Thermal management system for electric truck, and electric truck

Abstract

A thermal management system for an electric truck, the thermal management system comprising: a control module (300); and a plurality of heat pump modules (100, 200), the plurality of heat pump modules (100, 200) being identically configured, and each of the plurality of heat pump modules (100, 200) comprising one or more controlled devices and one interface unit (310, 320); the interface unit (310, 320) in each heat pump module (100, 200) is separately connected to the control module (300) by means of one bus (301, 302); the control module (300) separately transmits control information to the interface unit (310, 320) in each heat pump module (100, 200); the interface unit (310, 320) extracts, from the control information, information for corresponding controlled devices on the basis of identifiers uniquely associated with types of the controlled devices, and the interface unit (310, 320) transmits the information for the corresponding controlled devices to the corresponding controlled devices. The present application also relates to an electric truck having the thermal management system.

Description

Thermal management system for electric trucks and electric trucks

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202411895763.7, filed on December 23, 2024, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Technical Field

[0002] This invention relates to a thermal management system for electric trucks, particularly electric heavy-duty trucks. The invention also relates to an electric truck, particularly an electric heavy-duty truck, having said thermal management system. Background Technology

[0003] With the rapid development of new energy heavy-duty truck technology, more urgent and severe challenges are being posed to thermal management and control technologies suitable for high loads, low energy consumption, and high stability.

[0004] The capacity of a single heat pump module is limited by pump capacity and circuit flow resistance, making it difficult for a single heat pump module to meet the large water flow requirements of the entire vehicle system. In addition, the capacity of a single heat pump module is also limited by the capacity of the compressor and expansion valve, making it difficult for a single heat pump module to meet the cooling or heating requirements of heavy-duty trucks.

[0005] Furthermore, the thermal management systems of heavy-duty trucks differ significantly from those of passenger cars, making it difficult to adapt passenger car thermal management systems to heavy-duty trucks. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to at least partially overcome the above-mentioned technical defects in order to realize a stable and efficient thermal management system that meets the overall thermal requirements of electric trucks and has scalability.

[0007] This invention relates to a thermal management system for electric trucks, the thermal management system comprising: a control module; and a plurality of heat pump modules, the plurality of heat pump modules being identically constructed, each of the plurality of heat pump modules including one or more controlled devices and an interface unit; wherein the interface unit in each heat pump module is connected to the control module via a bus, the control module transmitting control information to the interface unit in each heat pump module, the interface unit parsing information for the corresponding controlled device from the control information based on an identifier uniquely associated with the type of the controlled device; and wherein the interface unit transmits the information for the corresponding controlled device to the corresponding controlled device.

[0008] The thermal management system of this invention implements a modular design for heat pumps, particularly a dual-heat pump module system. Compared to a single-heat pump module system, the dual-heat pump module system is more complex, requiring not only the functionality of a single heat pump but also the ability to work collaboratively with both heat pump modules. This ensures stable and efficient operation across all vehicle scenarios, meeting the vehicle's thermal requirements. Like traditional single-heat pump module systems, the dual-heat pump module system can achieve heat transfer, recovery, heat storage, and reuse, reducing energy consumption. However, a single heat pump system is insufficient to efficiently meet the extremely high thermal load requirements of various systems in heavy-duty trucks. The dual-heat pump module solves the problems of high thermal load and high energy consumption in new energy heavy-duty trucks, further promoting the development of new energy heavy-duty truck technology. The dual heat pump module control system proposed in this invention allows the control module to symmetrically control the first and second coolant circuits. Therefore, in most scenarios, the two heat pump modules operate synchronously, at the same frequency and speed, and the vehicle's heat demand is evenly distributed between the two heat pump modules. This not only doubles the system capacity but also ensures that the components of each heat pump module operate within a relatively efficient range for extended periods, thus extending the service life of the heat pump module components. Within the scope of this invention, "sameness" for parameters such as speed, temperature, and opening degree refers to a deviation of no more than 5%.

[0009] Furthermore, since it is difficult to achieve perfect consistency or symmetry in the actual vehicle components or layout of the two heat pump modules, and the performance of the water circuit system is also difficult to achieve perfect consistency, this will affect the capacity output and control stability of the refrigerant circuit. According to this invention, each module's refrigerant circuit is independently controlled in a closed loop within the module, which can solve the technical problem of the instability of the water circuit affecting the control stability of the refrigerant circuit. Because the two refrigerant circuits have the same control objective, through closed-loop adjustment of each refrigerant circuit, the overall vehicle thermal management requirements are ultimately achieved collaboratively.

