Method for cleaning solenoid valves of a thermal regulation circuit for a passenger compartment and electrical elements

Abstract

One aspect of the invention relates to a method (100) for cleaning solenoid valves of a thermal regulation circuit for a passenger compartment and electrical elements of a vehicle, the electrical elements being formed by a battery and an electric machine, the circuit comprising thermal regulation elements formed by a heat pump arranged to increase the temperature of the passenger compartment; an air-conditioning compressor arranged to cooperate with a heat-transfer fluid / refrigerant exchanger making it possible to lower the temperature of the passenger compartment; a radiator arranged to lower the temperature of the electric machine; solenoid valves arranged to fluidically couple and decouple the heat pump, the exchanger and / or the radiator, the method (100) comprising the steps of: determining (102) a request for cleaning the solenoid valves; controlling (104) movements of internal components of the solenoid valves while the heat-transfer fluid is being moved by means of a pump.

Description

DESCRIPTION TITLE OF THE INVENTION: METHOD FOR CLEANING SOLENOID VALVES IN A THERMAL CONTROL CIRCUIT OF A CAR CAPACITY AND ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS The present invention claims priority from French application No. FR2500061 filed on 06.01.2025, the content of which (text, drawings and claims) is incorporated herein by reference.

[0001] One aspect of the invention relates to a method for cleaning solenoid valves in a hydraulic circuit for temperature control in a passenger compartment and electrical components of an electric or hybrid vehicle. This aspect of the invention has particularly interesting applications in the field of control systems for electric or hybrid vehicles.

[0002] This type of vehicle usually includes a hydraulic circuit for thermal regulation of a passenger compartment and electrical elements for the operation of a vehicle, these operating elements being able to consist of a vehicle traction battery, an electric traction machine, an on-board charger arranged to charge the vehicle traction battery and a DC-DC converter arranged to electrically supply a service battery and an on-board network of the vehicle.

[0003] This hydraulic thermal regulation circuit includes thermal regulation elements consisting of: A heat pump arranged to increase the temperature of the passenger compartment; An air conditioning compressor arranged to cooperate with a heat transfer fluid / refrigerant exchanger to lower the temperature of the passenger compartment and a second heat transfer fluid / refrigerant exchanger to lower the temperature of the traction battery; A radiator located at the front of the vehicle arranged to lower the temperature of the electric traction machine, the on-board charger and the DC-DC converter; Solenoid valves arranged to fluidly couple and decouple the heat pump, the heat transfer fluid / refrigerant exchangers and / or the radiator.

[0004] The assembly of the hydraulic thermal control circuit's piping, as well as the electrical components in contact with the heat transfer fluid circulating within the circuit, can generate debris and dirt. Furthermore, when solenoid valves are not used for extended periods, such as those used to isolate the heat pump in summer, debris and dirt can accumulate on these valves, causing blockages in their internal components and preventing them from opening and closing correctly.

[0005] Document CN-A-115848115 describes cleaning coolant channels by increasing coolant pressure. This solution risks damaging the coolant channels and does not prevent the accumulation of debris and dirt on these infrequently used solenoid valves.

[0006] The aim of the invention is to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art by proposing a method to ensure the proper functioning of solenoid valves.

[0007] In this context, the invention relates, in its broadest sense, to a method for cleaning solenoid valves in a hydraulic thermal control circuit of a passenger compartment and electrical operating components of an electric or hybrid vehicle, said electrical operating components being notably formed by a traction battery and an electric traction machine, said hydraulic thermal control circuit comprising thermal control elements formed by: A heat pump arranged to increase the temperature of the passenger compartment; An air conditioning compressor arranged to cooperate with a heat transfer fluid / refrigerant exchanger to lower the temperature of the passenger compartment; A radiator equipped with a motor-fan unit positioned at the front of the vehicle, arranged to lower the temperature of the electric traction machine; Solenoid valves arranged to fluidly couple and decouple the heat pump, the heat transfer fluid / refrigerant exchanger and / or the radiator, A circulation pump for a heat transfer fluid in said hydraulic thermal regulation circuit, said process being notable in that it comprises the steps, executed by control means, of: Determine a cleaning request for the solenoid valves; Control the movements of internal components of the solenoid valves while the heat transfer fluid is moved by means of the pump.

[0008] The method according to this aspect of the invention proposes to clean the solenoid valves of a hydraulic circuit for regulating the thermal control of a passenger compartment and of electrical operating components by activating them from time to time. This solution improves the durability of the solenoid valves by preventing the accumulation of deposits and debris on them, reduces the risks of malfunction, seizing, and breakage, and optimizes the efficiency of the thermal control of the passenger compartment as well as the electrical operating components of the vehicle in the long term.

