Heating medium module

Abstract

[Problem] To provide an excellent heating medium module. [Solution] A heating medium module 10 comprises: a multi-way valve 31 that has a plurality of ports and a valve body which is configured to switch the connection of the plurality of ports; a plurality of pumps 36, 37, 38 that are each connected to the multi-way valve 31 and that are each configured to pressure-feed a heating medium; at least one flow path switching part 32, 33 that is connected to the multi-way valve 31 and that is configured to switch the flow path of the heating medium; and a support member 20 that has a multi-way valve receiving part 21 which is configured such that the multi-way valve 31 is disposed therein, a plurality of pump receiving parts 26, 27, 28 which are configured such that the plurality of pumps 36, 37, 38 are respectively disposed therein, and at least one flow path switching part receiving part 22, 23 which is configured such that the at least one flow path switching part 32, 33 is disposed therein.

Description

Heat Transfer Module

[0001] The present invention relates to a heat transfer medium module.

[0002] A system for air conditioning a vehicle or regulating the temperature of onboard devices is known, which includes a refrigerant circuit that functions as a heat pump and a heat medium circuit in which a heat medium that exchanges heat with the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit transports heat to various components. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses technology related to a valve device that can be applied to an integrated thermal management system for an electric vehicle. Patent Document 1 discloses a valve device that can configure various coolant circulation paths with a single actuator. In the integrated thermal management system, the valve device and the like can be arranged in various ways.

[0003] US Patent Application Publication No. 2024 / 0133471

[0004] An object of the present invention is to provide an excellent heat transfer medium module.

[0005] According to one aspect of the present invention, a heat medium module includes a multi-way valve having a plurality of ports and a valve body configured to switch the connection of the plurality of ports, a plurality of pumps each connected to the multi-way valve and configured to pump a heat medium, at least one flow path switching unit connected to the multi-way valve and configured to switch the flow path of the heat medium, and a support member having a multi-way valve receiving unit configured to accommodate the multi-way valve, a plurality of pump receiving units configured to accommodate each of the plurality of pumps, and at least one flow path switching unit receiving unit configured to accommodate the at least one flow path switching unit.

[0006] According to the present invention, an excellent heat transfer medium module can be provided.

[0007] Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of a configuration example of a vehicle thermal management system according to an embodiment. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing an outline of a configuration example of a heat medium module according to an embodiment. Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing an outline of a configuration example of a support member according to an embodiment. Fig. 4 is a front view showing an outline of a configuration example of a part of a heat medium module according to a modified example.

[0008] [Configuration of Vehicle Thermal Management System] One embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of a configuration example of a vehicle thermal management system 1 according to this embodiment. The vehicle thermal management system 1 is mounted on a vehicle such as an electric vehicle. The vehicle thermal management system 1 has a function of adjusting the temperature, humidity, etc. of the air inside the vehicle cabin. The vehicle thermal management system 1 is a thermal management system configured to not only adjust the temperature inside the vehicle cabin, but also adjust the temperatures of the motor and battery mounted on the vehicle.

[0009] The vehicle thermal management system 1 includes a refrigerant circuit 80 and a heat medium circuit 60. The vehicle thermal management system 1 also includes a control device that controls the operation of each part of the vehicle thermal management system 1, and various sensors, both of which are not shown.

[0010] The heat medium circuit 60 is a circuit through which a heat medium flows that exchanges heat with the refrigerant circuit 80, and the heat medium transports the heat required for each part of the vehicle. The heat medium circuit 60 is configured to switch between circuits according to various operations and to be able to assume various states. Figure 1 shows, as an example, an operation mode in which air conditioning and cooling of on-board equipment are performed.

[0011] The refrigerant circuit 80 includes a compressor 81, a high-temperature heat exchanger 82, a pressure reduction device 83, a low-temperature heat exchanger 84, and an accumulator 85, which are arranged so that a refrigerant circulates through the refrigerant. Examples of the refrigerant that can be used include, but are not limited to, propane R290 refrigerant. The refrigerant circuit 80 is configured to function as a heat pump. That is, the refrigerant circulating through the refrigerant circuit 80 is compressed, condensed, expanded, and evaporated in the compressor 81, the high-temperature heat exchanger 82, the pressure reduction device 83, and the low-temperature heat exchanger 84, respectively, and these processes are repeated.

