of the condenser (20), an outlet of the third expansion valve (52) being in communication with an inlet of the battery cold plate (51), an outlet of the battery cold plate (51) being in communication with an inlet of the compressor (10); at least one refrigerator branch (40), the at least one refrigerator branch (40) comprising a refrigerator evaporator (41) and a second expansion valve (42), an inlet of the second expansion valve (42) being in communication with an outlet of the condenser (20), an outlet of the second expansion valve (42) being in communication with an inlet of the refrigerator evaporator (41), an outlet of the refrigerator evaporator (41) being in communication with an inlet of the compressor (10).

19. The vehicle thermal management system of claim 18, further comprising: a controller, the controller being electrically connected with the second expansion valve (42) and the third expansion valve (52), the controller being configured to: obtain a thermal management requirement of a thermal management object; wherein the thermal management object comprises at least one battery and at least one refrigerator; perform a thermal management operation based on the thermal management requirement of the thermal management object and a thermal management priority of the thermal management object; wherein the thermal management operation is used to adjust a running pressure of at least one of the battery cold plate (51) or the refrigerator evaporator (41).

20. The vehicle thermal management system of claim 19, wherein, the thermal management operation comprises adjusting an opening degree of at least one of the second expansion valve (42) or the third expansion valve (52) to adjust the running pressure of at least one of the battery cold plate (51) or the refrigerator evaporator (41).

21. The vehicle thermal management system of claim 20, wherein, the performing the thermal management operation based on the thermal management requirement of the thermal management object and the thermal management priority of the thermal management object comprises: in a case that the thermal management requirement of the battery meets a preset condition, adjusting the opening degree of the third expansion valve (52) in the battery branch (50) corresponding to the battery having a cooling requirement based on a cooling gear of the battery, and closing the second expansion valve (42); wherein the preset condition comprises that the thermal management requirement of the battery indicates that the battery has a cooling requirement, and a refrigeration gear of the battery is greater than a preset gear; or, the thermal management requirement of the battery indicates that the battery has a cooling requirement, and a number of batteries having a cooling requirement is greater than a preset number threshold; or, In a case where the thermal management requirement of the battery does not satisfy a preset condition, the opening degree of the second expansion valve (42) is controlled based on the thermal management requirement of the refrigerator, and the opening degree of the third expansion valve (52) in the battery branch (50) corresponding to the battery with cooling requirement is adjusted based on the cooling grade of the battery.

22. The vehicle thermal management system of claim 21, further comprising: an ambient temperature sensor configured to detect an ambient temperature outside the vehicle; the control of the opening degree of the second expansion valve (42) based on the thermal management requirement of the refrigerator comprises: controlling the opening degrees of the second expansion valve (42) and the third expansion valve (52) based on the thermal management requirement of the refrigerator and the ambient temperature outside the vehicle.

23. A control method for controlling a vehicle thermal management system according to any one of claims 1-17; wherein, the method comprises: obtaining thermal management requirements of thermal management objects, wherein the thermal management objects include a vehicle cabin and at least one refrigerator; performing a thermal management operation based on the thermal management requirements of the thermal management objects and thermal management priorities of the thermal management objects, wherein the thermal management operation is used to adjust the operating pressure of at least one of the air conditioning evaporator or the refrigerator evaporator.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein, the thermal management operation comprises adjusting the opening degree of at least one of the first expansion valve or the second expansion valve to adjust the operating pressure of at least one of the air conditioning evaporator or the refrigerator evaporator.

25. The control method according to claim 24, wherein The vehicle thermal management system further comprises at least one battery branch, and the at least one battery branch comprises a battery cold plate and a third expansion valve; the inlet of the third expansion valve is in communication with the outlet of the condenser, the third expansion valve is in communication with the outlet of the inlet of the battery cold plate, and the outlet of the battery cold plate is in communication with the inlet of the compressor; the thermal management objects further include at least one battery, and the thermal management operation is further used to adjust the operating pressure of the battery cold plate.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein, the thermal management operation comprises adjusting the opening degree of the third expansion valve to adjust the operating pressure of the battery cold plate.