[0009] In addition to the characteristics mentioned in the preceding paragraph, the process according to the invention may have one or more additional characteristics from among the following, considered individually or according to all technically possible combinations.

[0010] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, a request for cleaning the solenoid valves is determined when the vehicle travels a predetermined number of kilometers, no cabin temperature regulation is activated via the heat pump or the heat transfer / coolant exchanger, the operation of the electrical operating elements is stopped and a method for cooling the electrical operating elements has been carried out.

[0011] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, movements of internal components of the solenoid valves are controlled if the operation of the air conditioning compressor is stopped and an airflow generated by the motor-fan unit is detected.

[0012] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, the method includes a step of receiving a request to clean the solenoid valves transmitted by the heat pump, said receiving step being prior to the determining step.

[0013] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, a request for cleaning of the solenoid valves is determined when no temperature regulation of the passenger compartment via the heat pump or the heat transfer / refrigerant exchanger is activated.

[0014] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, the method includes a step of receiving a request to clean the solenoid valves transmitted by a device external to the vehicle, said receiving step being prior to the determining step.

[0015] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, following the determination step, it includes a step of triggering a timer, movements of internal components of the solenoid valves are controlled only when the timer has expired and no request to cancel the request to clean the solenoid valves has been determined.

[0016] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, the method includes a step of stopping the movements of internal components of the solenoid valves.

[0017] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, the movements of internal components of the solenoid valves are stopped when: The heat pump detects a malfunction of the solenoid valves; The heat pump confirms that the cleaning of the solenoid valves is complete.

[0018] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, movements of internal components of the solenoid valves are controlled during a determined time interval of between 2 and 8 seconds.

[0019] Another aspect of the invention relates to a computer program product downloadable from a communication network and / or stored on a computer-readable medium and executable by a processor, said computer program product comprising program code instructions for implementing the process according to any one of the aforementioned aspects of the invention, when the program is executed on a processor associated with control means configured to operate solenoid valves arranged to fluidly couple and decouple the heat pump, the heat transfer / refrigerant exchangers, the air heater and / or the radiator, said control means being arranged to interact with the solenoid valves in order to execute the steps of the process.

[0020] The invention and its various applications will be better understood by reading the following description and examining the accompanying figures.

[0021] [Fig. 1] illustrates, schematically, a non-limiting example of a hydraulic circuit for thermal regulation of a passenger compartment and electrical elements for the operation of an electric or hybrid vehicle.

[0022] [Fig. 2] illustrates a first non-limiting example of embodiment according to the invention of a method for cleaning solenoid valves of a hydraulic thermal regulation circuit conforming to that illustrated in figure 1.

[0023] [Fig. 3] illustrates a second non-limiting example of the invention of a method for cleaning solenoid valves of a hydraulic thermal regulation circuit in accordance with that illustrated in figure 1.

[0024] [Fig. 4] illustrates a third non-limiting embodiment according to the invention of a method for cleaning solenoid valves of a hydraulic thermal regulation circuit conforming to that illustrated in figure 1.

[0025] Figure 1 illustrates, schematically, an example of the realization of a hydraulic circuit for thermal regulation 1 of a passenger compartment and electrical operating elements of an electric or hybrid vehicle according to the invention.

[0026] According to a non-limiting example, the electrical operating elements are formed by: A traction battery 2, for example of type 48V, 400V or 800V; An electric traction machine 3, An on-board charger 4 arranged to charge the traction battery 2, such an on-board charger 4 being commonly referred to by those skilled in the art by the acronym OBC for "On Board Charger" in English, and a DC-DC converter 5 arranged to electrically supply a service battery and an on-board network of the vehicle, such a DC-DC converter 5 being commonly referred to by those skilled in the art by DC / DC converter for "Direct Current / Direct Current" in English.

[0027] According to a non-limiting example, the hydraulic thermal control circuit 1 comprises thermal control elements formed by A heat pump arranged to increase the temperature of the passenger compartment; An air conditioning compressor 7 arranged to cooperate, on the one hand, with a heat transfer / refrigerant exchanger 8, also called Chiller, allowing the temperature of the passenger compartment to be lowered and, on the other hand, with a second heat transfer / refrigerant exchanger 9 allowing the temperature of the traction battery 2 to be lowered; An air heater 10 formed by a heat transfer fluid / air exchanger used to increase or decrease the temperature of the passenger compartment; A radiator 11 equipped with a motor-fan unit 12 arranged at the front of the vehicle, designed to lower the temperature of the traction electric machine 3, the on-board charger 4 and the DC-DC converter 5; Solenoid valves 13 arranged to fluidly couple and decouple the heat pump 6, the heat transfer / refrigerant exchangers 8, 9, the air heater 10 and / or the radiator 11; Pumps 14 for circulating a heat transfer fluid in the hydraulic circuit of thermal regulation 1.

