Heat pump system for vehicle

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional heat pump systems for vehicles have complex refrigerant line structures, leading to increased weight, space occupation, and reduced workability and fuel efficiency due to separate valve components and complicated connections within a small engine room.

Innovation Solution

Integration of a complex valve device combining a three-way valve, on-off valve, and expansion means, which simplifies refrigerant circulation lines, reduces weight, and enhances workability and fuel efficiency by consolidating multiple functions into a single component.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If separate valve components and complicated connections are used in the heat pump system, then the refrigerant circulation can be controlled, but the weight increases and space occupation increases in the small engine room

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverefrigerant circulation controlVSAvoidsystem weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple separate valve components (three-way valve, on-off valve, expansion valve) and connection blocks into a single integrated complex valve device. This merging reduces the total number of components, decreases weight, and simplifies the refrigerant circulation line structure while maintaining the ability to control refrigerant flow for both heating and cooling modes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The complex valve device is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously - it acts as a three-way valve for flow direction control, an on-off valve for flow regulation, and an expansion valve for refrigerant expansion. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated components for each function, reducing overall system complexity and weight.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If separate valve components and complicated connections are used in the heat pump system, then the refrigerant circulation can be controlled, but the space occupation increases in the small engine room

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverefrigerant circulation controlVSAvoidengine room space

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple separate valve components (three-way valve, on-off valve, expansion valve) and connection blocks into a single integrated complex valve device. This merging reduces the total number of components, decreases weight, and simplifies the refrigerant circulation line structure while maintaining the ability to control refrigerant flow for both heating and cooling modes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If separate valve components are used in the heat pump system, then the refrigerant circulation can be controlled, but the workability decreases due to complicated connections

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverefrigerant circulation controlVSAvoidworkability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple separate valve components (three-way valve, on-off valve, expansion valve) and connection blocks into a single integrated complex valve device. This merging reduces the total number of components, decreases weight, and simplifies the refrigerant circulation line structure while maintaining the ability to control refrigerant flow for both heating and cooling modes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 integrated complex valve device simplifies the heat pump system, reduces size, and improves workability and fuel efficiency by streamlining refrigerant control, thereby securing space in the small engine room and reducing weight.

Implementation Method 1

expansion means being connected to an inlet of the three-way valve part to selectively expand refrigerant discharged from an interior heat exchanger

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThrottling: Pressure Drop

Implementation Method 2

an interior heat exchanger and an evaporator mounted inside an air-conditioning case and a compressor and an exterior heat exchanger mounted outside the air-conditioning case are connected to a refrigerant circulation line

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Data Source

PatentUS9855821B2Heat pump system for vehicle

Publication Date: 2018.01.02 HANON SYST CO LTD

AI summary

A heat pump system for a vehicle having a complex valve device including a three-way valve, an on-off valve, expansion means and connection blocks are formed integrally with one another, the three-way valve part being connected to the refrigerant circulation line of an inlet of the exterior heat exchanger such that the refrigerant selectively bypasses the exterior heat exchanger, the on-off valve part being connected to an inlet of the bypass line to open and close the bypass line. Connection blocks connect the three-way valve part and the on-off valve part with the refrigerant circulation line of an outlet of the exterior heat exchanger to communicate with each other. Expansion means are connected to an inlet of the three-way valve part to selectively expand refrigerant discharged from an interior heat exchanger. All functions of the heat pump system are thus conducted through a refrigerant control of the complex valve device.