Patent Application
20250026177
The application claims the benefit of China Patent Application No. 202310877005.1 filed Jul. 17, 2023, the contents of which are hereby incorporated in their entirety
The present invention relates to the field of temperature regulation in transportation vehicles, in particular to a vehicle thermal management system and a transportation refrigeration vehicle.
In new energy electric vehicles or hybrid electric vehicles, the power battery plays an important role as an energy carrier for the normal operation of new energy electric vehicles or hybrid electric vehicles. The output power, service life and other performance of the power battery are closely related to the performance and service life of the vehicle.
The power battery must be within a certain temperature range during operation to achieve optimal performance and ensure energy output. Under high temperature conditions, due to the high operating current of the power battery, a large amount of heat is generated. At the same time, the power battery is a relatively closed environment. If the heat is not dissipated in time, it will lead to thermal runaway, shortened lifespan, and damage to the power battery. Therefore, it is necessary to cool the power battery during operation.
The present invention aims to provide a vehicle thermal management system and a transportation refrigeration vehicle to at least partially solve or alleviate the problems existing in the prior art.
To achieve at least one object of the present invention, according to one aspect of the present invention, a vehicle thermal management system is provided, comprising:
In addition to one or more of the above features, or as an alternative, in other embodiments, the regulating valve is a stepless regulating valve.
In addition to one or more of the above features, or as an alternative, in other embodiments, the vehicle thermal management system comprises a controller that communicates with the regulating valve, the first throttling element, the second throttling element, the third throttling element, or any combination thereof.
In addition to one or more of the above features, or as an alternative, in other embodiments, the vehicle thermal management system comprises: a compartment cooling and battery cooling mode, wherein, the controller instructs to turn on the first throttling element, the second throttling element, the first port and second port of the first three-way valve, and the regulating valve, and to turn off the third throttling element, the third port of the first three-way valve, so that the first throttling element and the second throttling element play a throttling role, thereby allowing a first part of the refrigerant of the air conditioning system to sequentially flow through the exhaust port of the compressor, the first port of the first three-way valve, the second port of the first three-way valve, the first outdoor heat exchanger, the first throttling element, the indoor heat exchanger, the regulating valve and the suction port of the compressor, and at the same time allowing a second part of the refrigerant of the air conditioning system to sequentially flow through the exhaust port of the compressor, the first port of the first three-way valve, the second port of the first three-way valve, the first outdoor heat exchanger, the second throttling element, the intermediate heat exchanger, and the suction port of the compressor; and
In addition to one or more of the above features, or as an alternative, in other embodiments, the vehicle thermal management system comprises: a compartment heating and battery cooling mode, wherein, the controller instructs to turn on the third throttling element, the first port and third port of the first three-way valve, and to turn off the first throttling element, the second throttling element, the second port of the first three-way valve, and the regulating valve, so that the third throttling element plays a throttling role, thereby allowing the refrigerant of the air conditioning system to sequentially flow through the exhaust port of the compressor, the first port of the first three-way valve, the third port of the first three-way valve, the indoor heat exchanger, the third throttling element, the intermediate heat exchanger, and the suction port of the compressor; and
In addition to one or more of the above features, or as an alternative, in other embodiments, the vehicle thermal management system comprises: a compartment cooling and battery natural cooling mode, wherein, the controller instructs to turn on the first throttling element, the first port and second port of the first three-way valve, and the regulating valve, and to turn off the second throttling element, the third throttling element, and the third port of the first three-way valve, so that the first throttling element plays a throttling role, thereby allowing the refrigerant of the air conditioning system to sequentially flow through the exhaust port of the compressor, the first port of the first three-way valve, the second port of the first three-way valve, the first outdoor heat exchanger, the first throttling element, the indoor heat exchanger, the regulating valve and the suction port of the compressor; and
To achieve at least one object of the present invention, according to another aspect of the present invention, a vehicle thermal management system is provided, comprising:
In addition to one or more of the above features, or as an alternative, in other embodiments, the regulating valve is a stepless regulating valve.