[0028] For the sake of simplicity, only two solenoid valves 13 are illustrated, but it is understood that the thermal regulation hydraulic circuit 1 may include more than two solenoid valves 13.

[0029] The vehicle's electrical operating elements 2, 3, 4, 5 and the thermal control elements 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 of the hydraulic thermal control circuit 1 can be controlled by vehicle control means 15. In a non-limiting embodiment, these control means 15 are formed by a vehicle control unit, commonly referred to by the acronym VCU for "Vehicle Control Unit".

[0030] Figure 2 illustrates a non-limiting example of an embodiment of a method 100 for cleaning solenoid valves 13 of a thermal regulation hydraulic circuit 1 such as that illustrated in Figure 1.

[0031] The process 100 includes a first step, executed by the control means 15, of determining 102 a request for cleaning of the solenoid valves 13.

[0032] According to this non-limiting example, this request for cleaning the solenoid valves 13 is determined 102 when: The vehicle travels a predetermined number of kilometers; no cabin temperature control is activated via the heat pump 6 or the heat transfer fluid / coolant exchanger 8; indeed, when cabin temperature control is activated, certain solenoid valves are held closed so that if their activation were forced to perform a cleaning, the airflow transmitted into the cabin could be disrupted; the operation of electrical components 2, 3, 4, 5 is stopped; and A method for cooling the electrical operating elements 2, 3, 4, 5 has been implemented. This cooling method may consist of activating the fan motor 12 of the radiator 11 in order to lower the temperature of the heat transfer fluid contained in the hydraulic thermal regulation circuit 1.

[0033] Following the step of determining 102, the process 100 includes a step, executed by the control means 15, of triggering a time counter 103.

[0034] Once the timer has expired and no request to cancel the cleaning request has been determined, process 100 executes, via control means 15, a step of piloting 104 movements of internal components of solenoid valves 13 while the heat transfer fluid is moved by means of pumps 14. To this end, the solenoid valves 13 can be opened and then closed multiple times over a predetermined time interval, for example between 2s and 8s.

[0035] A request to cancel the cleaning request can, for example, be determined by control means 15 when a request to regulate the cabin temperature is activated by the driver during the timer.

[0036] According to this non-limiting embodiment, internal component movements of the solenoid valves 13 are controlled if the air conditioning compressor 7 is stopped and an airflow generated by the fan assembly 12 of the radiator 11 is detected. This feature allows the solenoid valves 13 to be activated for a hidden period, formed by the completion of the cooling process of the electrical operating elements 2, 3, 4, 5.

[0037] The process 100 further includes a step, executed by the control means 15, of stopping 105 the movements of internal components of the solenoid valves 13.

[0038] The movements of internal components of solenoid valves 13 are stopped when: The heat pump 6 detects a malfunction of solenoid valves 13; Heat pump 6 confirms that the cleaning of solenoid valves 13 is complete.

[0039] Figure 3 illustrates a different, non-limiting example of a method 100 for cleaning solenoid valves 13 of a thermal control hydraulic circuit 1 such as that illustrated in Figure 1.

[0040] The process 100 includes a first step, executed by the control means 15, of receiving a cleaning request transmitted by the heat pump 6 to the control means 15. Since the operation of this heat pump 6 is linked to several solenoid valves 13 (not shown), it is advisable that the cleaning request originate from this heat pump 6. Furthermore, since this heat pump 6 is used to increase the temperature of the passenger compartment, it is not used during the summer. This lack of activation over a long period risks generating numerous deposits on the internal components of the solenoid valves 13 connected to this heat pump 6. In order to avoid this phenomenon, it is preferable to activate the solenoid valves 13 when the heat pump 6 has not been used for a long period, for example, seven days.

[0041] Following this step of receiving 101 a cleaning request, the process 100 includes a step, executed by the control means 15, of determining 102 a cleaning request for the solenoid valves 13.

[0042] According to this non-limiting embodiment example, this request for cleaning of the solenoid valves 13 is determined 102 when no temperature regulation of the passenger compartment is activated via the heat pump 6 or the heat transfer / coolant exchanger 8.

[0043] Following the step of determining 102, the process 100 includes a step, executed by the control means 15, of triggering 103 a time counter.

[0044] Once the timer has expired and no request to cancel the cleaning request has been determined, the process 100 executes, via the control means 15, a step of piloting 104 movements of internal components of the solenoid valves 13 while the heat transfer fluid is moved by means of the pumps 14. According to a non-limiting embodiment example, movements of internal components of the solenoid valves 13 are piloted during a determined time interval of between 2 and 8 seconds, typically on the order of 5s.

[0045] The process 100 further includes a step, executed by the control means 15, of stopping 105 the movements of internal components of the solenoid valves 13.