[0012] In the high-temperature side heat exchanger 82 or the low-temperature side heat exchanger 84 of the refrigerant circuit 80, heat is exchanged between the heat medium in the heat medium circuit 60 and the refrigerant. The heat medium is a fluid such as a coolant liquid. The heat medium circulates through various parts of the vehicle to heat or cool the parts and transport heat from one part to another.

[0013] The vehicle thermal management system 1 includes an HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) unit 70. The HVAC unit 70 includes a heater core 71 and a cooler core 72 that constitute a part of the heat medium circuit 60.

[0014] The heater core 71 of the heat medium circuit 60 is configured to circulate the heat medium heated by the high-temperature side heat exchanger 82. The heater core 71 is configured to heat the air supplied to the vehicle interior. The heater core 71 can be used to heat the vehicle interior. The cooler core 72 of the heat medium circuit 60 is configured to circulate the heat medium cooled by the low-temperature side heat exchanger 84. The cooler core 72 is configured to cool the air supplied to the vehicle interior. The cooler core 72 can be used to cool the vehicle interior.

[0015] The cooler core 72 is provided upstream of an air flow passage 75 of the HVAC unit 70, and the heater core 71 is provided downstream of the air flow passage 75 of the HVAC unit 70. A blower 76 of the HVAC unit 70 supplies air taken in from inside or outside the vehicle cabin into the vehicle cabin through the air flow passage 75. The air supplied into the vehicle cabin is heated through the heater core 71 in the HVAC unit 70 and cooled through the cooler core 72, thereby heating or cooling the vehicle cabin.

[0016] The heat medium circuit 60 includes a motor temperature regulator 61, a battery temperature regulator 62, and an exterior heat exchanger 63. The motor temperature regulator 61 is configured so that the heat medium flowing therethrough can exchange heat with the motor. The motor is heated or cooled by the heat medium flowing therethrough. The battery temperature regulator 62 is configured so that the heat medium flowing therethrough can exchange heat with the battery. The battery is heated or cooled by the heat medium flowing therethrough. Note that a configuration similar to the battery temperature regulator 62 can also be applied to an in-vehicle device temperature regulator for regulating the temperature of other in-vehicle devices that require temperature regulation, in addition to the battery. The exterior heat exchanger 63 is configured so that the heat medium flowing therethrough can exchange heat with the exterior air. In the exterior heat exchanger 63, the heat medium can emit heat to or absorb heat from the exterior air.

[0017] Each component, such as the heater core 71, the cooler core 72, the motor temperature regulator 61, the battery temperature regulator 62, and the exterior heat exchanger 63, is connected to a flow path through which the heat medium of the heat medium circuit 60 flows. The flow paths of the heat medium circuit 60 are provided with a plurality of flow path switching devices. The flow path switching device includes a multi-way valve 31, which is an eight-way valve in this embodiment. The flow path switching device also includes flow path switching units such as a four-way valve 32, a first three-way valve 33, and a second three-way valve 34. The connection of each flow path is switched by these flow path switching devices, so that the heat medium circuit 60 can form various circulation circuits.

[0018] The heat medium circuit 60 also includes a plurality of pumps for circulating the heat medium in the flow path. That is, the heat medium circuit 60 includes a first pump 36 provided to cause the heat medium heated in the high-temperature side heat exchanger 82 to flow through the heater core 71, a second pump 37 provided to cause the heat medium cooled in the low-temperature side heat exchanger 84 to flow through the cooler core 72, and a third pump 38 provided to cause the heat medium to flow through the battery temperature adjustment unit 62. These pumps can circulate the heat medium in the formed circulation circuit by their operation.

[0019] [Configuration of Heat Medium Module] In the heat medium circuit 60 of the vehicle thermal management system 1 of this embodiment, some of its elements are integrated into the heat medium module 10. The heat medium module 10 includes the above-mentioned multi-way valve 31, four-way valve 32, first three-way valve 33, first pump 36, second pump 37, and third pump 38. That is, the multi-way valve 31, four-way valve 32, first three-way valve 33, first pump 36, second pump 37, and third pump 38 are integrated into an integrated module.