[0010] In an embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of heat pump modules include a first heat pump module and a second heat pump module; a plurality of controlled devices in the first heat pump module form a first coolant circuit and a first refrigerant circuit, an interface unit in the first heat pump module is a first interface unit, and a control module is connected to the first interface unit via a first bus; a plurality of controlled devices in the second heat pump module form a second coolant circuit and a second refrigerant circuit, an interface unit in the second heat pump module is a second interface unit, and a control module is connected to the second interface unit via a second bus; and wherein the first refrigerant circuit and the second refrigerant circuit are independent of each other, and the first coolant circuit and the second coolant circuit are connected in parallel.

[0011] In an embodiment of the present invention, the interface unit in the first heat pump module is connected to the control module via a first bus, and the control module transmits control information to the interface unit in the first heat pump module via the first bus; and the interface unit in the second heat pump module is connected to the control module via a second bus, and the control module transmits control information to the interface unit in the second heat pump module via the second bus.

[0012] In an embodiment of the present invention, the first refrigerant circuit includes a first heat exchanger, and a first multi-way valve and a first pump as controlled devices; the first refrigerant circuit includes a first condenser, a first evaporator, a first compressor and a first expansion valve as controlled devices, wherein the first heat exchanger is coupled to the first condenser and / or the first evaporator; and the second refrigerant circuit includes a second heat exchanger, and a second multi-way valve and a second pump as controlled devices, the second refrigerant circuit including a second condenser, a second evaporator, a second compressor and a second expansion valve as controlled devices, wherein the second heat exchanger is coupled to the second condenser and / or the second evaporator.

[0013] In an embodiment of the present invention, the first interface unit sends information parsed according to a first identifier to a first multi-way valve, information parsed according to a second identifier to a first pump, information parsed according to a third identifier to a first compressor, and information parsed according to a fourth identifier to a first expansion valve; and the second interface unit sends information parsed according to the first identifier to a second multi-way valve, information parsed according to the second identifier to a second pump, information parsed according to the third identifier to a second compressor, and information parsed according to the fourth identifier to a second expansion valve.

[0014] In an embodiment of the present invention, according to the target requirements, the control module adjusts the opening of the first multi-way valve using information parsed from the first identifier by the first interface unit, and adjusts the rotational speed of the first pump using information parsed from the second identifier by the first interface unit; and the control module adjusts the opening of the second multi-way valve using information parsed from the first identifier by the second interface unit, and adjusts the rotational speed of the second pump using information parsed from the second identifier by the second interface unit; wherein the rotational speed of the first pump and the rotational speed of the second pump are adjusted to make the coolant flow rates of the first heat pump module and the second heat pump module the same.

[0015] In an embodiment of the present invention, 2 to 10 seconds before the first multi-way valve is switched, the speed of the first pump is first reduced to the minimum speed, and then returns to normal operation after the first multi-way valve is switched; similarly, 2 to 10 seconds before the second multi-way valve is switched, the speed of the second pump is first reduced to the minimum speed, and then returns to normal operation after the second multi-way valve is switched.

[0016] In an embodiment of the present invention, according to the same target requirement, the control module adjusts the speed of the first compressor using information parsed from the fourth identifier sent by the first interface unit, and adjusts the opening of the first expansion valve using information parsed from the sixth identifier sent by the first interface unit; and adjusts the speed of the second compressor using information parsed from the fourth identifier sent by the second interface unit, and adjusts the opening of the second expansion valve using information parsed from the sixth identifier sent by the second interface unit.

[0017] In an embodiment of the present invention, the control module includes a battery thermal management unit, an electric drive and electronic control thermal management unit, an air conditioning thermal management unit, a thermal management mode selection unit, and a unit capacity allocation unit. The thermal management mode selection unit selects a thermal management mode according to the needs of the battery thermal management unit, the electric drive and electronic control thermal management unit, and the air conditioning thermal management unit. The unit capacity allocation unit allocates output capacity to the first heat pump unit and to the second heat pump unit according to the selected thermal management mode.