In addition to one or more of the above features, or as an alternative, in other embodiments, the vehicle thermal management system comprises a controller that communicates with the regulating valve, the first throttling element, the second throttling element, or any combination thereof.
In addition to one or more of the above features, or as an alternative, in other embodiments, the vehicle thermal management system comprises: a compartment cooling and battery cooling mode, wherein, the controller instructs to turn on the first throttling element, the second throttling element, the first port and second port of the first three-way valve, and the regulating valve, and to turn off the third port of the first three-way valve, so that the first throttling element and the second throttling element play a throttling role, thereby allowing a first part of the refrigerant of the air conditioning system to sequentially flow through the exhaust port of the compressor, the first port of the first three-way valve, the second port of the first three-way valve, the first outdoor heat exchanger, the first throttling element, the indoor heat exchanger, the regulating valve, and the suction port of the compressor, and at the same time allowing a second part of the refrigerant of the air conditioning system to sequentially flow through the exhaust port of the compressor, the first port of the first three-way valve, the second port of the first three-way valve, the first outdoor heat exchanger, the first one-way valve, the second throttling element, the intermediate heat exchanger, and the suction port of the compressor; and
In addition to one or more of the above features, or as an alternative, in other embodiments, the vehicle thermal management system comprises: a compartment heating and battery cooling mode, wherein, the controller instructs to turn on the second throttling element, the first port and third port of the first three-way valve, and to turn off the first throttling element, the second port of the first three-way valve, and the regulating valve, so that the second throttling element plays a throttling role, thereby allowing the refrigerant of the air conditioning system to sequentially flow through the exhaust port of the compressor, the first port of the first three-way valve, the third port of the first three-way valve, the indoor heat exchanger, the second one-way valve, the second throttling element, the intermediate heat exchanger, and the suction port of the compressor; and
In addition to one or more of the above features, or as an alternative, in other embodiments, the vehicle thermal management system comprises: a compartment cooling and battery natural cooling mode, wherein, the controller instructs to turn on the first throttling element, the first port and second port of the first three-way valve, and the regulating valve, and to turn off the second throttling element, and the third port of the first three-way valve, so that the first throttling element plays a throttling role, thereby allowing the refrigerant of the air conditioning system to sequentially flow through the exhaust port of the compressor, the first port of the first three-way valve, the second port of the first three-way valve, the first outdoor heat exchanger, the first throttling element, the indoor heat exchanger, the regulating valve and the suction port of the compressor; and
To achieve at least one object of the present invention, according to another aspect of the present invention, a transport refrigeration vehicle is provided, comprising the aforementioned vehicle thermal management system.
It can be appreciated that the vehicle thermal management system according to the present invention can not only cool the vehicle battery when the air conditioning system is in a cooling mode, but also cool the vehicle battery when the air conditioning system is in a heating mode, without affecting the independent cooling function of the vehicle battery, which is conducive to ensuring that the vehicle battery is always within the appropriate temperature range during operation.
The disclosure of the present invention will become easier to understand by referring to the accompanying drawings. It is easy for those skilled in the art to understand that these drawings are only for illustrative purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. In addition, similar numbers in the figures are used to denote similar components, where:
The present application will be described in detail hereinafter with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. However, it should be understood that the present application can be implemented in many different forms, and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. These embodiments are provided here for the purpose of making the disclosure of the present application more complete and comprehensive, and fully conveying the concept of the present application to those skilled in the art.
Referring to
Specifically, the air conditioning system 110 is configured with a compressor 111, a first three-way valve 112, a first outdoor heat exchanger 113, an indoor heat exchanger 114, a regulating valve 115, an intermediate heat exchanger 116, and a first throttling element 117, a second throttling element 118, and a third throttling element 119 with a shut-off function connected through pipelines. The first three-way valve 112 has a first port 112a for communicating with an exhaust port 111a of the compressor 111, a second port 112b for communicating with a first end of the first outdoor heat exchanger 113, and a third port 112c for communicating with the first end of the indoor heat exchanger 114. The second end of the first outdoor heat exchanger 113 is connected to the first end of the indoor heat exchanger 114 through the first throttling element 117, and at the same time the second end of the first outdoor heat exchanger 113 is connected to the suction port 111b of the compressor 111 through the second throttling element 118 and the intermediate heat exchanger 116. The second end of the indoor heat exchanger 114 is connected to the suction port 111b of the compressor 111 through the regulating valve 115, and at the same time the second end of the indoor heat exchanger 114 is connected to the suction port 111b of the compressor 111 through the third throttling element 119 and the intermediate heat exchanger 116.