[0020] 2 is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of the heat medium module 10. The heat medium module 10 includes a support member 20. In the heat medium module 10, a multi-way valve 31, a four-way valve 32, a first three-way valve 33, a first pump 36, a second pump 37, and a third pump 38 are arranged on and supported by the support member 20.

[0021] When considering an imaginary plane, the multi-way valve 31, the four-way valve 32, the first three-way valve 33, the first pump 36, the second pump 37, and the third pump 38 are arranged so as to overlap one imaginary plane. The four-way valve 32, the first three-way valve 33, the first pump 36, the second pump 37, and the third pump 38 are arranged so as to surround the multi-way valve 31. In particular, the multi-way valve 31, the four-way valve 32, the first three-way valve 33, the first pump 36, the second pump 37, and the third pump 38 are arranged as close as possible to each other without touching each other. In this embodiment, the multi-way valve 31 is an eight-way valve as an example, but this is not limiting. Any multi-way valve capable of switching between multiple flow paths may be used. Furthermore, the multi-way valve is not limited to being formed as an integral unit like the eight-way valve of this example, and may be, for example, a structure combining two four-way valves. In the present embodiment, the four-way valve 32 and the first three-way valve 33 are exemplified as flow path switching units included in the heat medium module 10, but this is not limiting. The heat medium module 10 may also include, for example, a second three-way valve 34, or various other valves depending on the configuration of the heat medium circuit 60.

[0022] 3 is a perspective view showing an example configuration of the support member 20. The support member 20 includes a multi-way valve receiving portion 21, a four-way valve receiving portion 22, a three-way valve receiving portion 23, a first pump receiving portion 26, a second pump receiving portion 27, and a third pump receiving portion 28. The multi-way valve receiving portion 21 has a multi-way valve 31 disposed therein and is configured to support the multi-way valve 31. The four-way valve receiving portion 22 has a four-way valve 32 disposed therein and is configured to support the four-way valve 32. The three-way valve receiving portion 23 has a first three-way valve 33 disposed therein and is configured to support the first three-way valve 33. In this manner, the four-way valve receiving portion 22 and the three-way valve receiving portion 23 are flow path switching portion receiving portions configured to accommodate a flow path switching portion. The first pump receiving portion 26 has a first pump 36 disposed therein and is configured to support the first pump 36. The second pump receiving portion 27 is configured to support the second pump 37 and to have the second pump 37 disposed thereon. The third pump receiving portion 28 is configured to support the third pump 38 and to have the third pump 38 disposed thereon.

[0023] When considering an imaginary plane, the multi-way valve receiving portion 21, the four-way valve receiving portion 22, the three-way valve receiving portion 23, the first pump receiving portion 26, the second pump receiving portion 27, and the third pump receiving portion 28 are arranged so as to overlap one imaginary plane. In addition, the four-way valve receiving portion 22, the three-way valve receiving portion 23, the first pump receiving portion 26, the second pump receiving portion 27, and the third pump receiving portion 28 are arranged so as to surround the periphery of the multi-way valve receiving portion 21.

[0024] The first pump receiving portion 26, the second pump receiving portion 27, and the third pump receiving portion 28 each have an opening 29 provided so that the first pump 36, the second pump 37, and the third pump 38 can be inserted along the above-mentioned imaginary plane. The first pump 36, the second pump 37, and the third pump 38 are inserted into the first pump receiving portion 26, the second pump receiving portion 27, and the third pump receiving portion 28 from the opening 29 along the above-mentioned imaginary plane, and are held by the first pump receiving portion 26, the second pump receiving portion 27, and the third pump receiving portion 28, respectively.

[0025] The first pump receiving portion 26, the second pump receiving portion 27, and the third pump receiving portion 28 are formed so as to cover half or more of the first pump 36, the second pump 37, and the third pump 38, respectively.

