Vehicle Heat Pump Thermal Loop for Low-Temperature Cabin Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Heat pump air conditioning systems in vehicles face low efficiency under low-temperature conditions, requiring high-specification auxiliary heaters to meet heating demands, which increases costs and space requirements.
Innovation Solution
A thermal management system that integrates an auxiliary heater within a thermal management loop, allowing the system to selectively transfer heat to the air-conditioning system, reducing the burden on the auxiliary heater and improving heating efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a high-specification auxiliary heater is used to directly exchange heat with the heating heat exchanger in the internal space, then the heating effect is improved, but the volume and power requirements of the auxiliary heater increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a thermal management loop as an intermediary system between the auxiliary heater and the air-conditioning system. The loop circulates a heat-conducting medium that transfers heat from the auxiliary heater to the evaporation heat exchanger, enabling indirect heat exchange. This intermediary mechanism allows the auxiliary heater to operate at lower specifications while still achieving the required heating effect in the internal space.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating system is segmented into distinct functional components: the auxiliary heater, the thermal management loop with circulating heat-conducting medium, and the evaporation heat exchanger. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, with the auxiliary heater providing heat to the loop rather than directly to the internal space, thereby reducing its required power and volume specifications.
2Temperature
If a high-specification auxiliary heater is used to directly exchange heat with the heating heat exchanger, then the heating effect is improved, but the cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal management loop serves as a cost-effective intermediary that enables the auxiliary heater to meet heating demands with lower specifications. By using a circulating heat-conducting medium to transfer heat indirectly, the system reduces the power and volume requirements of the auxiliary heater, thereby lowering manufacturing costs while maintaining effective heating performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermal management loop serves multiple functions: it transfers heat from the auxiliary heater to the air-conditioning system, regulates temperature distribution, and enables the auxiliary heater to operate at lower capacity. This multi-functionality reduces the need for high-specification components, lowering overall system cost.
3Temperature
If the auxiliary heater operates at high temperature to meet heating demands, then the heating effect is improved, but the space utilization rate decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The circulating heat-conducting medium acts as a mobile intermediary that can transport thermal energy throughout the system without requiring the auxiliary heater to be positioned directly adjacent to the heating heat exchanger. This allows more flexible spatial arrangement and reduces the space required for high-temperature heat exchange components.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat transfer function is extracted from the auxiliary heater itself and transferred to the circulating heat-conducting medium. This allows the auxiliary heater to operate at lower temperature and smaller capacity, reducing its physical footprint and improving overall space utilization in the vehicle.
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 enhances heating effectiveness while reducing the specifications and costs of the auxiliary heater, improving space utilization and operational efficiency under low-temperature conditions.
Implementation Method 1
The thermal management loop is configured to circulate a first heat-conducting medium to perform thermal management on a specified part of the transportation device
Implementation Method 2
The thermal management loop may be further configured to exchange heat with the air-conditioning system to selectively transfer heat generated by the specified part to the air-conditioning system
Implementation Method 3
The auxiliary heater is configured to selectively replenish heat for the thermal management loop
Implementation Method 4
to provide at least a partial heat source for an evaporation process of the air-conditioning system
Data Source
AI summary
A transportation device and a thermal management system and method therefor are disclosed. The thermal management system includes an air-conditioning system, a thermal management loop, and an auxiliary heater. The thermal management loop is configured to circulate a first heat-conducting medium to perform thermal management on a specified part of the transportation device. The thermal management loop is capable of exchanging heat with the air-conditioning system to selectively transfer heat generated by the specified part to the air-conditioning system at least when the air-conditioning system is in a heating state, to provide at least a partial heat source for an evaporation process of the air-conditioning system. The auxiliary heater is configured to selectively replenish heat for the thermal management loop. This solution improves the heating effect of the air-conditioning system.