The battery cooling system 120 is configured with a second outdoor heat exchanger 121, a battery cooling device 122, and a second three-way valve 123 connected through pipelines. Wherein, the second three-way valve 123 has a first port 123a for communicating with the outlet 122a of the battery cooling device 122, a second port 123b for communicating with the intermediate heat exchanger 116, and a third port 123c for communicating with the first end of the second outdoor heat exchanger 121. The inlet 122b of the battery cooling device 122 and the second end of the second outdoor heat exchanger 121 are simultaneously connected to the intermediate heat exchanger 116.
The vehicle thermal management system 100 with such an arrangement achieves heat exchange between the refrigerant of the air conditioning system 110 and the coolant of the battery cooling system 120 through an intermediate heat exchanger 116, allowing the air conditioning system 110 to cool the vehicle battery while cooling and heating.
Various possible modifications of the vehicle thermal management system will be described below in conjunction with the appended drawings. In addition, for the purpose of further improving system energy efficiency or reliability etc., additional components can be added, as will also be exemplarily illustrated below. For example, the regulating valve 115 is a stepless regulating valve. For another example, the vehicle thermal management system 100 further comprises a controller (not shown) that communicates with the regulating valve 115, the first throttling element 117, the second throttling element 118, the third throttling element 119, or any combination thereof. For yet another example, the battery cooling system 120 is equipped with a pumping device 124 for providing power to the coolant.
The vehicle thermal management system 100 can achieve the compartment cooling and battery cooling mode. An illustrative example will be described below in conjunction with
With continued reference to
On the air conditioning system side, the refrigerant of the air conditioning system 110 first enters the compressor 111 to achieve gas-phase compression. Then, the first part of the refrigerant flows from the exhaust port 111a of the compressor 111 through the first port 112a of the first three-way valve 112 and the second port 112b of the first three-way valve 112 into the first outdoor heat exchanger 113 for condensation and heat dissipation. The refrigerant then flows through the first throttling element 117 into the indoor heat exchanger 114, where the refrigerant can enter the indoor heat exchanger 114 for evaporation and heat absorption after undergoing throttling expansion in the first throttling element 117, thereby providing cooling for the compartment. When the refrigerant returns to the suction port 111b of the compressor 111 after passing through the regulating valve 115, the cycle is completed.
Meanwhile, the second part of the refrigerant flows from the exhaust port 111a of the compressor 111 through the first port 112a of the first three-way valve 112 and the second port 112b of the first three-way valve 112 into the first outdoor heat exchanger 113 for condensation and heat dissipation. The refrigerant then flows through the second throttling element 118 into the intermediate heat exchanger 116, where the refrigerant can enter the intermediate heat exchanger 116 after undergoing throttling expansion in the second throttling element 118, thereby achieving heat exchange between the refrigerant and the coolant of the battery cooling system 120. When the refrigerant exchanges heat with the coolant of the battery cooling system 120 and then returns to the suction port 111b of the compressor 111, the cycle is completed.
On the battery cooling system side, the coolant of the battery cooling system 120 flows from the outlet 122a of the battery cooling device 122 through the first port 123a of the second three-way valve 123 and the second port 123b of the second three-way valve 123 into the intermediate heat exchanger 116, thereby achieving heat exchange between the coolant and the refrigerant of the air conditioning system 110, thus further reducing the temperature of the coolant. Subsequently, the coolant that has undergone heat exchange returns to the inlet 122b of the battery cooling device 122, thereby cooling the battery cooling device 122, thus completing the cycle.
It should be noted that the first throttling element 117, the second throttling element 118, and the third throttling element 119 can all play a role in throttling expansion. However, two of them can also be made to be completely turned off, while the remaining one can regulate its opening to play a role in throttling expansion.
