Vehicular heat management system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicular air conditioners in electric vehicles do not effectively utilize the exhaust heat generated by in-vehicle devices, such as batteries and motors, for heating the vehicle compartment, leading to reduced driving range and inefficient energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
A vehicular heat management system that incorporates a heat pump cycle and an exhaust-heat refrigerant circuit, where the heat pump cycle uses exhaust heat from in-vehicle devices for heating and the exhaust-heat refrigerant circuit releases excess heat to the outside air, utilizing a combined heat exchanger for efficient heat transfer between the cycle refrigerant and exhaust-heat refrigerant.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If exhaust heat from in-vehicle devices is not utilized, then the system structure remains simple, but energy consumption increases and driving range decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the heat pump cycle and exhaust-heat refrigerant circuit into an integrated system with a shared compressor and combined heat exchanger. The heat pump cycle uses exhaust heat from in-vehicle devices (battery, motor) as a heat source to heat vehicle compartment air, while the exhaust-heat refrigerant circuit simultaneously releases excess heat to outside air. This merging of functions allows the system to utilize waste heat energy without requiring completely separate systems, thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining relatively compact structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful exhaust heat generated by in-vehicle devices into a beneficial resource. Instead of allowing this waste heat to be dissipated uselessly, the system captures it through the heat pump cycle and uses it to heat the vehicle compartment during cold conditions. This transforms a thermal pollutant into a useful energy source, improving overall energy efficiency and extending driving range.
2Temperature
If exhaust heat is utilized for heating, then heating capacity is improved, but system complexity increases due to additional heat exchangers and circuits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a combined heat exchanger that integrates the recovery heat exchange portion and exhaust-heat exchange portion into a single unit. This combined heat exchanger performs multiple functions simultaneously: it recovers heat from the heat pump cycle refrigerant and transfers it to the exhaust-heat refrigerant circuit, while also enabling heat exchange with outside air. This merging reduces the number of separate heat exchanger components needed, thereby improving heating capacity without proportionally increasing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The combined heat exchanger serves multiple functions within a single component: it acts as a heat recovery exchanger for the heat pump cycle, a heat release exchanger for the exhaust-heat refrigerant circuit, and facilitates heat transfer between different refrigerant circuits. This multi-functionality allows the system to achieve enhanced heating capacity while avoiding the need for multiple dedicated heat exchangers, thus limiting the increase in system complexity.
3Productivity
If a combined heat exchanger is used for heat transfer between refrigerants, then heat transfer efficiency is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The combined heat exchanger merges the recovery heat exchange portion and exhaust-heat exchange portion into a single integrated component with shared structure and refrigerant passages. This design improves heat transfer efficiency by reducing thermal resistance at interfaces between separate components and by enabling direct heat exchange between the heat pump cycle refrigerant and exhaust-heat refrigerant within the same exchanger body. While the manufacturing complexity increases compared to separate exchangers, the integrated design eliminates the need for additional connections and mounting hardware, partially offsetting the manufacturing challenge.
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 enhances heating capacity, reduces energy consumption, and extends the driving range of electric vehicles by effectively utilizing exhaust heat for both heating the vehicle compartment and managing in-vehicle device temperatures, while preventing heat loss and noise/vibration transmission.
Implementation Method 1
a heat pump cycle capable of heating a heat-exchanging-object fluid by using exhaust heat of an in-vehicle device as a heat source
Implementation Method 2
an exhaust-heat refrigerant circuit that releases the exhaust heat to outside air through an exhaust-heat refrigerant
Implementation Method 3
The recovery heat exchange portion and the exhaust-heat exchange portion are integrally formed as a combined heat exchanger capable of transferring heat between the cycle refrigerant and the exhaust-heat refrigerant
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicular heat management system includes a heat pump cycle capable of heating a heat-exchanging-object fluid by using exhaust heat of an in-vehicle device as a heat source that radiates heat during operation, and an exhaust-heat refrigerant circuit that releases the exhaust heat to outside air through an exhaust-heat refrigerant. The heat pump cycle includes a recovery heat exchange portion that performs heat exchange between a heated air heated by the exhaust heat and a cycle refrigerant circulating in the heat pump cycle. The exhaust-heat refrigerant circuit includes an exhaust-heat exchange portion that performs heat exchange between the heated air and the exhaust-heat refrigerant. The recovery heat exchange portion and the exhaust-heat exchange portion are integrally formed as a combined heat exchanger capable of transferring heat between the cycle refrigerant and the exhaust-heat refrigerant.