Parallel Refrigerant Flow for EV Thermal Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electric vehicles face reduced mileage during heating due to the lack of an engine-based waste heat system, and existing thermal management systems struggle to maintain optimal battery performance and lifespan due to inefficient heat absorption and radiation, leading to deteriorated heat pump performance.
Innovation Solution
A thermal management system for vehicles that connects an external condenser and an integrated chiller in parallel, with a base refrigerant flow path, a chiller refrigerant flow path, and a parallel refrigerant flow path, utilizing a control valve and controller to manage refrigerant flow and expansion valves for enhanced waste heat absorption and heat pump performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the integrated chiller is connected in series with the external condenser to absorb waste heat from battery or electric parts, then the heat absorption capacity of the integrated chiller is improved, but the temperature and pressure of the entire refrigerant cycle rise causing the heat pump performance to deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The refrigerant cycle is divided into two separate parallel flow paths: one path through the external condenser and another path through the integrated chiller. This segmentation allows independent control of refrigerant flow to each component, enabling the system to absorb waste heat from battery or electric parts while maintaining appropriate temperature and pressure levels for heat pump operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The refrigerant cycle system is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously by operating two parallel paths: the external condenser handles primary cooling while the integrated chiller absorbs waste heat from battery or electric parts. The control valve enables the system to switch between different operational modes, providing universal functionality for both heat absorption and heat pump operation.
2Loss of energy
If a bypass flow path bypassing the external condenser or a dehumidification flow path is applied to solve the heat pump performance deterioration, then the heat pump performance is improved, but the system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the external condenser and integrated chiller into a unified parallel refrigerant cycle system, where both components operate simultaneously as integral parts of the same thermal management system. This merging approach eliminates the need for separate bypass flow paths or dehumidification flow paths, reducing system complexity while maintaining heat pump performance.
Solution Approach 2:
A control valve is introduced as an intermediary device to regulate refrigerant flow distribution between the external condenser and integrated chiller. This single control valve enables flexible flow management without requiring complex bypass mechanisms, simplifying the overall system architecture while maintaining optimal heat pump performance.
3Quantity of substance
If a control valve is introduced to manage refrigerant flow in the parallel configuration, then the heat absorption capacity is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A control valve is introduced as an intermediary device to regulate refrigerant flow distribution between the external condenser and integrated chiller. This single control valve enables flexible flow management without requiring complex bypass mechanisms, simplifying the overall system architecture while maintaining optimal heat pump performance.
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 increases waste heat absorption in the integrated chiller, prevents excessive heat radiation from the external condenser, and maintains maximum heat pump performance, thereby improving the thermal management of electric vehicles.
Implementation Method 1
an integrated chiller 20 that absorbs waste heat from a battery or electric parts
Implementation Method 2
the condenser 10 radiates heat to the outside air
Implementation Method 3
the refrigerant cycle includes an external condenser 10 provided outside the vehicle, wherein the external condenser 10 is connected in series with an integrated chiller 20
Data Source
AI summary
A thermal management system for a vehicle, includes: a base refrigerant flow path provided sequentially with a compressor, a second expansion valve, an indoor condenser, a first expansion valve, an external condenser, and an evaporator and configured to flow a refrigerant in the base refrigerant flow path; a chiller refrigerant flow path branched off from the base refrigerant flow path at a downstream point of the external condenser, provided sequentially with a third expansion valve and an integrated chiller, and merged with the base refrigerant flow path at an upstream point of the compressor; and a parallel refrigerant flow path branched off from the base refrigerant flow path at an upstream point of the first expansion valve and merged with the chiller refrigerant flow path at an upstream point of the third expansion valve.