For example, the vehicle thermal management system 100 can also achieve a compartment heating and battery cooling mode. An illustrative example will be described below in conjunction with
With continued reference to
On the air conditioning system side, the refrigerant of the air conditioning system 110 first enters the compressor 111 to achieve gas-phase compression. Then, the refrigerant flows from the exhaust port 111a of the compressor 111 through the first port 112a of the first three-way valve 112 and the third port 112c of the first three-way valve 112 into the indoor heat exchanger 114 for condensation and heat dissipation, thereby providing heating for the compartment. The refrigerant then flows through the third throttling element 119 into the intermediate heat exchanger 116, where the refrigerant can enter the intermediate heat exchanger 116 after undergoing throttling expansion in the third throttling element 119, thereby achieving heat exchange between the refrigerant and the coolant of the battery cooling system 120. When the refrigerant exchanges heat with the coolant of the battery cooling system 120 and then returns to the suction port 111b of the compressor 111, the cycle is completed.
On the battery cooling system side, the coolant of the battery cooling system 120 flows from the outlet 122a of the battery cooling device 122 through the first port 123a of the second three-way valve 123 and the second port 123b of the second three-way valve 123 into the intermediate heat exchanger 116, thereby achieving heat exchange between the coolant and the refrigerant of the air conditioning system 110, thus further reducing the temperature of the coolant. Subsequently, the coolant that has undergone heat exchange returns to the inlet 122b of the battery cooling device 122, so as to cool the battery cooling device 122, thus completing the cycle.
For example, the vehicle thermal management system 100 can also achieve compartment cooling and battery natural cooling mode. An illustrative example will be described below in conjunction with
With continued reference to
On the air conditioning system side, the refrigerant of the air conditioning system 110 first enters the compressor 111 to achieve gas-phase compression. Then, the refrigerant flows from the exhaust port 111a of the compressor 111 through the first port 112a of the first three-way valve 112 and the second port 112b of the first three-way valve 112 into the first outdoor heat exchanger 113 for condensation and heat dissipation. The refrigerant then flows through the first throttling element 117 into the indoor heat exchanger 114, where the refrigerant can enter the indoor heat exchanger 114 for evaporation and heat absorption after undergoing throttling expansion in the first throttling element 117, thereby providing cooling for the compartment. When the refrigerant returns to the suction port 111b of the compressor 111 after passing through the regulating valve 115, the cycle is completed.
On the battery cooling system side, the coolant of the battery cooling system 120 flows from the outlet 122a of the battery cooling device 122 through the first port 123a of the second three-way valve 123 and the third port 123c of the second three-way valve 123, and enters the second outdoor heat exchanger 121, thereby exchanging heat between the coolant and the air through air cooling and other means, thus further reducing the temperature of the coolant. Subsequently, the coolant that has undergone heat exchange returns to the inlet 122b of the battery cooling device 122, thereby cooling the battery cooling device 122, thus completing the cycle.
Referring to
Specifically, the air conditioning system 210 is configured with a compressor 211, a first three-way valve 212, a first outdoor heat exchanger 213, an indoor heat exchanger 214, a regulating valve 215, an intermediate heat exchanger 216, a first throttling element 217 and a second throttling element 218 with a shut-off function, a first one-way valve 219A, and a second one-way valve 219B connected through pipelines. The first three-way valve 212 has a first port 212a for communicating with the exhaust port 211a of the compressor 211, a second port 212b for communicating with the first end of the first outdoor heat exchanger 213, and a third port 212c for communicating with the first end of the indoor heat exchanger 214. The second end of the first outdoor heat exchanger 213 is connected to the first end of the indoor heat exchanger 214 through the first throttling element 217, and at the same time, the second end of the first outdoor heat exchanger 213 is connected to the suction port 211b of the compressor 211 through the first one-way valve 219A, the second throttling element 218, and the intermediate heat exchanger 216. The second end of the indoor heat exchanger 214 is connected to the suction port 211b of the compressor 211 through the regulating valve 215, and at the same time, the second end of the indoor heat exchanger 214 is connected to the suction port 211b of the compressor 211 through the second one-way valve 219B, the second throttling element 218, and the intermediate heat exchanger 216.