[0046] Figure 4 illustrates another example of a non-limiting embodiment of a method 100 for cleaning solenoid valves 13 of a thermal regulation hydraulic circuit 1 such as that illustrated in Figure 1.

[0047] The process 100 includes a first step, executed by the control means 15, of receiving 101 a cleaning request transmitted by a device external to the vehicle. This cleaning request may, for example, be transmitted to the vehicle's manufacturing plant or by an after-sales service department.

[0048] A step to determine 102 a request for cleaning of solenoid valves 13 is then executed by the control means 15.

[0049] The process 100 then executes, via the control means 15, a step of controlling 104 the movements of internal components of the solenoid valves 13 while the heat transfer fluid is moved by means of the pumps 14.

[0050] According to a non-limiting example embodiment, the movements of internal components of the solenoid valves 13 are controlled during a determined time interval of between 2 and 8 seconds, typically on the order of 5s.

[0051] The various aspects of the invention mentioned above offer numerous advantages. Among these are: To offer automated cleaning of solenoid valves, thus reducing the need for manual maintenance and the risk of human error; To ensure regular cleaning, preventing the accumulation of debris and dirt, reducing the risk of seizing and breakage of solenoid valves; To maintain solenoid valves in perfect working order, thus optimizing the energy efficiency of the hydraulic thermal regulation circuit; Reduce maintenance costs and increase the reliability of solenoid valves.

Claims

DEMANDS

1. A method (100) for cleaning solenoid valves (13) of a hydraulic thermal control circuit (1) of a passenger compartment and electrical operating elements of an electric or hybrid vehicle, said electrical operating elements being notably formed by a traction battery (2) and an electric traction machine (3), said hydraulic thermal control circuit (1) comprising thermal control elements formed by: - A heat pump (6) arranged to increase the temperature of the passenger compartment; - An air conditioning compressor (7) arranged to cooperate with a heat transfer fluid / refrigerant exchanger (8) to lower the temperature of the passenger compartment; - A radiator (11) equipped with a motor-fan unit (12) arranged at the front of the vehicle, designed to lower the temperature of the electric traction machine (3); - Solenoid valves (13) arranged to fluidly couple and decouple the heat pump (6), the heat transfer fluid / refrigerant exchanger (8) and / or the radiator (11), - A pump (14) for circulating a heat transfer fluid in said hydraulic thermal regulation circuit (1), said process (100) being characterized in that it comprises the steps, executed by control means (15), of: o Determine (102) a request for cleaning of the solenoid valves (13); o Control (104) movements of internal components of solenoid valves (13) while the heat transfer fluid is moved by means of the pump (14).

2. Method (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that a request for cleaning the solenoid valves is determined (102) when the vehicle travels a predetermined number of kilometers, no temperature regulation of the passenger compartment is activated via the heat pump (6) or the heat transfer / coolant exchanger (8), the operation of the electrical operating elements (2, 3) is stopped and a method for cooling the electrical operating elements (2, 3) has been carried out.

3. Method (100) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that movements of internal components of the solenoid valves (13) are controlled (104) if the operation of the air conditioning compressor (7) is stopped and an airflow generated by the motor-fan assembly (12) is detected.

4. Method (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a step of receiving (101) a request to clean the solenoid valves (13) transmitted by the heat pump (6), said step of receiving (101) being prior to the step of determining (102).

5. Method (100) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that a request for cleaning of the solenoid valves (13) is determined when no temperature regulation of the passenger compartment via the heat pump (6) or the heat transfer / coolant exchanger (8) is activated.

6. Method (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a step of receiving (101) a request to clean the solenoid valves (13) transmitted by a device external to the vehicle, said receiving step being prior to the determining step (102).

7. A method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that following the determining step (102), it includes a triggering step (103) of a timer, the movements of internal components of the solenoid valves (13) are controlled (104) only when the timer has expired and no request to cancel the cleaning request of the solenoid valves (13) has been determined. [Claims] Method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a step of stopping (105) the movements of internal components of the solenoid valves (13).

9. Method (100) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the movements of internal components of the solenoid valves (13) are stopped (105) when:- The heat pump (6) detects a malfunction of the solenoid valves (13); - The heat pump (6) confirms that the cleaning of the solenoid valves (13) is complete.

10. Product computer program downloadable from a communication network and / or stored on a computer-readable medium and executable by a processor, characterized in that it includes program code instructions for the implementation of the process (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, when the program is executed on a processor associated with control means (15) configured to operate solenoid valves (13) arranged to fluidly couple and decouple the heat pump (6), the heat transfer / refrigerant exchangers (8, 9), the air heater (10) and / or the radiator (11), said control means (15) being arranged to interact with the solenoid valves (13) in order to execute the steps of the process (100).

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