Thermal management system

• US 10,232,702 B2
• Filed: 04/24/2013
• Issued: 03/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Nishikawa, Michio, Kakehashi, Nobuharu, Enomoto, Norihiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Jules, Frantz
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nieves, Nelson
• Application Number:
  US14/402,300
• Publication Number:
  US 20150129161A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,155 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00885 Controlling the flow of heating or cooling liquid, e.g. valves or pumps B60H1/00899 takes precedence; constructions of valves B60H1/00485
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/00307 Component temperature regulation using a liquid flow
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 11/02 with liquid cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 11/04 Arrangement or mounting of radiators, radiator shutters, or radiator blinds B60K11/085 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2005/105 Using two or more pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2060/02 Intercooler
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2060/08 Cabin heater
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2060/12 Turbo charger
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2060/14 Condenser
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 7/14 the coolant being liquid
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 7/165 characterised by systems with two or more loops

Abstract

A heat medium discharge side of a first pump and a heat medium discharge side of a second pump are connected to a first switching valve in parallel. Heat medium inlet sides of the respective target devices for heat exchange included in a first target device group for heat exchange are connected to a first switching valve in parallel. The heat medium inlet side of the first pump and the heat medium inlet side of the second pump are connected to a second switching valve in parallel. The heat medium outlet sides of the respective target devices for heat exchange included in the first target device group for heat exchange are connected to the second switching valve in parallel. Furthermore, switching is performed between a state of circulation of the heat medium between the first pump and the target device, and a state of circulation of the heat medium between the second pump and the target device.

Claims

1. A thermal management system for a vehicle, comprising:

a first pump that is connected to an internal combustion engine by a flow path, the first pump drawing and discharging a heat medium adapted to cool the internal combustion engine;

a second pump drawing and discharging the heat medium;

a heat exchanger exchanging heat between outside air and the heat medium discharged from the second pump;

a first target device group for heat exchange including a plurality of first target devices for heat exchange that exchange heat with the heat medium;

a first switching valve connected to a heat medium discharge side of the first pump and a heat medium discharge side of the second pump in parallel, and connected to respective heat medium inlet sides of the target devices for heat exchange included in the first target device group for heat exchange in parallel, the first switching valve switching between (i) a state in which the heat medium, after passing through the first pump and the internal combustion engine, flows into the first target devices for heat exchange included in the first target device group for heat exchange, and (ii) a state in which the heat medium discharged from the second pump flows into the first target devices for heat exchange included in the first target device group for heat exchange;

a second switching valve connected to a heat medium suction side of the first pump and a heat medium suction side of the second pump in parallel, and connected to respective heat medium outlet sides of the first target devices for heat exchange included in the first target device group for heat exchange in parallel, the second switching valve switching between (i) a state in which the heat medium from the first target devices for heat exchange included in the first target device group for heat exchange flows into the first pump, and (ii) a state in which the heat medium from the first target devices for heat exchange included in the first target device group for heat exchange flows into to the second pump;

a third pump drawing and discharging the heat medium;

a second target device group for heat exchange including a plurality of second target devices for heat exchange that exchange heat with the heat medium;

a third switching valve connected to a heat medium discharge side of the second pump and a heat medium discharge side of the third pump in parallel, and connected to respective heat medium inlet sides of the second target devices for heat exchange included in the second target device group for heat exchange in parallel, the third switching valve switching between (i) a state in which the heat medium discharged from the second pump flows into the second target devices for heat exchange included in the second target device group for heat exchange, and (ii) a state in which the heat medium discharged from the third pump flows into the second target devices for heat exchange included in the second target device group for heat exchange, and

a fourth switching valve connected to a heat medium suction side of the second pump and a heat medium suction side of the third pump in parallel, and connected to respective heat medium outlet sides of the second target devices for heat exchange included in the second target device group for heat exchange in parallel, the fourth switching valve switching between (i) a state in which the thermal medium from the second target devices for heat exchange included in the second target device group for heat exchange flows to the second pump, and (ii) a state in which the thermal medium from the second target devices for heat exchange included in the second target device group for heat exchange flows to the third pump, wherein

the first switching valve and the second switching valve are cooperatively operated to switch between (i) a state in which the heat medium circulates between the first pump and the first target devices for heat exchange included in the first target device group for heat exchange, and (ii) a state in which the heat medium circulates between the second pump and the first target devices for heat exchange included in the first target device group for heat exchange, and

the third switching valve and the fourth switching valve are cooperatively operated to switch between (i) a state in which the heat medium circulates between the second pump and the second target devices for heat exchange included in the second target device group for heat exchange, and (ii) a state in which the heat medium circulates between the third pump and the second target devices for heat exchange included in the second target device group for heat exchange.

2. The thermal management system for a vehicle, according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first flow path group including a plurality of flow paths connected to between the heat medium outlet side of the first switching valve and the heat medium inlet side of the second switching valve, wherein

the first target devices for heat exchange included in the first target device group for heat exchange are disposed in the flow path included in the first flow path group, and

the first switching valve and the second switching valve are cooperatively operated to form a heat medium circuit that allows the heat medium to circulate through among the second pump, the heat exchanger, and at least one of the flow paths included in the first flow path group.