The battery cooling system 220 is configured with a second outdoor heat exchanger 221, a battery cooling device 222, and a second three-way valve 223 connected through pipelines, wherein, the second three-way valve 223 has a first port 223a for communicating with the outlet 222a of the battery cooling device 222, a second port 223b for communicating with the intermediate heat exchanger 216, and a third port 223c for communicating with the first end of the second outdoor heat exchanger 221. The inlet 222b of the battery cooling device 222 and the second end of the second outdoor heat exchanger 221 are simultaneously connected to the intermediate heat exchanger 216.
The vehicle thermal management system 200 with such an arrangement achieves heat exchange between the refrigerant of the air conditioning system 210 and the coolant of the battery cooling system 220 through an intermediate heat exchanger 216, allowing the air conditioning system 210 to cool the vehicle battery while cooling and heating.
Various possible modifications of the vehicle thermal management system will be described below in conjunction with the appended drawings. In addition, for the purpose of further improving system energy efficiency or reliability, additional components can be added, as will also be exemplarily illustrated below. For example, the regulating valve 215 is a stepless regulating valve. For another example, the vehicle thermal management system 200 further comprises a controller (not shown) that communicates with the regulating valve 215, the first throttling element 217, the second throttling element 218, or any combination thereof. For yet another example, the battery cooling system 220 is configured with a pumping device 224 for providing power to the coolant.
The vehicle thermal management system 200 can achieve the compartment cooling and battery cooling mode. An illustrative example will be described below in conjunction with
With continued reference to
On the air conditioning system side, the refrigerant of the air conditioning system 210 first enters the compressor 211 to achieve gas-phase compression. Then, the first part of the refrigerant flows from the exhaust port 211a of the compressor 211 through the first port 212a of the first three-way valve 212 and the second port 212b of the first three-way valve 212 into the first outdoor heat exchanger 213 for condensation and heat dissipation. The refrigerant then flows through the first throttling element 217 into the indoor heat exchanger 214, where the refrigerant can enter the indoor heat exchanger 214 for evaporation and heat absorption after undergoing throttling expansion in the first throttling element 217, thereby providing cooling for the compartment. When the refrigerant returns to the suction port 211b of the compressor 211 after passing through the regulating valve 215, the cycle is completed.
Meanwhile, the second part of the refrigerant flows from the exhaust port 211a of the compressor 211 through the first port 212a of the first three-way valve 212 and the second port 212b of the first three-way valve 212 into the first outdoor heat exchanger 213 for condensation and heat dissipation. The refrigerant then flows through the first one-way valve 219A into the second throttling element 218, and can enter the intermediate heat exchanger 216 after undergoing throttling expansion in the second throttling element 218, thereby achieving heat exchange between the refrigerant and the coolant of the battery cooling system 220. When the refrigerant exchanges heat with the coolant of the battery cooling system 220 and then returns to the suction port 211b of the compressor 211, the cycle is completed.
On the battery cooling system side, the coolant of the battery cooling system 220 flows from the outlet 222a of the battery cooling device 222 through the first port 223a of the second three-way valve 223 and the second port 223b of the second three-way valve 223 into the intermediate heat exchanger 216, thereby exchanging heat with the refrigerant of the air conditioning system 210, thus further reducing the temperature of the coolant. Subsequently, the coolant that has undergone heat exchange returns to the inlet 222b of the battery cooling device 222, thereby cooling the battery cooling device 222, thus completing the cycle.
It should be noted that both the first throttling element 217 and the second throttling element 218 can play a role in throttling expansion. However, one of them can also be completely turned off, while the other can regulate its opening to play a role in throttling expansion.
