Vehicle Heat Pump Layout Using One Chiller and One Coolant Valve
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heat pump systems for vehicles require separate closed circuits for cooling and heating, leading to increased size, weight, and complexity, as well as noise and vibration issues due to frequent valve operations. Additionally, these systems often suffer from reduced heating performance and increased electricity consumption.
Innovation Solution
A heat pump system for vehicles that uses a single chiller for refrigerant and coolant heat exchange, allowing for selective recollection and reuse of waste heat from electrical components and battery modules for vehicle interior heating. This system simplifies the layout by using a single valve to control coolant flow through multiple lines, reducing manufacturing costs and weight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate closed circuits are used for cooling and heating systems, then the reliability of temperature control is improved, but the device complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the cooling circuit and heating circuit into a single integrated closed circuit system. The same coolant loop serves both cooling the battery module and heating the vehicle interior by utilizing waste heat from the battery and electrical components, eliminating the need for separate circuits while maintaining reliable temperature control for both functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The single closed circuit is designed to perform multiple functions: cooling the battery module during charging/discharging, heating the vehicle interior by recovering waste heat from battery and electrical component operation, and providing thermal management for electrical components. This multi-functional design replaces traditional separate cooling and heating systems.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple valves are used to control coolant flow for different modes, then the adaptability of the system is improved, but noise and vibration increase due to frequent valve operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the multiple valves from the system that were previously needed to switch between different operating modes. Instead of using valves to control coolant flow direction for cooling vs. heating modes, the system uses the natural flow characteristics and heat exchange processes to achieve mode transitions without mechanical valve operations, thereby eliminating noise and vibration.
3Loss of energy
If a separate heat-exchanger is added to recollect waste heat, then the energy efficiency is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the existing battery module and electrical components serve dual purposes: their primary function (power generation/storage) and a secondary function (heat source for heating mode). By doing so, no additional heat-exchanger is needed to recollect waste heat, as the battery and electrical components themselves become the heat sources, eliminating extra manufacturing costs while maintaining energy efficiency.
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 overall efficiency by optimizing battery module temperature adjustment and waste heat recollection, improves ride comfort by reducing noise and vibration, and increases travel distance through efficient battery management, while also simplifying the system layout and reducing costs.
Implementation Method 1
a single chiller for refrigerant and coolant heat exchange
Implementation Method 2
heat-exchange using a condenser and an evaporator in a process in which a refrigerant discharged by driving a compressor is circulated
Implementation Method 3
condensing a high-temperature high-pressure gas-phase refrigerant compressed from the compressor by the condenser
Implementation Method 4
evaporating the refrigerant in the evaporator in a cooling mode
Implementation Method 5
a high-temperature high-pressure gas-phase refrigerant compressed from the compressor
Implementation Method 6
generates driving force by converting chemical reaction energy between oxygen and hydrogen into electrical energy. In this process, heat energy is generated by a chemical reaction in a fuel cell
Implementation Method 7
generates driving force by driving a motor using electricity supplied from the fuel cell described above or an electrical battery
Data Source
AI summary
A heat pump system for a vehicle may be capable of improving the overall efficiency of the system as well as simplifying the system. This may be achieved by adjusting the temperature of a battery module using a single chiller where the refrigerant and the coolant exchange heat, and by recollecting waste heat of the electrical components and the battery module and using it for heating the vehicle. Additionally, the overall efficiency of the system may be achieved by forming a plurality of coolant flowing lines by a single valve according to a selected mode of the vehicle.