Vehicle Heat Pump Gas Cooler Layout for Stable CO2 Thermal Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle heat pump systems using R134a/R1234yf as refrigerants face inefficiencies in heating and cooling, especially at low temperatures, while carbon dioxide-based systems have poor cooling efficiency and stability issues.
Innovation Solution
A thermal management system incorporating a compressor, liquid-cooled gas cooler, coaxial tube, internal and external gas coolers, and evaporator, with control valves and throttles, enhances refrigerant heat exchange and pressure control, allowing for stable operation with carbon dioxide as a refrigerant, improving cooling and heating efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If carbon dioxide is used as refrigerant, then system stability in low-temperature environment is improved, but heat release efficiency becomes poor
Solution Approach 1:
The gas cooler is segmented into two independent circuits with different flow paths. The first circuit optimizes for heating mode while the second circuit optimizes for cooling mode, allowing the system to maintain high heat release efficiency and system stability in low-temperature environments by selecting the appropriate circuit configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The liquid-cooled gas cooler acts as an intermediary heat exchange device that efficiently transfers heat between the carbon dioxide refrigerant and the external environment. This intermediary mechanism enables effective heat release despite carbon dioxide's challenging thermodynamic properties.
2Device complexity
If single gas cooler design is used, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different operating modes becomes poor
Solution Approach 1:
The gas cooler is divided into two independent circuits (first and second gas cooler circuits) that can be selectively activated based on operating mode. This segmentation provides excellent adaptability to different operating modes (heating, cooling, defrosting) while maintaining relatively simple system structure through modular circuit design.
Solution Approach 2:
The dual-circuit gas cooler design enables a single heat exchange component to perform multiple functions: heating mode through the first circuit, cooling mode through the second circuit, and defrosting operations. This multi-functionality achieves high adaptability without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
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 achieves efficient heat exchange and temperature control, enabling stable operation in low-temperature environments and reducing refrigerant leakage risks, while supporting various vehicle modes and improving energy conversion efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the liquid-cooled gas cooler and the coaxial tube, the heat release efficiency of the refrigerant is enhanced
Implementation Method 2
the refrigerant is cooled in advance before entering the external gas cooler
Implementation Method 3
The coaxial tube is configured to carry out heat exchange between the refrigerant that has been throttled and cooled and the refrigerant before entering the evaporator
Implementation Method 4
the refrigerant that has been throttled and cooled
Implementation Method 5
the evaporator, which can further reduce the enthalpy value of the refrigerant before entering the evaporator, thereby prolonging the evaporation stage
Implementation Method 6
a compressor
Data Source
AI summary
A thermal management system and a vehicle. The thermal management system includes a compressor, a liquid-cooled gas cooler, a coaxial tube, an internal gas cooler, an external gas cooler, and an evaporator; the coaxial tube includes a high-pressure inlet, a high-pressure outlet, a low-pressure inlet, and a low-pressure outlet; the low-pressure outlet is connected to an inlet of the compressor; an outlet of the compressor is connected to a first port of the liquid-cooled gas cooler; a second port of the liquid-cooled gas cooler is connected to an inlet of the external gas cooler and an inlet of the internal gas cooler; an outlet of the external gas cooler is connected to the high-pressure inlet; an outlet of the internal gas cooler is connected to a first port of the evaporator and a low-pressure inlet; and a second port of the evaporator is connected to the high-pressure outlet.