For example, the vehicle thermal management system 200 can also achieve a compartment heating and battery cooling mode. An illustrative example will be described below in conjunction with
With continued reference to
On the air conditioning system side, the refrigerant of the air conditioning system 210 first enters the compressor 211 to achieve gas-phase compression. Then, the refrigerant flows from the exhaust port 211a of the compressor 211 through the first port 212a of the first three-way valve 212 and the third port 212c of the first three-way valve 212 into the indoor heat exchanger 214 for condensation and heat dissipation, thereby providing heating for the compartment. The refrigerant then flows through the second one-way valve 219B and the second throttling element 218 into the intermediate heat exchanger 216, where the refrigerant can enter the intermediate heat exchanger 216 after undergoing throttling expansion in the second throttling element 218, thereby achieving heat exchange between the refrigerant and the coolant of the battery cooling system 220. When the refrigerant exchanges heat with the coolant of the battery cooling system 220 and then returns to the suction port 211b of the compressor 211, the cycle is completed.
On the battery cooling system side, the coolant of the battery cooling system 220 flows from the outlet 222a of the battery cooling device 222 through the first port 223a of the second three-way valve 223 and the second port 223b of the second three-way valve 223 into the intermediate heat exchanger 216, thereby achieving heat exchange between the coolant and the refrigerant of the air conditioning system 210, thus further reducing the temperature of the coolant. Subsequently, the coolant that has undergone heat exchange returns to the inlet 222b of the battery cooling device 222, thereby cooling the battery cooling device 222, thus completing the cycle.
For still another example, the vehicle thermal management system 200 can also achieve a compartment cooling and battery natural cooling mode. An illustrative example will be described below in conjunction with
With continued reference to
On the air conditioning system side, the refrigerant of the air conditioning system 210 first enters the compressor 211 to achieve gas-phase compression. Then, the refrigerant flows from the exhaust port 211a of the compressor 211 through the first port 212a of the first three-way valve 212 and the second port 212b of the first three-way valve 212 into the first outdoor heat exchanger 213 for condensation and heat dissipation. The refrigerant then flows through the first throttling element 217 into the indoor heat exchanger 214, where the refrigerant can enter the indoor heat exchanger 214 for evaporation and heat absorption after undergoing throttling expansion in the first throttling element 217, thereby providing cooling for the compartment. When the refrigerant returns to the suction port 211b of the compressor 211 after passing through the regulating valve 215, the cycle is completed.
On the battery cooling system side, the coolant of the battery cooling system 220 flows from the outlet 222a of the battery cooling device 222 through the first port 223a of the second three-way valve 223 and the third port 223c of the second three-way valve 223 into the second outdoor heat exchanger 221, thereby achieving heat exchange between the coolant and air through air cooling and other means, thus further reducing the temperature of the coolant. Subsequently, the coolant that has undergone heat exchange returns to the inlet 222b of the battery cooling device 222, thereby cooling the battery cooling device 222, thus completing the cycle.
In addition, although not shown in the figures, an embodiment of a transportation refrigeration vehicle is also provided here. The transportation refrigeration vehicle can be a new energy electric vehicle or a hybrid electric vehicle, and comprises a vehicle thermal management system in any of the aforementioned embodiments or combinations thereof. Therefore, it also has the corresponding technical effects, which will not be repeated here.
In the depiction of the present invention, it should be appreciated that the terms “first” and “second” are only used for descriptive purposes and cannot be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implying the quantity of technical features indicated. Therefore, the features limited with “first” and “second” can explicitly or implicitly include at least one of these features. In the depiction of the present invention, “a plurality of” means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise specified.
In the present invention, unless otherwise specified and limited, the terms “connect”, “communicate” and other terms should be interpreted in a broad sense, which can be, for example, a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or integrally formed; or can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; or can be an internal connection of two components or the interaction relationship between two components, unless otherwise specified. For those skilled in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be interpreted based on specific circumstances.
The above examples mainly illustrate a vehicle thermal management system and a transportation refrigeration vehicle of the present invention. Although only some embodiments of the present invention have been described, those skilled in the art should be aware that the present invention can be implemented in many other forms without deviating from its main idea and scope. Therefore, the examples and embodiments illustrated are considered as illustrative rather than restrictive. Without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims, the present invention may encompass various modifications and substitutions.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023108770051 | Jul 2023 | CN | national |
