Vehicle Thermal Management With Integrated Refrigerant Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electric vehicles lack an internal heat source, leading to degraded fuel efficiency and reduced mileage due to the need for separate heating, and existing thermal management systems in eco-friendly vehicles are inefficient with separate heaters for battery and interior heating, increasing the number of parts and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A thermal management system that integrates a refrigerant heater at the compressor's downstream point, replacing separate water and PTC heaters, and controls refrigerant flow to achieve various heating modes, including battery and interior heating, while reducing the number of parts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate water heating heater and PTC heater are provided for battery heating and interior heating, then heating functions are ensured, but the number of parts increases and thermal management efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of the water heating heater and PTC heater into a single refrigerant heater located in the refrigerant line. This refrigerant heater uses the high-temperature refrigerant from the compressor to heat both the battery cooling water (through heat exchange) and the interior air (through the evaporator), thereby reducing the number of parts while maintaining all necessary heating functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The refrigerant heater is designed to perform multiple heating functions simultaneously: it heats the battery through the cooling water line, heats the interior through the evaporator, and can operate in different heating modes (battery heating mode, interior heating mode, and simultaneous heating mode). This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated heaters for each function.
2Reliability
If separate water heating heater and PTC heater are provided for battery heating and interior heating, then heating functions are ensured, but thermal management efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of the water heating heater and PTC heater into a single refrigerant heater located in the refrigerant line. This refrigerant heater uses the high-temperature refrigerant from the compressor to heat both the battery cooling water (through heat exchange) and the interior air (through the evaporator), thereby reducing the number of parts while maintaining all necessary heating functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The refrigerant heater enables continuous heat utilization from the compressor output. By positioning the heater immediately after the compressor, the system continuously extracts heat from the high-temperature refrigerant to perform multiple heating functions, maximizing the utilization of available thermal energy and improving overall thermal management efficiency.
3Adaptability or versatility
If heat pump system is applied to eco-friendly vehicle, then cooling and heating functions are achieved, but additional heaters are needed for low outdoor temperature conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The refrigerant heater is designed to perform multiple heating functions simultaneously: it heats the battery through the cooling water line, heats the interior through the evaporator, and can operate in different heating modes (battery heating mode, interior heating mode, and simultaneous heating mode). This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated heaters for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between different heating modes based on operational conditions. The refrigerant heater can operate in battery heating mode when battery temperature is low, in interior heating mode when cabin temperature is low, or in simultaneous heating mode when both require heating. This dynamic adaptability allows the heat pump system to effectively handle low outdoor temperature conditions while maintaining a reduced number of parts.
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 system reduces the number of parts, enhances energy efficiency, and maintains heat pump functionality even in low outdoor temperatures, improving fuel efficiency and reducing the need for frequent charging.
Implementation Method 1
a refrigerant heater disposed between the compressor and the indoor condenser on the main refrigerant line and configured to selectively heat the refrigerant
Implementation Method 2
the heat pump system is a cooling and heating system for absorbing heat from an exterior during heating to emit the absorbed heat to the interior and for emitting heat of the interior to the exterior during cooling
Implementation Method 3
a first expansion valve, an outdoor condenser, a second expansion valve
Implementation Method 4
an indoor condenser... an outdoor condenser
Implementation Method 5
an indoor evaporator
Data Source
AI summary
An embodiment is a thermal management system for a vehicle, the thermal management system including a main refrigerant line in which a compressor, an indoor condenser, a first expansion valve, an outdoor condenser, a second expansion valve, and an indoor evaporator are sequentially provided, a battery cooling water line in which a battery, the chiller for a battery, and a water pump for a battery are sequentially provided, a refrigerant heater disposed between the compressor and the indoor condenser on the main refrigerant line, and a controller configured to control operations of the compressor and the refrigerant heater, control opening and closing of the first expansion valve and the second expansion valve, control operations of the water pump for an electric component and the water pump for a battery, and control flow paths of the refrigerant, the cooling water for an electric component, and the cooling water for a battery.