[0018] In an embodiment of the present invention, the first coolant circuit and the second coolant circuit are connected in parallel to the overall coolant circuit of the electric truck via a valve device, wherein the valve device is a three-way valve, and the overall coolant circuit includes a battery pack coolant circuit and an electric drive / control coolant circuit, wherein the first multi-way valve and the second multi-way valve are respectively connected to the battery pack coolant circuit and / or the electric drive / control coolant circuit. The valve device described herein is a three-way valve, but other types of valves may also be used depending on the scenario. Here, the first and second multi-way valves enable the dual heat pump module system to be connected in series with the battery pack coolant circuit and / or the electric drive / control coolant circuit. For the first and second multi-way valves, the temperature and flow rate of the coolant returning in the coolant circuit are different, therefore the opening of the first and second multi-way valves can be adjusted, and if necessary, the speed of the first and second pumps can be adjusted to achieve substantially the same coolant flow rate. Similarly, depending on the allocated capacity, the compressors and expansion valves in each module can also be adjusted to provide different cooling or heating capacities to meet the overall vehicle requirements. Therefore, independent control of the refrigerant circuit provides compensation and balance for the capacity differences between individual heat pump modules (e.g., due to long-term use).

[0019] Another aspect of the present invention relates to an electric truck having a thermal management system according to the invention. The embodiments and advantages of the thermal management system also naturally apply to the electric truck according to the invention.

[0020] Overall, the dual heat pump module system control architecture proposed in this invention provides a new control approach for thermal management control technology of new energy heavy-duty trucks. The development of more efficient thermal management technology makes it possible for new energy heavy-duty trucks to break through the requirements of greater power performance, greater charging power, and higher energy efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0021] The above-mentioned features and advantages of the present invention, as well as the ways in which they are implemented, are described in detail below with reference to specific embodiments and the accompanying drawings. However, the features of the present invention are not limited to those of the specific embodiments. In the accompanying drawings:

[0022] Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of the working principle of the thermal management system according to the present invention;

[0023] Figure 2 shows a schematic diagram of the thermal management system according to the present invention; and

[0024] Figure 3 shows a schematic block diagram of the thermal management system according to the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0025] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of the present invention. Based on the described embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0026] Unless otherwise defined, the technical or scientific terms used herein should have the ordinary meaning understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. The terms "first," "second," and similar words used in this patent application specification and claims do not indicate any order, quantity, or importance, but are merely used to distinguish different components. Terms such as "comprising" or "including" mean that the element or object preceding the word encompasses the elements or objects listed following the word and their equivalents, without excluding other elements or objects. Terms such as "front," "back," "upper," "lower," "left," and "right" are used only to indicate relative positional relationships; these relative positional relationships may change accordingly when the absolute position of the described object changes.

[0027] The accompanying drawings in this invention are not drawn to scale. They are only considered to be part of this invention when the dimensions and positional relationships are clearly explained. The specific dimensions and quantity of each structure can be determined according to actual needs.

[0028] Figure 1 illustrates the working principle of the thermal management system according to the present invention. Starting from the power supply P being powered on (vehicle power-on), the requirements of the battery thermal management unit 10, the electric drive and control thermal management unit 20, and the air conditioning thermal management unit 30 are calculated or detected respectively. Then, the current thermal management mode is obtained from the thermal management mode selection unit 40. The thermal management mode can include multiple modes, such as battery cooling mode, air conditioning heating mode, air conditioning cooling mode, etc., or a combination of several modes. The module capacity allocation unit 50 allocates output capacity to each heat pump module according to the selected thermal management mode and sends control information to each heat pump module. Each control information is used to control the operation of each controlled device in the corresponding heat pump module to achieve the allocated output capacity.

[0029] The battery thermal management unit 10, the electric drive and control thermal management unit 20, the air conditioning thermal management unit 30, the thermal management mode selection unit 40, and the module capacity allocation unit 50 together constitute the control module 300.

[0030] Figure 1 schematically illustrates three heat pump modules (also see Figure 2). These heat pump modules can be constructed identically or further expanded to four, five, or more. In the schematic diagram of Figure 1, to illustrate scalability, three heat pump modules are shown. The first, second, and third heat pump modules are constructed identically, and the corresponding components are labeled with corresponding reference numerals.

[0031] In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the thermal management system has only two heat pump modules: a first heat pump module 100 and a second heat pump module 200. The first heat pump module 100 includes a first coolant circuit and a first refrigerant circuit. The first coolant circuit includes a first multi-way valve 104, a first pump 106, a first heat exchanger 108, and a first heater 118. The first refrigerant circuit includes a first compressor 110, a first condenser 112, a first expansion valve 114, and a first evaporator, wherein the first heat exchanger 108 is coupled to the first evaporator.