27. The control method of claim 26, wherein, performing a thermal management operation based on the thermal management requirements of the thermal management objects and thermal management priorities of the thermal management objects comprises: in a case where the thermal management requirement of the battery satisfies a preset condition, controlling the first expansion valve and the second expansion valve to be closed, and adjusting the opening degree of the third expansion valve in the battery branch corresponding to the battery with cooling requirement based on the cooling grade of the battery; wherein the preset condition includes that the thermal management requirement of the battery indicates that the battery has cooling requirement and the refrigeration grade of the battery is greater than a preset grade, or the thermal management requirement of the battery indicates that the battery has cooling requirement and the number of batteries with cooling requirement is greater than a preset number threshold; in a case where the thermal management requirement of the battery does not satisfy a preset condition, controlling the opening degree of the first expansion valve based on the thermal management requirement of the vehicle cabin, controlling the opening degree of the second expansion valve based on the thermal management requirement of the refrigerator, and adjusting the opening degree of the third expansion valve in the battery branch corresponding to the battery with cooling requirement based on the cooling grade of the battery; or controlling an opening degree of the first expansion valve based on a thermal management requirement of the vehicle cabin, controlling an opening degree of the second expansion valve based on a thermal management requirement of the refrigerator, and controlling the third expansion valve to be closed, in a case where the thermal management requirement of the battery indicates that the battery has no cooling requirement.

28. The control method of claim 27, further comprising: obtaining an outside environment temperature; controlling the opening degree of the first expansion valve based on the thermal management requirement of the vehicle cabin comprises: controlling the opening degree of the first expansion valve based on the thermal management requirement of the vehicle cabin and the outside environment temperature.

29. The control method according to claim 28, wherein controlling the opening degree of the first expansion valve based on the thermal management requirement of the vehicle cabin and the outside environment temperature comprises one of: controlling the opening degree of the first expansion valve based on a target cooling temperature of the cooling requirement of the vehicle cabin in a case where the thermal management requirement of the vehicle cabin indicates that the vehicle cabin has a cooling requirement and the outside environment temperature is greater than a preset temperature value; controlling the first expansion valve to be closed in a case where the thermal management requirement of the vehicle cabin indicates that the vehicle cabin has a cooling requirement and the outside environment temperature is less than or equal to the preset temperature value; or controlling the first expansion valve to be closed in a case where the thermal management requirement of the vehicle cabin indicates that the vehicle cabin has no cooling requirement.

30. The control method according to claim 27, wherein controlling the opening degree of the second expansion valve based on the thermal management requirement of the refrigerator comprises one of: controlling the opening degree of the second expansion valve based on a target cooling temperature of the cooling requirement of the refrigerator in a case where the thermal management requirement of the refrigerator indicates that the refrigerator has a cooling requirement; or controlling the second expansion valve to be closed in a case where the thermal management requirement of the refrigerator indicates that the refrigerator has no cooling requirement.

31. A control method for controlling a vehicle thermal management system according to any one of claims 18-22, wherein, The control method comprises: obtaining a thermal management requirement of a thermal management object; wherein the thermal management object comprises at least one battery and at least one refrigerator; performing a thermal management operation based on the thermal management requirement of the thermal management object and a thermal management priority of the thermal management object; wherein the thermal management operation is used to adjust an operating pressure of at least one of the battery cold plate or the refrigerator evaporator.

32. The control method according to claim 31, wherein The thermal management operation comprises adjusting an opening degree of at least one of the second expansion valve or the third expansion valve to adjust the operating pressure of at least one of the battery cold plate or the refrigerator evaporator.

33. The control method according to claim 32, wherein performing a thermal management operation based on the thermal management requirement of the thermal management object and the thermal management priority of the thermal management object comprises: controlling an opening degree of the third expansion valve in a battery branch corresponding to a battery having a cooling requirement based on a cooling gear of the battery and closing the second expansion valve in a case where the thermal management requirement of the battery meets a preset condition; wherein the preset condition comprises: the thermal management requirement of the battery indicates that the battery has a cooling requirement and a cooling gear of the battery is greater than a preset gear; or the thermal management requirement of the battery indicates that the battery has a cooling requirement and a number of batteries having a cooling requirement is greater than a preset number threshold; or In a case where the thermal management requirement of the battery does not meet a preset condition, the opening degree of the second expansion valve is controlled based on the thermal management requirement of the refrigerator, and the opening degree of the third expansion valve in the battery branch corresponding to the battery with cooling requirement is adjusted based on the cooling gear of the battery.

34. The control method of claim 33, further comprising: obtaining an outside environment temperature; controlling the opening degree of the second expansion valve based on the thermal management requirement of the refrigerator comprises: controlling the opening degrees of the second expansion valve and the third expansion valve based on the thermal management requirement of the refrigerator and the outside environment temperature.

35. An electronic device comprising a processor and a memory, the processor connected with the memory, the memory storing computer instructions, when the computer instructions run on the electronic device, cause the electronic device to perform the method according to any one of claims 23-34.

36. A vehicle comprising at least one of the vehicle thermal management system (100) according to any one of claims 1-22 or the electronic device according to claim 35.

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