Heat Pump Component Module Layout for Compact Vehicle Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Heat pump systems in vehicles face challenges with high space requirements and limited accessibility due to the arrangement of components, leading to increased installation space and weight, as well as additional costs for supporting brackets.
Innovation Solution
A compact component module arrangement with a compressor, heat exchangers, and a fluid distribution device, where components are oriented to minimize spatial expansion, with an air gap between heat exchangers to prevent thermal bridges, and fluid interfaces integrated within the module to reduce external fluid lines and electrical connections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If components are arranged in a compact module with orthogonal orientation, then space requirements are reduced, but accessibility to fluid lines and electrical connectors deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reorients the compressor so its rotation axis is parallel to the heat exchanger's body length, both extending in the longitudinal direction. This dimensional rearrangement allows fluid lines and electrical connectors to be accessed from the front or side of the module, improving accessibility while maintaining the compact longitudinal footprint of the component arrangement.
2Ease of manufacture
If connecting lines extend across the entire LV level, then fluid connection is achieved, but access to other cooling or refrigerant lines is obstructed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the fluid connection functions from longè·¨-module connecting lines and integrates them into localized fluid interfaces at the front or side of the component module. This allows refrigerant and coolant lines to be connected at specific access points without requiring lines to extend across the entire LV level, thereby eliminating obstructions to other lines and connectors.
3Stability of the object's composition
If additional mounting brackets are used to support the heat exchanger, then structural stability is improved, but module weight and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the heat exchanger mounting function with the compressor housing structure. The heat exchanger is directly mounted on the compressor housing, which serves as an integrated support structure. This eliminates the need for separate additional mounting brackets, thereby reducing module weight and manufacturing costs while maintaining structural stability through the combined design.
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 achieves a more compact installation space, improved accessibility, reduced weight, and lower costs by eliminating the need for additional brackets, while maintaining efficient temperature control for battery-electric vehicles.
Implementation Method 1
The heat exchangers are designed to transfer heat between a refrigerant and a coolant
Implementation Method 2
heat being transferred between the refrigerant and another fluid, such as a coolant in a separate coolant circuit, in the heat exchangers
Implementation Method 3
a compressor for compressing a refrigerant
Implementation Method 4
The heat pump system utilizes the principle of evaporation and condensation of the refrigerant
Implementation Method 5
The heat pump system utilizes the principle of evaporation and condensation of the refrigerant
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The invention relates to a component module (1) of a heat pump system for vehicles, in particular battery electric vehicles (BEVs), which comprises at least the following components: a compressor with a compressor housing (2) which extends with its body length along a compressor rotation axis (R), a first heat exchanger (3) and a second heat exchanger (4) which have a body length greater than a body width, a refrigerant reservoir (5), a fluid distribution device (6) which is configured to influence a refrigerant flow path, refrigerant fluid interfaces (3.3, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 7.1, 13), coolant fluid interfaces (3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2) and refrigerant fluid lines (8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 8.4, 8.8.1).5), which fluidically connect the components, wherein - the first heat exchanger (3) is oriented with its body length along a first principal direction (T1), - the second heat exchanger (4) is oriented with its body length orthogonal to the first principal direction (T1) along a vertical direction (V), and - the compressor housing (2) is oriented with its body length along a second principal direction (T2), which is offset in a longitudinal direction (L) and parallel to the first principal direction (T1).