3. The thermal management system for a vehicle, according to claim 1, wherein

the first target device group for heat exchange includes at least two of the first target devices for heat exchange including a heater core that heats air to be blown into a vehicle interior by exchanging heat between the heat medium and the air, an intake air cooler that cools an intake air of the internal combustion engine by exchanging heat between the heat medium and the intake air, and a supercharger that supercharges the intake air by using exhaust air from the internal combustion engine.

4. The thermal management system for a vehicle, according to claim 1, further comprising:

a second flow path group including a plurality of flow paths connected to between the heat medium outlet side of the third switching valve and the heat medium inlet side of the fourth switching valve, wherein the second target devices for heat exchange included in the second target device group for heat exchange are disposed in the flow path included in the second flow path group, and

the first switching valve, the second switching valve, the third switching valve, and the fourth switching valve are cooperatively operated to form a heat medium circuit that allows the heat medium to circulate through between the second pump, the heat exchanger, at least one of the flow paths included in the first flow path group, and at least one of the flow paths included in the second flow path group.

5. The thermal management system for a vehicle, according to claim 1, wherein

the third switching valve and the fourth switching valve are cooperatively operated to form a heat medium circuit that allows the heat medium to circulate through between the third pump, and at least one of the flow paths included in the second flow path group.

6. The thermal management system for a vehicle, according to claim 1, wherein

the first target device group for heat exchange includes at least two of the first target devices for heat exchange which includes a heater core that heats air to be blown into a vehicle interior by exchanging heat between the heat medium and the air, an intake air cooler that cools an intake air by exchanging heat between the heat medium and the intake air of the internal combustion engine, a supercharger that supercharges the intake air by using exhaust air from the internal combustion engine, and a heat accumulator that stores hot heat held in the heat medium.

7. The thermal management system for a vehicle, according to claim 1, wherein

the first target device group for heat exchange includes an exhaust gas cooler that cools exhaust gas of the internal combustion engine by exchanging heat between the heat medium and the exhaust gas.

8. The thermal management system for a vehicle, according to claim 3, wherein

the at least two of the first target devices for heat exchange are arranged such that the heat medium flows in parallel or in series between the first switching valve and the second switching valve.

9. The thermal management system for a vehicle, according to claim 8, further comprising

a serial-parallel switching device that switches the at least two of the first target devices for heat exchange between a state of the heat medium flowing in parallel and a state of the heat medium flowing in series.

10. The thermal management system for a vehicle, according to claim 9, wherein the at least two of the first target devices for heat exchange are the heater core and the intake air cooler.

11. The thermal management system for a vehicle, according to claim 10, wherein the heat medium having flowed from the heater core flows into the intake air cooler, when the serial-parallel switching device is operated to allow the heat medium to flow in series through the heater core and the intake air cooler.

12. The thermal management system for a vehicle, according to claim 11, further comprising

a heat exchanger for the internal combustion engine, that exchanges heat between outside air and the heat medium circulating through the internal combustion engine, wherein

the heat exchanger for the internal combustion engine is connected to the first target devices for heat exchange included in the first target device group for heat exchange in parallel, with respect to a flow of the heat medium.

13. The thermal management system for a vehicle, according to claim 3, further comprising:

a cooling heat exchanger that cools the air by exchanging heat between a low-pressure refrigerant of a refrigeration cycle and the air flowing into the heater core; and

a temperature adjustment device disposed on a downstream side of an air flow with respect to the cooling heat exchanger and on an upstream side of the air flow with respect to the heater core, the temperature adjustment device being adapted to adjust a temperature of the air by changing a ratio of a volume of the air flowing into the heater core to a volume of the air bypassing the heater core.

14. The thermal management system for a vehicle, according to claim 13, wherein

the refrigeration cycle has a function of cooling the air by the cooling heat exchanger even when the compressor is stopped.

15. The thermal management system for a vehicle, according to claim 14, wherein

the cooling heat exchanger is configured to store cold heat therein.

16. The thermal management system for a vehicle, according to claim 1, further comprising:

a heat exchanger for the internal combustion engine, that exchanges heat between outside air and the heat medium circulating through the internal combustion engine;

a bypass flow path that allows the heat medium circulating through the internal combustion engine to flow while bypassing the heat exchanger for the internal combustion engine; and

a first flow path switching device switching a state of allowing the heat medium circulating through the internal combustion engine to flow through the heat exchanger for the internal combustion engine, and another state of allowing the heat medium to flow through the bypass flow path.

17. The thermal management system for a vehicle, according to claim 16, further comprising:

a second flow path switching device switching between a state of allowing the heat medium discharged from the second pump to flow through the heat exchanger for the internal combustion engine, and another state of allowing the heat medium not to flow through the heat exchanger for the internal combustion engine, wherein

when a temperature of the heat medium circulating through the internal combustion engine, detected by a temperature sensor, is lower than a predetermined temperature, the first flow path switching device is operated such that the heat medium circulating through the internal combustion engine flows through the bypass flow path, and the second flow path switching device is operated such that the heat medium discharged from the second pump flows through the heat exchanger for the internal combustion engine.

