Heating and cooling module
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heating/cooling modules for motor vehicles are complex, prone to errors, and require extensive installation effort due to numerous components and connecting lines, with no integrated internal heat exchangers or chillers, leading to space and error issues.
Innovation Solution
A compact heating/cooling module with an integrated base plate containing flow channels for coolant and refrigerant, eliminating the need for separate connecting lines and incorporating a thermostatic expansion valve and collector for fluid management, which reduces complexity and increases stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If additional components are added to the refrigerant circuit to enable heating or battery cooling, then the functionality is improved, but the device complexity increases and error susceptibility increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the evaporator and condenser into a single heat exchanger unit with integrated flow paths. The refrigerant circuit is merged with coolant circuits for heating and battery cooling through a common heat exchanger, eliminating the need for separate components and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining multiple functionalities.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat exchanger is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously: it can cool the interior, heat the interior, and cool batteries. The refrigerant circuit is configured to work with different coolant circuits through the same heat exchanger structure, making the system universal and adaptable to various thermal management needs without adding component complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If additional components and connecting lines are added to the refrigerant circuit, then the functionality is improved, but the installation effort increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple fluid circuits (refrigerant, heating coolant, battery coolant) into a single integrated heat exchanger unit. This consolidation reduces the number of separate connecting lines and assembly steps required, as all circuits are connected through the unified heat exchanger structure rather than requiring individual component mounting and line routing.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a large number of connecting lines are provided to connect individual elements, then the functionality is improved, but the assembly effort increases and error susceptibility increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple circuits into an integrated heat exchanger with internal flow paths. This merging eliminates the need for numerous external connecting lines, as the fluid pathways are built into the heat exchanger structure itself. The reduction in connection points directly lowers assembly complexity and potential error sources.
4Adaptability or versatility
If individual heat exchanger elements are used instead of an integrated structure, then the adaptability is improved, but the space requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the evaporator and condenser into a single compact heat exchanger unit with integrated flow paths for multiple circuits. This consolidation achieves space efficiency by eliminating the need for separate evaporator and condenser components, while maintaining adaptability through the unified design that can serve multiple thermal management functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat exchanger employs a plate-like structure with flow paths arranged in different planes and layers. This three-dimensional arrangement of fluid pathways within a compact footprint allows multiple circuits to be integrated without increasing the overall space requirement, effectively utilizing vertical and lateral space within the heat exchanger assembly.
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 solution provides a more stable, compact, and efficient heating/cooling system with reduced assembly requirements, improved robustness, and enhanced safety by integrating components on a single base plate, allowing for flexible configurations and reduced weight.
Implementation Method 1
an evaporator area with a first flow path through which a first coolant can flow
Implementation Method 2
a condenser area with a second flow path through which a second coolant can flow
Implementation Method 3
the base plate has flow channels, which can be flowed through by one of the coolant or the refrigerant, wherein the evaporator area and the condenser area via the flow channels with the respective Fluidzuzuzügen and the respective fluid outflows of the base plate are in fluid communication
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a heating and cooling module (30) for controlling the temperature of at least two coolant circuits, comprising an evaporator region (36) and a condenser region (33). The evaporator region (36) has a first flow section (37) through which a first coolant can flow, and the condenser region (33) has a second flow section (38) through which a second coolant can flow. The heating and cooling module (30) has a third flow section (39) through which a refrigerant can flow. The evaporator region (36) and the condenser region (33) are arranged on a common base plate (31) which has the fluid inlets (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46) and the fluid outlets (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46) for the first coolant, the second coolant, and the refrigerant. The base plate (31) has flow channels, through each of which one of the coolants or the refrigerant can flow. The evaporator region (36) and the condenser region (33) are fluidically connected to the respective fluid inlets (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46) and the respective fluid outlets (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46) of the base plate (31) via the flow channels.