Integrated Vehicle Thermal Management for Battery-Assisted Deicing
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Solution Overview
Problem
In high humidity environments, vehicle heat pump systems face inefficiencies due to frost and ice accumulation on outdoor heat exchangers, leading to insufficient heating capacity.
Innovation Solution
A thermal management system with an integrated thermal management unit, including a compressor, outdoor heat exchanger, gas-liquid separator, heater core, and liquid heater, utilizing a flow channel plate with pump and valve assemblies to manage coolant flow, where the system enters a specific operating mode to deice the outdoor heat exchanger by using the heat from the traction battery to evaporate coolant, ensuring efficient deicing and heating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a heat pump system is used to heat the battery or passenger compartment for a long time in high humidity environment, then heating function is provided, but frost and ice accumulate on the outdoor heat exchanger resulting in insufficient heating capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic deicing cycles by controlling the electronic expansion valve to switch between normal heating mode and deicing mode. During deicing mode, the four-way valve redirects refrigerant flow to reverse the heat pump cycle, melting accumulated frost and ice on the outdoor heat exchanger surfaces, thereby restoring heating capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The deicing process utilizes phase transition of water from solid (frost/ice) to liquid state. By reversing the heat pump cycle through valve control, thermal energy is directed to the outdoor heat exchanger to facilitate melting of accumulated ice, converting it from harmful solid deposit to removable liquid water.
2Reliability
If separate components are used for thermal management functions, then each function can be optimized independently, but the layout complexity and system costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple thermal management components including the heat pump system, battery thermal management unit, and deicing system into a unified architecture. The outdoor heat exchanger serves dual purposes as both the condenser for the heat pump and the evaporator for deicing operation, while a single four-way valve and electronic expansion valve control both heating and deicing cycles, thereby reducing component count and layout complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The outdoor heat exchanger is designed to perform multiple functions: serving as the condenser during normal heating operation and as the evaporator during deicing operation. The refrigerant flow path is reversibly controlled through the four-way valve, allowing the same physical component to fulfill different thermal management roles, thus simplifying the overall system layout.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively deices the outdoor heat exchanger using the traction battery's waste heat, enhancing heating capacity and reducing layout complexity and costs through integrated components on a flow channel plate.
Implementation Method 1
the cooled coolant enters the battery cooler and exchanges heat with the cooling liquid flowing through the battery cooler to absorb heat and evaporate
Implementation Method 2
the cooled coolant enters the battery cooler and exchanges heat with the cooling liquid flowing through the battery cooler to absorb heat and evaporate
Implementation Method 3
a coolant flows through the water-cooling condenser under the action of the compressor and then enters the outdoor heat exchanger for cooling to deice the outdoor heat exchanger
Implementation Method 4
the heating water pump conveys the cooling liquid to the liquid heater, and the liquid heater heats the cooling liquid to convey the coolant to the heater core
Implementation Method 5
a coolant flows through the water-cooling condenser under the action of the compressor
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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AI summary
The present invention discloses a thermal management system, a control method therefor, and a vehicle. The thermal management system comprises: a compressor 201. an outdoor heat exchanger 202, a radiator 203, an electric drive component 204, a traction battery 205, an evaporator 206, a heater core 207, a liquid heater 208, a gas-liquid separator 209 and an integrated thermal management unit 100 of the present invention. The integrated thermal management unit 100 includes a flow channel plate 101, a pump assembly 106, a valve assembly 110, a water-cooling condenser 111, a water-water heat exchanger 112 and a battery cooler 113. In a first operating mode wherein the compressor, a battery water pump, a heating water pump and the heater are all started, the valve assembly is in a first preset state, the heating water pump conveys a cooling liquid to the liquid heater, the battery water pump conveys the cooling liquid flowing through the traction battery to the battery cooler, a coolant output by starting the compressor enters the outdoor heat exchanger to deice the outdoor heat exchanger, and the cooled coolant enters the battery cooler and exchanges heat with the cooling liquid to absorb heat and evaporate. As such, heat generated by the traction battery can be used to evaporate the coolant, and the coolant can effectively deice the outdoor heat exchanger.