Vehicular Heat Management System with Segmented Loops
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicular heat management systems have complex refrigerant circulation line structures, requiring numerous flow control valves, leading to increased manufacturing costs and refrigerant pressure loss, which deteriorates the cooling/heating performance of air conditioning systems.
Innovation Solution
A vehicular heat management system with separate and independent cooling and heating loops in the refrigerant circulation line, utilizing a three-way or two-way flow control valve to direct refrigerant flow between the air conditioning and heat pump modes, reducing the number of valves and pipe length, and positioning the heat pump mode expansion valve downstream to minimize pressure loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional refrigerant circulation line structure is used with multiple flow control valves, then the system can switch between air conditioning and heat pump modes, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The refrigerant circulation line is divided into separate cooling loop and heating loop with independent expansion valves. This segmentation allows each loop to be optimized for its specific function, reducing the need for complex valve switching mechanisms while maintaining mode adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The common refrigerant circulation line structure serves dual purposes by supporting both air conditioning mode and heat pump mode operations. The system achieves versatility through a unified architecture that can operate in different modes without requiring entirely separate systems
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple flow control valves are installed in the refrigerant circulation line, then mode switching is enabled, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the system into distinct cooling and heating loops with dedicated expansion valves, the patent eliminates the need for multiple expensive flow control valves. Each loop uses simple expansion valves instead of complex electronically controlled flow control valves, significantly reducing manufacturing costs
3Adaptability or versatility
If the refrigerant circulation line is extended to include multiple valves and components, then mode switching is achieved, but the refrigerant pressure loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The segmented loop structure with separate cooling and heating paths eliminates the need for long refrigerant lines required by complex valve systems. Each loop is optimized for minimal refrigerant travel distance, reducing pressure losses while maintaining mode switching capability through simple expansion valve control
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 simplifies the refrigerant pipe structure, reduces pressure loss, decreases manufacturing costs, and enhances the cooling/heating performance of the air conditioning system while preventing icing in outdoor heat exchangers.
Implementation Method 1
a refrigerant-cooling water heat exchanger... configured to cause the refrigerant to exchange heat with the cooling water
Implementation Method 2
the heat pump mode expansion valve to be opened in an air conditioning mode so that the refrigerant can be circulated without passing through the heat pump mode expansion valve 16
Implementation Method 3
cold air having a low temperature is generated in the low pressure side indoor heat exchanger 19 and is supplied into a passenger compartment to cool the passenger compartment
Data Source
AI summary
Vehicular heat management system includes a refrigerant circulation line including a compressor, a high pressure side indoor heat exchanger, a heat pump mode expansion valve, an outdoor heat exchanger, an air conditioning mode expansion valve, low pressure side indoor heat exchanger and a refrigerant-cooling water heat exchanger; an air conditioning mode branch line branched from the refrigerant circulation line and configured to, in an air conditioning mode, form a cooling loop by circulating a refrigerant through the compressor, the high pressure side indoor heat exchanger, the outdoor heat exchanger, the air conditioning mode expansion valve and low pressure side indoor heat exchanger. Heat pump mode branch line branched from the refrigerant circulation line is configured, in heat pump mode to form a heating loop by circulating the refrigerant through the compressor, the high pressure side indoor heat exchanger, the heat pump mode expansion valve and the refrigerant-cooling water heat exchanger.