Vehicle Heat Pump Refrigerant Routing to Cut High-Pressure Heat Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicular heat management systems suffer from significant heat loss and reduced efficiency due to long high-pressure/high-temperature refrigerant movement paths from the compressor to the chiller and vehicle interior cooling heat exchanger, which affects heat pump efficiency and dehumidifying performance.
Innovation Solution
A vehicular heat management system with a refrigerant control part that includes first and second heat pump expansion valves and three-way flow control valves to minimize these paths by depressurizing and expanding refrigerant close to the compressor, allowing it to flow selectively to outdoor heat exchangers, chillers, or vehicle interior cooling heat exchangers based on air conditioning conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the refrigerant movement path from the compressor to the chiller and vehicle interior cooling heat exchanger is extended to allow heat exchange with outdoor air, then the heat pump efficiency is improved through waste heat recovery, but the high-pressure/high-temperature movement path section becomes longer causing increased heat loss
Solution Approach 1:
The refrigerant circulation system is divided into separate pathways: a first circulation line for heat pump mode with minimized high-pressure movement path, and a second circulation line for air conditioning mode. This segmentation allows optimal path selection based on operational mode, reducing heat loss in heat pump mode while maintaining heat exchange capabilities when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between different circulation configurations using flow control valves. In heat pump mode, the system activates a configuration that minimizes the high-pressure refrigerant movement path from compressor to chiller and vehicle interior cooling heat exchanger, thereby reducing heat loss. The configuration adapts to operational requirements, maintaining efficiency across different modes.
2Loss of energy
If the refrigerant is depressurized and expanded closer to the compressor by installing expansion valves on the compressor side, then the high-pressure/high-temperature movement path is minimized reducing heat loss, but the system complexity increases due to additional flow control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The first expansion valve and first three-way flow control valve serve multiple functions: they control refrigerant flow for both heat pump mode and air conditioning mode, and manage pathways to multiple components (chiller, vehicle interior cooling heat exchanger, outdoor heat exchanger). This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate control mechanisms for each mode, managing system complexity while enabling minimized high-pressure movement paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The expansion valves are positioned to depressurize and expand refrigerant before it enters the high-pressure movement path sections. By performing the expansion action preliminarily, close to the compressor, the system minimizes the length of high-pressure/high-temperature refrigerant travel, thereby reducing heat loss before the refrigerant reaches the chiller and vehicle interior cooling heat exchanger.
3Loss of energy
If the refrigerant movement path is shortened to prevent heat loss, then the heat pump efficiency is improved, but the ability to perform heat exchange with outdoor air is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically reconfigures refrigerant flow paths using flow control valves based on operational mode. In heat pump mode, the system minimizes high-pressure movement paths to reduce heat loss. When heat exchange with outdoor air is needed, the system switches to air conditioning mode configuration, activating different valve positions that enable refrigerant to flow through paths including the outdoor heat exchanger, thereby maintaining adaptability across different operational requirements.
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
This configuration minimizes heat loss and improves heat pump efficiency and dehumidifying performance by reducing high-pressure/high-temperature movement paths, enhancing heating and dehumidifying capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
depressurize and expand a refrigerant on the compressor side
Implementation Method 2
depressurize and expand the refrigerant
Implementation Method 3
allow the introduced refrigerant to exchange heat with the cooling water
Implementation Method 4
exchange heat with the ambient air
Implementation Method 5
exchange heat with the cooling water
Implementation Method 6
selectively allow the refrigerant to flow toward at least one of the outdoor heat exchanger, the chiller and the vehicle interior cooling heat exchanger
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicular heat management system is disclosed and is configured to minimize high-pressure/high-temperature movement path sections in a refrigerant movement path extending from a compressor to a chiller and a refrigerant movement path extending from the compressor to a vehicle interior cooling heat exchanger. The system includes: a heat pump type refrigerant circulation line including a compressor, a high-pressure side heat exchanger, an outdoor heat exchanger, a chiller connected in series or in parallel to the outdoor heat exchanger, and a vehicle interior cooling heat exchanger connected in series or in parallel to the outdoor heat exchanger; and a refrigerant control part configured to, in a heat pump mode, depressurize and expand a refrigerant on the compressor side and selectively allow the refrigerant to flow toward at least one of the outdoor heat exchanger, the chiller and the vehicle interior cooling heat exchanger depending on an air conditioning condition.