Vehicle Thermal Loop Layout for Simultaneous Defrosting and Cabin Heating
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing thermal management systems in electric vehicles face challenges in defrosting heat exchangers without simultaneously supplying heat to the passenger cabin, leading to poor user experience.
Innovation Solution
A thermal management system with two heat exchangers and a gas-liquid separator, along with electronic expansion valves and solenoid valves, allows for simultaneous defrosting and heating by rerouting refrigerant flow to maintain cabin temperature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the thermal management system uses a single heat exchanger for both heating and defrosting, then the system structure is simple, but it cannot supply heat to the passenger cabin while defrosting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the heat exchanger into two separate heat exchangers: a first heat exchanger dedicated to defrosting and a second heat exchanger dedicated to heating the passenger cabin. This segmentation allows each heat exchanger to perform its specific function independently, enabling simultaneous defrosting and heating operations without functional interference.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a gas-liquid separator as an intermediary component between the first heat exchanger and the compressor. This intermediary enables the liquid refrigerant from the first heat exchanger to be separated and redirected to the second heat exchanger, facilitating the simultaneous operation of both heat exchangers while maintaining system stability.
2Reliability
If the system switches to cooling mode for defrosting, then the heat exchanger can be defrosted, but heat is absorbed from the passenger cabin affecting user experience
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the heating function across two separate heat exchangers, the system can dedicate the first heat exchanger to defrosting while the second heat exchanger continues to supply heat to the passenger cabin, eliminating the temperature drop issue that occurs when a single heat exchanger is switched to cooling mode for defrosting.
3Reliability
If the system uses hot gas bypass for defrosting, then the heat exchanger can be defrosted, but heat cannot be supplied to the passenger cabin at the same time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements functional segmentation by assigning the first heat exchanger to defrosting operations and the second heat exchanger to passenger cabin heating. This allows both functions to operate simultaneously through independent refrigerant flow paths, overcoming the limitation of hot gas bypass methods where heating must be suspended during defrosting.
Solution Approach 2:
The gas-liquid separator acts as an intermediary that enables the liquid refrigerant from the first heat exchanger to be redirected to the second heat exchanger, ensuring continuous heating capability while maintaining defrosting operations. This intermediary component facilitates the simultaneous operation that would otherwise be impossible with conventional hot gas bypass systems.
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
Enhances user experience by effectively defrosting heat exchangers while maintaining cabin heating, improving efficiency and comfort.
Implementation Method 1
a compressor, including an input port and an output port, where the compressor is configured to: compress a refrigerant input from the input port, and output the compressed refrigerant through the output port
Implementation Method 2
a condenser, including a first interface (1) and a second interface (2), where the second interface (2) is connected to the output port; a first heat exchanger, including a third interface (3) and a fourth interface (4), where the third interface (3) is connected to the output port, and the fourth interface (4) is connected to the input port
Implementation Method 3
a first electronic expansion valve, including a seventh interface (7) and an eighth interface (8), where the seventh interface (7) is connected to the first interface (1), and the eighth interface (8) is connected to the fifth interface (5)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
This application provides a thermal management system and a vehicle. The thermal management system includes a compressor, a condenser, a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, and a first electronic expansion valve. The two heat exchangers are disposed, so that a passenger cabin may be heated while defrosting is performed, thereby improving user experience. In addition, the system includes a first gas-liquid separator. The first gas-liquid separator is disposed, so that a liquid refrigerant flowing out from the first heat exchanger in a first mode can flow back to a heating loop, which increases a flow volume of the refrigerant flowing into the second heat exchanger, to improve heating efficiency. The first mode is a mode in which defrosting is performed and the passenger cabin is heated.