[0032] The second heat pump module 200 includes a second coolant circuit and a second refrigerant circuit. The second coolant circuit includes a second multi-way valve 204, a second pump 206, a second heat exchanger 208, and a second heater 218. The second refrigerant circuit includes a second compressor 210, a second condenser 212, a second expansion valve 214, and a second evaporator, wherein the second heat exchanger 208 is coupled to the second evaporator. Therefore, corresponding to the first heat pump module 100 and the second heat pump module 200 shown in FIG. 2, the third heat pump module in FIG. 1 has a third multi-way valve 304, a third pump 306, a third compressor 310, a third expansion valve 314, and a third heater 318.

[0033] The module capacity allocation unit 50 allocates output capacity to the first heat pump module 100, the second heat pump module 200, and a possible third heat pump module according to the selected thermal management mode, and sends control information to the first heat pump module 100, the second heat pump module 200, and the possible third heat pump module respectively. Each control information is used to control the controlled devices in the corresponding heat pump module, namely multi-way valves, pumps, compressors, expansion valves, and heaters, to achieve the allocated output capacity, thereby meeting various needs.

[0034] Here, the coolant demand unit 60 acquires or utilizes the heat (in this invention, heat can also be cooling) of the coolant provided by the first pump 106, the second pump 206, and the third pump 306, and feeds back relevant parameters (e.g., battery temperature) to the control module. Furthermore, the multi-port valve mode demand unit 70 acquires the multi-port valve mode of the first multi-port valve 104, the second multi-port valve 204, and the third multi-port valve 304, and feeds back its own demand to the control module. Additionally, the refrigerant demand unit 80 acquires the heat from the refrigerant side provided by the first compressor 110, the second compressor 210, the third compressor 310, and the first expansion valve 114, the second expansion valve 214, and the third expansion valve 314, and sends its own relevant parameters to the control module. The heater demand unit 90 acquires the heat from the coolant provided by the first heater 118, the second heater 218, and the third heater 318, and sends its own relevant parameters to the control module.

[0035] The relevant parameters of the coolant demand unit 60, the multi-way valve mode demand unit 70, the refrigerant demand unit 80, and the heater demand unit 90 are collected and fed back to the control module to recalculate the demand of the battery thermal management unit 10, the electric drive and control thermal management unit 20, and the air conditioning thermal management unit 30, and continue to complete the work of demand judgment and capacity allocation, so that the thermal management system can accurately allocate the capacity of each module and operate efficiently and stably.

[0036] Furthermore, in this invention, the vehicle's requirements can be obtained simply by monitoring the coolant demand unit 60, the multi-way valve mode demand unit 70, the refrigerant demand unit 80, and the heater demand unit 90.

[0037] Referring to Figure 2, the invention is illustrated in a specific multi-port valve mode, or thermal management mode. The first multi-port valve 104 and the second multi-port valve 204 shown here are merely illustrative (i.e., interfaces with other systems are not shown), as the multi-port valves are also connected to other loops for cooling or heating other systems. For example, in the battery cooling mode selected here, the demand system 14 is the battery pack, and the multi-port valves are controlled so that the coolant flows directly back to the heat pump module after passing through the battery pack, without passing through other systems. During operation, the temperature of the battery pack is detected, which can be done in the battery thermal management unit 10. The thermal management mode selection unit 40 then selects the battery cooling mode based on the measured temperature, and then sends control information to the first heat pump module 100 and the second heat pump module 200 according to this mode (in the module capacity allocation unit 50). The control information for the first heat pump module 100 is parsed to form information for controlling the first compressor 110, information for controlling the first expansion valve 114, information for controlling the first multi-port valve 104, and information for controlling the first pump 106. The control information for the second heat pump module 200 is parsed to form information for controlling the second compressor 210, the second expansion valve 214, the second multi-way valve 204, and the second pump 206. Specifically, the speed of the first compressor and the opening degree of the first expansion valve 114 are controlled, as are the speed of the second compressor 210 and the opening degree of the second expansion valve 214. Simultaneously, according to target requirements, the opening degree of the first multi-way valve 104 and the speed of the first pump 106 are adjusted, as are the opening degree of the second multi-way valve 204 and the speed of the second pump 206, wherein the speeds of the first pump 106 and the second pump 206 are adjusted to ensure that the coolant flow rates of the first heat pump module 100 and the second heat pump module 200 are the same. Furthermore, the compressor and expansion valve can be adjusted to ensure that the coolant passing through the heat exchanger has the same temperature. Thus, the two modules can operate in a balanced manner and ensure that their output capabilities are essentially consistent.

