Vehicle Heat Pump Chiller Layout for Controller Cooling in Heating Mode
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional heat pump systems for vehicles are unable to independently cool the autonomous driving controller during heating mode operations, leading to increased manufacturing costs and power consumption due to the need for additional heat-exchangers and high-voltage heaters.
Innovation Solution
A heat pump system for vehicles that includes a first cooling apparatus for electrical components, a second cooling apparatus for battery modules, a third cooling apparatus for autonomous driving controllers, and an air conditioning device with chillers connected to coolant lines to selectively cool the autonomous driving controller and recover waste heat during heating modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate cooling device is added for the autonomous driving controller, then the autonomous driving controller can be cooled independently, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the cooling function for the autonomous driving controller with the existing air conditioning system by integrating a heat exchanger into the refrigerant circulation path. This allows the autonomous driving controller to be cooled using the refrigerant from the air conditioning system, eliminating the need for a completely separate cooling device and reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining independent cooling capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The air conditioning system is designed to serve multiple functions: cooling the vehicle interior and independently cooling the autonomous driving controller. By making the air conditioning system multi-functional, the patent avoids the need for separate dedicated cooling devices for different components, thereby reducing overall manufacturing cost while maintaining reliable cooling for the autonomous driving controller.
2Reliability
If a separate cooling device is added for the autonomous driving controller, then the autonomous driving controller can be cooled independently, but the vehicle space requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the autonomous driving controller cooling function with the existing air conditioning system components, particularly utilizing the evaporator and refrigerant circulation path. This integration allows the system to cool both the vehicle interior and the autonomous driving controller using shared components, significantly reducing the additional space required compared to installing a completely separate cooling device.
3Reliability
If a separate cooling device is added for the autonomous driving controller, then the autonomous driving controller can be cooled independently, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the autonomous driving controller cooling function into the existing air conditioning system by adding a heat exchanger and utilizing the existing refrigerant circulation path. This approach maintains system simplicity by leveraging existing components rather than creating a completely separate cooling system, thereby reducing overall system complexity while ensuring independent cooling capability for the autonomous driving controller.
4Reliability
If a high voltage heater is added for heating mode operation, then the autonomous driving controller can be heated, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the waste heat from the refrigerant condensation process during air conditioning operation to heat the autonomous driving controller. By capturing and redirecting this otherwise wasted thermal energy, the system provides heating capability for the autonomous driving controller without requiring additional high-voltage heating elements, thereby significantly reducing power consumption while maintaining reliable heating function.
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 solution allows for efficient temperature control of the autonomous driving controller, improves heating efficiency, reduces manufacturing costs by eliminating the need for separate heat-exchangers, and minimizes power consumption by reducing reliance on high-voltage electric heaters.
Implementation Method 1
a first chiller connected to the first refrigerant line through a second refrigerant line, connected to the second coolant line, and heat-exchanging the selectively inflowed second coolant with the refrigerant supplied through the second refrigerant line to control a temperature of the second coolant
Implementation Method 2
an evaporator, which are connected through a first refrigerant line, and circulating a refrigerant along the first refrigerant line to control the indoor temperature of the vehicle
Implementation Method 3
a first chiller connected to the first refrigerant line through a second refrigerant line, connected to the second coolant line, and heat-exchanging the selectively inflowed second coolant with the refrigerant supplied through the second refrigerant line to control a temperature of the second coolant
Data Source
AI summary
An embodiment heat pump system for a vehicle includes an air conditioning device including at least one refrigerant line, a compressor, at least one condenser, at least one expansion valve, and an evaporator. At least one cooling apparatus is configured to circulate at least one coolant in at least one coolant line to control a temperature of an autonomous driving controller. The air conditioning device also includes at least one chiller connected to each of the at least one refrigerant line and the at least one coolant line to control a temperature of a battery module or the autonomous driving controller and to exchange heat between a refrigerant and the at least one coolant. Among the at least one refrigerant line, one refrigerant line connected to the at least one chiller is disposed in parallel with the at least one refrigerant line connected to the evaporator.