[0026] In the support member 20, the four-way valve receiving portion 22, the three-way valve receiving portion 23, the first pump receiving portion 26, the second pump receiving portion 27, and the third pump receiving portion 28 are connected to one another by a ring-shaped connecting member 25. That is, the connecting member 25, which has an overall ring shape, is configured to connect the four-way valve 32, the first three-way valve 33, the first pump 36, the second pump 37, and the third pump 38 to one another. In particular, in this embodiment, the connecting member 25 has an annular shape.

[0027] Of the pipes connected to the four-way valve 32, the first three-way valve 33, the first pump 36, the second pump 37, and the third pump 38, at least a portion of each of the one or more pipes 41 is arranged parallel to the above-mentioned imaginary plane. These pipes 41 are directly or indirectly connected to the multi-way valve 31. The four-way valve 32, the first three-way valve 33, the first pump 36, the second pump 37, and the third pump 38 are each connected to a portion of these pipes 41 that is arranged parallel to the imaginary plane. The pipes 41 that are arranged parallel to the imaginary plane may be installed in the support member 20, or may be supported by a portion of the support member 20.

[0028] [Regarding the Heat Transfer Medium Module] For example, when installing the various components of the vehicle thermal management system 1 in the engine compartment of an electric vehicle, the multi-way valve 31, four-way valve 32, first three-way valve 33, second three-way valve 34, first pump 36, second pump 37, third pump 38, and the like may be distributed. Such a distributed arrangement offers the advantage of greater flexibility in placement. However, this can result in redundant piping, which can increase heat loss due to heat transfer and pressure loss of the fluid flowing through the heat transfer medium circuit 60. Furthermore, each component requires its own mounting part, which increases the number of components. Furthermore, assembling the heat transfer medium circuit 60 and removing each component can be cumbersome and difficult.

[0029] In contrast, the heat medium module 10 of this embodiment has the multi-way valve 31, four-way valve 32, first three-way valve 33, first pump 36, second pump 37, and third pump 38 concentrated in one location. This makes the piping connecting these elements relatively short, thereby reducing the heat loss due to heat transfer and the pressure loss of the fluid flowing through the heat medium circuit 60.

[0030] In particular, the multi-way valve 31 is disposed in the center, and the four-way valve 32, the first three-way valve 33, the first pump 36, the second pump 37, and the third pump 38 are disposed around it. The multi-way valve 31, the four-way valve 32, the first three-way valve 33, the first pump 36, the second pump 37, and the third pump 38 are disposed as close to the multi-way valve 31 as possible without interfering with each other. In other words, the flow paths connecting the multi-way valve 31 to other elements are arranged radially from the multi-way valve 31 as close as possible. The flow paths connecting each element to each other are also arranged to be as short as possible. This reduces heat loss due to heat transfer and pressure loss of the fluid flowing through the heat medium circuit 60.

[0031] As can be seen from FIG. 1 , a hot heat medium flows through the four-way valve 32 and the first pump 36. A cold heat medium flows through the first three-way valve 33, the second pump 37, and the third pump 38. Therefore, in the heat medium module 10 of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2 , the four-way valve 32 and the first pump 36, through which the hot heat medium flows, are arranged on the upper side, and the first three-way valve 33, the second pump 37, and the third pump 38, through which the cold heat medium flows, are arranged on the lower side. This arrangement makes it difficult for heat to mix in the heat medium module 10. Furthermore, the pumps, such as the first pump 36, the second pump 37, and the third pump 38, are relatively heavier than the flow path switching units, such as the four-way valve 32 and the first three-way valve 33. Therefore, in the heat medium module 10 of this embodiment, the relatively heavy second pump 37 and the third pump 38 are arranged on the lower side.

[0032] In the heat transfer medium module 10 of this embodiment, the four-way valve 32, the first three-way valve 33, the first pump 36, the second pump 37, and the third pump 38 are arranged to protrude from the multi-way valve 31. Therefore, a connecting member 25 having a predetermined strength is provided to connect these elements. The first pump receiving portion 26, the second pump receiving portion 27, and the third pump receiving portion 28 are formed to cover more than half of the first pump 36, the second pump 37, and the third pump 38, respectively. Reinforcement by the first pump receiving portion 26, the second pump receiving portion 27, the third pump receiving portion 28, and the connecting member 25 prevents damage to the piping connecting the elements due to force applied to the elements, for example, during assembly. The connecting member 25 can also serve as a handle for an operator to grip the heat transfer medium module 10 during installation or removal. This improves installation and removal workability.

