Vehicle Heat Pump Valve Control for Outdoor Heat Exchanger Icing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicular heat management systems face issues with refrigerant flow instability and reduced heating performance due to icing in outdoor heat exchangers, leading to inefficient heat exchange and unstable temperature changes in the vehicle interior.
Innovation Solution
A vehicular heat management system that employs dual expansion modes controlled by expansion valves to adjust refrigerant flow rates, preventing icing in outdoor heat exchangers without restricting refrigerant flow, thereby stabilizing the refrigerant circulation and maintaining efficient heat exchange.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If refrigerant flow to the outdoor heat exchanger is restricted to prevent icing, then icing is prevented, but refrigerant flow stability deteriorates and heating performance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the physical state of the refrigerant by controlling its temperature and pressure parameters. When icing is detected or predicted, the control unit adjusts expansion valve openings to modify refrigerant temperature and pressure, preventing ice formation while maintaining flow stability. This involves dynamic parameter adjustment rather than simple flow restriction.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs dynamic control of multiple expansion valves (first, second, and third expansion valves) to continuously adjust refrigerant flow distribution. Instead of static flow restriction, the control unit dynamically opens or closes expansion valves based on real-time conditions, maintaining both icing prevention and flow stability through adaptive response.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If refrigerant flow is restricted to the outdoor heat exchanger when icing occurs, then icing is prevented, but heat exchange efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The refrigerant flow path is segmented into multiple controllable branches with separate expansion valves. The system can selectively route refrigerant through different expansion valves (first, second, third) to the outdoor heat exchanger, allowing precise control of flow distribution to prevent icing while maintaining sufficient flow for heat exchange efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The expansion valves act as intermediary devices between the refrigerant source and the outdoor heat exchanger. By controlling the opening degree of these valves, the system mediates the refrigerant flow to achieve optimal balance between preventing icing and maintaining heat exchange efficiency, without direct flow restriction at the heat exchanger inlet.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If refrigerant flow is restricted to prevent icing, then icing is prevented, but heating performance in the vehicle interior deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains continuous and stable refrigerant circulation through dynamic control of multiple expansion valves, ensuring uninterrupted heat exchange operation. By preventing flow instability and maintaining continuous refrigerant flow, the system sustains heating performance in the vehicle interior while preventing icing through continuous monitoring and adjustment.
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 effectively prevents refrigerant flow instability and maintains heating performance by adjusting refrigerant flow to manage icing, ensuring stable heat exchange rates and improved interior heating.
Implementation Method 1
a first expansion valve 116 arranged on an upstream side of the outdoor heat exchanger 118; an outdoor heat exchanger 118 arranged on a refrigerant circulation line 110
Implementation Method 2
an outdoor heat exchanger 118 arranged on a refrigerant circulation line 110
Implementation Method 3
a compressor 112 arranged on a heat pump type refrigerant circulation line 110
Implementation Method 4
a high-pressure side heat exchanger 114 arranged on a heat pump type refrigerant circulation line 110
Implementation Method 5
a low-pressure side heat exchanger 126 arranged on a refrigerant circulation line 110
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicular heat management system includes a compressor arranged on a heat pump type refrigerant circulation line, a high-pressure side heat exchanger arranged on the heat pump type refrigerant circulation line, an outdoor heat exchanger arranged on the heat pump type refrigerant circulation line, a plurality of expansion valves arranged on the heat pump type refrigerant circulation line, a low-pressure side heat exchanger arranged on the heat pump type refrigerant circulation line, a first expansion valve arranged on the upstream side of the outdoor heat exchanger, a second expansion valve arranged on the downstream side of the outdoor heat exchanger, and a control part configured to control opening degrees of the first expansion valve and the second expansion valve depending on whether icing occurs in the outdoor heat exchanger under a heat pump mode condition.