[0038] Furthermore, a variation based on Figure 2 can be produced, namely a battery heating mode. In this mode, unlike Figure 2, the first heat exchanger can be coupled to the first condenser, allowing the coolant to absorb heat from the first condenser and be heated. The first heater 118 can also assist in heating the coolant, thus enabling the coolant to heat the battery. Similarly, the second heat exchanger can be coupled to the second condenser, allowing the coolant to absorb heat from the second condenser and be heated. The second heater 118 also assists in heating the coolant.

[0039] Figure 3 shows a schematic block diagram of a thermal management system according to the present invention. A control module 300 in the thermal management system is connected to a first heat pump module 100 via a first bus 301 and sends first control information to the first heat pump module 100 via the first bus 301. The control module 300 is also connected to a second heat pump module 200 via a second bus 302 and sends second control information to the second heat pump module 200 via the first bus 302. In this invention, the first bus 301 is specifically connected to a first interface unit 310 in the first heat pump module 100. The first interface unit 310 parses information from the first control information for each controlled device in the first heat pump module 100. A second interface unit 320 parses information from the second control information for each controlled device in the second heat pump module 200.

[0040] In this invention, as shown in FIG2 or FIG3, the first heat pump module 100 and the second heat pump module 200 have exactly the same structure and include exactly the same controlled devices.

[0041] In existing technology, the control unit 300 is connected to an interface unit via a bus. This interface unit is responsible for parsing the control information issued by the control unit 300 and generating information for the corresponding controlled devices. With six controlled devices, the single interface unit is designed to parse information for all six devices. If the number or type of controlled devices changes, the interface unit needs to be redesigned. For example, with twelve controlled devices, the single interface unit is designed to parse information for all twelve devices. This significantly increases the workload for the interface unit designers.

[0042] In this invention, since each heat pump module includes identical controlled devices, interface units can be designed for known controlled devices. When multiple heat pump modules are required, the interface units can be reused without redesigning. This reduces the workload for interface unit designers and simplifies the design of the thermal management system.

[0043] In this invention, the control module 300 is connected to the first interface unit 310 via a separate first bus 301. Control information for the first heat pump module 100 is transmitted only through the first bus 301. Control information for the second heat pump module 200 is transmitted only through the second bus 302. In embodiments according to the invention, the bus may be configured as, for example, a CAN bus or a LIN bus.

[0044] The first interface unit 310 and the second interface unit 320 parse information for the corresponding controlled device from the control information based on identifiers uniquely associated with the type of the controlled device. In the embodiment shown in Figure 3, the first identifier ID1 is associated with a multi-way valve, and the interface unit can parse information for the multi-way valve based on the first identifier ID1; the second identifier ID2 is associated with a pump, and the interface unit can parse information for the pump based on the second identifier ID2; the third identifier ID3 is associated with a compressor, and the interface unit can parse information for the compressor based on the third identifier ID3; the fourth identifier ID4 is associated with an expansion valve, and the interface unit can parse information for the expansion valve based on the fourth identifier ID4. These interface units are reused as the first interface unit 310 and the second interface unit 320.

[0045] In a thermal management system comprising two or more heat pump modules, the interface units do not need to be redesigned; in other words, the interface units in each heat pump module are designed identically. The control information received by each interface unit via its corresponding bus is used only for the controlled devices within that heat pump module. The control information is, for example, a string of data containing multiple data frames. Each data frame contains a unique identifier (ID). The interface unit parses the corresponding data frame based on the identifier (ID), and the data in that frame forms a control command for the corresponding controlled device. The association between the identifier (ID) and the controlled device is predefined in the interface module, and this association is identical across all interface modules.