[0033] Furthermore, the first pump receiving portion 26, the second pump receiving portion 27, and the third pump receiving portion 28 have openings 29 on the side farther from the multi-way valve receiving portion 21, and the first pump 36, the second pump 37, and the third pump 38 are configured to be inserted into the support member 20 from these openings 29 along an imaginary plane. This improves the workability during assembly.

[0034] [Modification] A modification of the above-described embodiment will be described. Here, differences from the above-described embodiment will be described, and the same parts will be assigned the same reference numerals and descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0035] The above-described advantages can be obtained without using the integrally formed support member 20. For example, as shown in Fig. 4, the multi-way valve 31, the four-way valve 32, the first three-way valve 33, the first pump 36, the second pump 37, and the third pump 38 may first be connected to one another by a plurality of pipes including the pipe 41 provided along the above-described imaginary plane, and then the four-way valve 32, the first three-way valve 33, the first pump 36, the second pump 37, and the third pump 38 may be connected by the connecting member 25 (not shown).

[0036] As described above, the heat transfer medium module 10 can achieve the same advantages as described above even if it does not have the multi-way valve receiving portion 21, the four-way valve receiving portion 22, the three-way valve receiving portion 23, the first pump receiving portion 26, the second pump receiving portion 27, and the third pump receiving portion 28. However, using the support member 20 having the multi-way valve receiving portion 21, the four-way valve receiving portion 22, the three-way valve receiving portion 23, the first pump receiving portion 26, the second pump receiving portion 27, and the third pump receiving portion 28 can achieve higher assembly efficiency.

[0037] The present invention has been described above by showing preferred embodiments, but it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the present invention.

[0038] These embodiments include the following inventions: <A1> A heat medium module comprising: a multi-way valve having a plurality of ports and a valve element configured to switch the connection of the plurality of ports, a plurality of pumps each connected to the multi-way valve and configured to pump a heat medium, at least one flow path switching unit connected to the multi-way valve and configured to switch a flow path of the heat medium, and a connecting member configured to connect each of the plurality of pumps and the at least one flow path switching unit to each other. <A2> The heat medium module according to <A1>, wherein each of the plurality of pumps, the at least one flow path switching unit, and the multi-way valve are arranged to overlap on the same imaginary plane, each of the plurality of pumps and the at least one flow path switching unit are arranged to surround the multi-way valve, and the connecting member has an overall ring shape. <A3> The heat medium module according to <A2>, further comprising a plurality of pipes connected directly or indirectly to the multi-way valve, at least a portion of which is arranged parallel to the imaginary plane, wherein each of the plurality of pumps and the at least one flow path switching unit is connected to a portion of any of the plurality of pipes that is arranged parallel to the imaginary plane. <A4> The heat medium module according to <A1>, <A2> or <A3>, wherein at least one of the flow path switching units is configured to be located above at least one of the pumps. <A5> The heat medium module according to <A1>, <A2> or <A3>, wherein an element of the at least one flow path switching unit and the plurality of pumps through which a hot heat medium can flow is configured to be located above an element through which a cold heat medium can flow.<B1> A heat medium module comprising: a multi-way valve having a plurality of ports and a valve element configured to switch the connection of the plurality of ports, a plurality of pumps each connected to the multi-way valve and configured to pump a heat medium, at least one flow path switching unit connected to the multi-way valve and configured to switch a flow path of the heat medium, and a support member having a multi-way valve receiving unit configured to accommodate the multi-way valve, a plurality of pump receiving units configured to accommodate each of the plurality of pumps, and at least one flow path switching unit receiving unit configured to accommodate the at least one flow path switching unit. <B2> The heat medium module according to <B1>, wherein, in the support member, the multi-way valve receiving unit, the plurality of pump receiving units, and the at least one flow path switching unit receiving unit are arranged to overlap on the same imaginary plane, and the plurality of pump receiving units and the at least one flow path switching unit receiving unit are arranged to surround the multi-way valve receiving unit. <B3> The heat medium module according to <B2>, wherein each of the plurality of pump receivers has an opening provided so that each of the plurality of pumps can be inserted along the imaginary plane, and the plurality of pumps are inserted into the plurality of pump receivers through the opening and held by the plurality of pump receivers. <B4> The heat medium module according to <B3>, wherein the opening is provided on a side of the plurality of pump receivers farther from the multi-way valve receiver. <B5> The heat medium module according to <B3>, wherein each of the plurality of pump receivers is formed so as to cover more than half of each of the plurality of pumps. <B6> The heat medium module according to <B1>, <B2>, <B3>, <B4>, or <B5>, wherein the support member has a connecting member configured to connect each of the plurality of pump receivers and the at least one flow path switching unit receiver to each other in an annular shape. <B7> The heat medium module according to <B1>, <B2>, <B3>, <B4>, or <B5>, wherein at least one of the flow path switching units is configured to be disposed above at least one of the pumps.<B8> The heat medium module according to <B1>, <B2>, <B3>, <B4> or <B5>, wherein, of the at least one flow path switching unit and the plurality of pumps, an element through which a hot heat medium can flow is configured to be arranged above an element through which a cold heat medium can flow.

