Vehicle Heat Pump Branching for Air and Coolant Heat Recovery

Solution Overview

Problem

Current heat pump systems in electric and hybrid vehicles face challenges in simultaneously recovering waste heat from internal heating elements and external air sources, leading to reduced heating efficiency and increased system complexity, size, and weight.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle heat pump system that incorporates two heat exchangers, one water-cooled and one air-cooled, connected through a refrigerant line with branch lines and valves, allowing for simultaneous recovery and utilization of heat from both sources during the heating mode, enhancing heat absorption and system performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a separate cooling means, heat pump system, and battery cooling system are formed as individual closed circuits, then heat generation of battery, motor, and fuel cell can be prevented, but the size and weight of cooling module increase and layout of connection pipes becomes complicated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat removal effectivenessVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the heat pump system and cooling means into a single integrated system that shares common components including the compressor, condenser, expansion valve, and heat exchangers. The system uses a unified refrigerant circulation path that can serve both heating and cooling functions, eliminating the need for separate closed circuits for each function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated system is designed to perform multiple functions using the same components. The heat exchangers can operate in different modes to provide both heating and cooling, and the refrigerant circulation system can serve both the heat pump and cooling functions, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If a separate cooling means, heat pump system, and battery cooling system are formed as individual closed circuits, then heat generation of battery, motor, and fuel cell can be prevented, but the size and weight of cooling module increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat removal effectivenessVSAvoidcooling module weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the heat pump system and cooling means into a single integrated system that shares common components including the compressor, condenser, expansion valve, and heat exchangers. The system uses a unified refrigerant circulation path that can serve both heating and cooling functions, eliminating the need for separate closed circuits for each function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated system is designed to perform multiple functions using the same components. The heat exchangers can operate in different modes to provide both heating and cooling, and the refrigerant circulation system can serve both the heat pump and cooling functions, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Power

If traditional heat pump system is used in heating mode, then basic heating function is provided, but waste heat from external air source and internal heating elements cannot be simultaneously recovered

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheating capacityVSAvoidwaste heat loss

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the heat exchange function into multiple separate heat exchangers: a first heat exchanger for recovering heat from the external air source and a second heat exchanger for recovering heat from internal heating elements. Each heat exchanger independently captures heat from different sources, and the recovered heat is then combined to provide enhanced heating capacity while minimizing energy loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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

This configuration improves heating efficiency by increasing the amount of heat absorbed, simplifies the system, reduces manufacturing costs and weight, and enhances space utilization, while reducing power consumption of the compressor.

Implementation Method 1

first and second heat exchangers that heat-exchange a refrigerant

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 2

recovering and utilizing heat from both sources simultaneously

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat recovery: Heat Exchanger

Data Source

PatentUS12083861B2Heat pump system for vehicle

Publication Date: 2024.09.10 HYUNDAI MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

A heat pump system for a vehicle includes: a cooling apparatus that includes a coolant line, and circulates a coolant in the coolant line; and an air conditioning device that circulates a refrigerant along a refrigerant line to control an indoor temperature of the vehicle, wherein the air conditioning device may include first and second heat exchangers connected through the refrigerant line, and in a heating mode of the vehicle, the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger may be supplied with a refrigerant separated into the refrigerant line and a first branch line after being expanded, or a refrigerant expanded after being separated into the refrigerant line and the first branch line.