[0046] In an embodiment of the present invention, the control module 300, for example, can adjust the opening degree of the first multi-way valve 104 according to the information parsed from the first identifier D1 by the first interface unit 310, and adjust the rotational speed of the first pump 106 according to the information parsed from the second identifier ID2 by the first interface unit 310, according to the target requirements. The control module 300, for example, can adjust the opening degree of the second multi-way valve 204 according to the information parsed from the first identifier ID1 by the second interface unit 320, and adjust the rotational speed of the second pump 206 according to the information parsed from the second identifier ID2 by the second interface unit 320, according to the target requirements. The rotational speeds of the first and second pumps are adjusted such that the coolant flow rates of the first heat pump module 100 and the second heat pump module 200 are the same.

[0047] It is known that integrated heat pump systems have complex water circuits, with common problems including inter-system heat mixing and water flow backflow not conforming to design specifications. Dual heat pump module integrated systems further exacerbate this complexity, placing higher demands on product design and posing significant challenges to system control. Considering the actual vehicle layout, dual heat pump module systems cannot achieve strictly symmetrical physical arrangement, and their piping also differs. Significant differences can affect the actual flow resistance of the two modules, leading to large differences in water flow rates and even the risk of water mixing between them. Unintended flow not only causes energy loss but also affects thermal management; large differences in water flow rates also result in significant differences in output capacity between the two modules, and long-term discrepancies can lead to faster lifespan degradation of the module with higher output capacity. In summary, by coordinating and adjusting the pump speed of each module or the opening of the multi-way valve of each module, the water flow performance of the two modules in each system mode can be monitored separately. The pump speed that not only meets the flow requirements of the whole vehicle system but is also basically equal can be calibrated. The balance of water flow can ensure that the output capacity of the two modules is basically the same and solve the above-mentioned problems.

[0048] In an embodiment of the present invention, 2 to 10 seconds before the first multi-way valve is switched, the speed of the first pump is reduced to the minimum speed and then returns to normal operation after the first multi-way valve is switched; similarly, 2 to 10 seconds before the second multi-way valve is switched, the speed of the second pump is reduced to the minimum speed and then returns to normal operation after the second multi-way valve is switched.

[0049] When switching between modes using a multi-port valve, the water flow and direction are unpredictable. The switching stroke time is typically 2 to 10 seconds, and mixing of water between systems is inevitable, leading to heat loss. This heat loss is even more severe in dual heat pump module systems due to their larger flow rates. To reduce heat loss during switching, coordinated control between components is required. Before the multi-port valve requires switching, the pump speed in the coolant circuit is reduced to its minimum speed. After the multi-port valve switching is complete, the pump resumes normal operation. This coordinated control between components minimizes heat loss without affecting the cooling requirements of each system.

[0050] In an embodiment of the present invention, the control module 300 adjusts the rotational speed of the first compressor 110 using information parsed from the third identifier ID3 via the first interface unit 310, and adjusts the opening degree of the first expansion valve 114 using information parsed from the fourth identifier ID4 via the first interface unit 310, according to the same target requirement. Similarly, the control module 300 adjusts the rotational speed of the second compressor 210 using information parsed from the third identifier ID3 via the second interface unit 320, and adjusts the opening degree of the second expansion valve 214 using information parsed from the fourth identifier ID4 via the second interface unit 320, according to the same target requirement.

[0051] While at least one exemplary embodiment has been described in the foregoing overview and detailed description, it should be recognized that numerous variations exist. It should also be understood that the exemplary embodiments are merely illustrative and should not be construed as limiting the scope, applicability, or device construction according to the invention in any way. Rather, the detailed description is intended to provide guidance to those skilled in the art for implementing at least one exemplary embodiment, allowing for various modifications to the functionality and layout of the components, provided that such modifications do not depart from the scope of protection defined by the claims and equivalent combinations of features.

Claims

1. A thermal management system for an electric truck, comprising: Control module; Multiple heat pump modules, which are constructed identically, each of the multiple heat pump modules including one or more controlled devices and an interface unit; Each heat pump module's interface unit is connected to the control module via a bus. The control module transmits control information to each heat pump module's interface unit. The interface unit parses the control information to extract information specific to the controlled device based on an identifier uniquely associated with the type of the controlled device. The interface unit transmits information about the corresponding controlled device to the corresponding controlled device.