[0039] 1: Vehicle thermal management system 10: Heat medium module 20: Support member, 21: Multi-way valve receiving portion, 22: Four-way valve receiving portion, 23: Three-way valve receiving portion, 25: Connecting member, 26: First pump receiving portion, 27: Second pump receiving portion, 28: Third pump receiving portion, 29: Opening 31: Multi-way valve, 32: Four-way valve, 33: First three-way valve, 34: Second three-way valve, 36: First pump, 37: Second pump, 38: Third pump 41: Pipe 60: Heat medium circuit, 61: Motor temperature adjustment portion, 62: Battery temperature adjustment portion, 63: Outdoor heat exchanger, 70: HVAC unit, 71: Heater core, 72: Cooler core, 75: Air flow passage, 76: Blower 80: refrigerant circuit, 81: compressor, 82: high-temperature side heat exchanger, 83: pressure reducing device, 84: low-temperature side heat exchanger, 85: accumulator

Claims

1. A heat medium module comprising: a multi-way valve having a plurality of ports and a valve element configured to switch the connection of the plurality of ports; a plurality of pumps each connected to the multi-way valve and configured to pump a heat medium; at least one flow path switching unit connected to the multi-way valve and configured to switch the flow path of the heat medium; and a support member having a multi-way valve receiving unit configured to accommodate the multi-way valve, a plurality of pump receiving units configured to accommodate each of the plurality of pumps, and at least one flow path switching unit receiving unit configured to accommodate the at least one flow path switching unit.

2. A heat transfer medium module as described in claim 1, wherein in the support member, the multi-way valve receiving portion, the plurality of pump receiving portions, and the at least one flow path switching portion receiving portion are arranged so as to overlap the same imaginary plane, and the plurality of pump receiving portions and the at least one flow path switching portion receiving portion are arranged so as to surround the periphery of the multi-way valve receiving portion.

3. A heat transfer medium module according to claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of pump receiving portions has an opening provided so that each of the plurality of pumps can be inserted along the imaginary plane, and the plurality of pumps are inserted into the plurality of pump receiving portions through the opening and held by the plurality of pump receiving portions.

4. The heat transfer medium module according to claim 3, wherein the opening is provided on the side of the plurality of pump receiving portions farther from the multi-way valve receiving portion.

5. The heat transfer medium module according to claim 3, wherein each of the plurality of pump receiving portions is formed so as to cover at least half of each of the plurality of pumps.

6. A heat transfer medium module as described in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the support member has a connecting member configured to connect each of the plurality of pump receiving portions and the at least one flow path switching portion receiving portion to each other in an annular shape.

7. The heat medium module according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein at least one of the flow path switching units is configured to be disposed above at least one of the pumps.

8. A heat transfer medium module as described in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the at least one flow path switching unit and the plurality of pumps are configured so that the elements through which a hot heat transfer medium can flow are positioned above the elements through which a cold heat transfer medium can flow.

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