2. The thermal management system for the electric truck according to claim 1, wherein, The plurality of heat pump modules includes a first heat pump module and a second heat pump module; The multiple controlled devices in the first heat pump module form a first coolant circuit and a first refrigerant circuit. The interface unit in the first heat pump module is a first interface unit. The control module is connected to the first interface unit through a first bus. Multiple controlled devices in the second heat pump module form a second coolant circuit and a second refrigerant circuit. The interface unit in the second heat pump module is a second interface unit, and the control module is connected to the second interface unit via a second bus. The first refrigerant circuit and the second refrigerant circuit are independent of each other, and the first coolant circuit and the second coolant circuit are connected in parallel.

3. The thermal management system for the electric truck according to claim 1, wherein, The interface unit in the first heat pump module is connected to the control module via a first bus, and the control module transmits control information to the interface unit in the first heat pump module via the first bus; and the interface unit in the second heat pump module is connected to the control module via a second bus, and the control module transmits control information to the interface unit in the second heat pump module via the second bus.

4. The thermal management system for the truck according to claim 2, wherein, The first refrigerant circuit includes a first heat exchanger, and a first multi-way valve and a first pump as controlled devices; the first refrigerant circuit includes a first condenser, a first evaporator, a first compressor and a first expansion valve as controlled devices, wherein the first heat exchanger is coupled to the first condenser and / or the first evaporator; and The second refrigerant circuit includes a second heat exchanger, a second multi-way valve and a second pump as controlled devices, and the second refrigerant circuit includes a second condenser, a second evaporator, a second compressor and a second expansion valve as controlled devices, wherein the second heat exchanger is coupled to the second condenser and / or the second evaporator.

5. The thermal management system for the power truck according to claim 2, wherein, The first interface unit sends the information parsed according to the first identifier to the first multi-way valve, the information parsed according to the second identifier to the first pump, the information parsed according to the third identifier to the first compressor, and the information parsed according to the fourth identifier to the first expansion valve. and The information parsed by the second interface unit according to the first identifier is sent to the second multi-way valve, the information parsed according to the second identifier is sent to the second pump, the information parsed according to the third identifier is sent to the second compressor, and the information parsed according to the fourth identifier is sent to the second expansion valve.

6. The thermal management system for the power truck according to claim 5, wherein, According to the target requirements, the control module adjusts the opening degree of the first multi-way valve using information parsed from the first identifier by the first interface unit, and adjusts the speed of the first pump using information parsed from the second identifier by the first interface unit; and The control module uses the information parsed from the first identifier sent by the second interface unit to adjust the opening degree of the second multi-way valve, and uses the information parsed from the second identifier sent by the second interface unit to adjust the speed of the second pump. The rotational speeds of the first pump and the second pump are adjusted to ensure that the coolant flow rates of the first heat pump module and the second heat pump module are the same.

7. The thermal management system according to claim 6, wherein, Two to ten seconds before the first multi-way valve is switched, the speed of the first pump is reduced to the minimum speed and then returns to normal operation after the first multi-way valve is switched; similarly, two to ten seconds before the second multi-way valve is switched, the speed of the second pump is reduced to the minimum speed and then returns to normal operation after the second multi-way valve is switched.

8. The thermal management system for the power truck according to claim 2, wherein, Based on the same target requirements, the control module uses the information parsed from the fourth identifier sent by the first interface unit to adjust the speed of the first compressor, and uses the information parsed from the sixth identifier sent by the first interface unit to adjust the opening of the first expansion valve. and The speed of the second compressor is adjusted using information parsed from the fourth identifier by the second interface unit, and the opening degree of the second expansion valve is adjusted using information parsed from the sixth identifier by the second interface unit.

9. The thermal management system according to claim 1, wherein, The control module includes a battery thermal management unit, an electric drive and electronic control thermal management unit, an air conditioning thermal management unit, a thermal management mode selection unit, and a unit capacity allocation unit. The thermal management mode selection unit selects a thermal management mode according to the needs of the battery thermal management unit, the electric drive and electronic control thermal management unit, and the air conditioning thermal management unit. The unit capacity allocation unit allocates output capacity to the first heat pump unit and the second heat pump unit according to the selected thermal management mode.

10. The thermal management system according to claim 2, wherein, The first coolant circuit and the second coolant circuit are connected in parallel to the overall coolant circuit of the electric truck via a valve device. The valve device is a three-way valve. The overall coolant circuit includes a battery pack coolant circuit and an electric drive and control coolant circuit. The first multi-way valve and the second multi-way valve are respectively connected to the battery pack coolant circuit and / or the electric drive and control coolant circuit.

11. An electric truck having a thermal management system according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

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