18. The thermal management system for a vehicle, according to claim 17, wherein

the heat exchanger for the internal combustion engine is disposed on a downstream side of outside air flow with respect to the heat exchanger, and

when the heat medium discharged from the second pump flows through the heat exchanger for the internal combustion engine, the heat medium having flowed from the heat exchanger for the internal combustion engine flows into the heat exchanger.

19. The thermal management system for a vehicle, according to claim 17, wherein

the second flow switching device is operated to allow the heat medium discharged from the second pump to flow to the heat exchanger for the internal combustion engine when the temperature of the heat medium circulating through the internal combustion engine is lower than the predetermined temperature, and to allow the heat medium circulating through the internal combustion engine to flow to the heat exchanger for the internal combustion engine when the temperature of the heat medium circulating through the internal combustion engine is higher than the predetermined temperature.

20. The thermal management system for a vehicle, according to claim 1, wherein

the first target device group for heat exchange includes a heat exchanger for heat medium heating that heats the heat medium by exchanging heat between the heat medium and the high-pressure refrigerant of the refrigeration cycle.

21. The thermal management system for a vehicle, according to claim 1, wherein

the first target device group for heat exchange includes a heat accumulator storing hot heat held in the heat medium, and a heat exchanger for heat medium heating that heats the heat medium by exchanging heat between the heat medium and the high-pressure refrigerant of the refrigeration cycle to heat the heat medium, and

the heat accumulator and the heat exchanger for heat medium heating are arranged such that the heat medium flows in series between the first switching valve and the second switching valve.

22. The thermal management system for a vehicle, according to claim 1, further comprising

a heat exchanger for the internal combustion engine that exchanges heat between outside air and the heat medium circulating through the internal combustion engine, wherein

the first target device group for heat exchange includes a heat accumulator storing hot heat held in the heat medium, and a heat exchanger for heat medium heating that heats the heat medium by exchanging heat between the heat medium and the high-pressure refrigerant of the refrigeration cycle, and

when the heat exchanger for heat medium heating needs to dissipate heat, the first switching valve and the second switching valve are cooperatively operated such that the heat medium circulates between the heat exchanger for heat medium heating, and one of the heat accumulator, the heat exchanger, and the heat exchanger for the internal combustion engine, which has the lowest temperature.

23. The thermal management system for a vehicle, according to claim 1, wherein

the first target device group for heat exchange includes a lubricant oil heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the heat medium and the lubricant oil used in the internal combustion engine, and an automatic-transmission-oil heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the heat medium and automatic transmission oil used in an automatic transmission.

24. The thermal management system for a vehicle, according to claim 1, wherein

the second target device group for heat exchange includes at least one of the second target devices for heat exchange including a heat medium cooler cooling the heat medium, an electric device dissipating heat generated by the electric device itself into a coolant, and a cold storage device storing cold heat held in the heat medium.

25. The thermal management system for a vehicle, according to claim 24, wherein

the second target device group for heat exchange includes an intake air cooler cooling the intake air by exchanging heat between the heat medium and the intake air of the internal combustion engine.

26. The thermal management system for a vehicle, according to claim 24, wherein

the second target device group for heat exchange includes a heat exchanger for air cooling that cools the air to be blown into the vehicle interior by exchanging heat between the heat medium and the air.

27. The thermal management system for a vehicle, according to claim 24, wherein

the heat medium cooler is a heat exchanger for heat medium cooling that cools the heat medium by exchanging heat between the heat medium and a low-pressure refrigerant of a refrigeration cycle.

28. The thermal management system for a vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising

a heat exchanger for the internal combustion engine, that exchanges heat between outside air and the heat medium circulating through the internal combustion engine, wherein

the first target device group for heat exchange includes a heat accumulator for storing hot heat held in the heat medium, and a heat exchanger for heat medium heating that heats the heat medium by exchanging heat between the heat medium and the high-pressure refrigerant of the refrigeration cycle, and

when the heat exchanger for heat medium heating needs to dissipate heat, the first switching valve, the second switching valve, the third switching valve, and the fourth switching valve are cooperatively operated such that the heat medium circulates between the heat exchanger for the heat medium and one of the heat accumulator, the heat exchanger, and the heat exchanger for the internal combustion engine which has the lowest temperature.

29. The thermal management system for a vehicle, according to claim 24, wherein

the second target device group for heat exchange includes the heat medium cooler and the cold storage device, and

the cold heat of the heat medium is stored in the cold storage device by cooperatively operating the third switching valve and the fourth switching valve so as to allow the heat medium to circulate through between the heat medium cooler and the cold storage device.

30. The thermal management system for a vehicle, according to claim 29, wherein

the first target device group for heat exchange includes a heat exchanger for heat medium heating that heats the heat medium by exchanging heat between the heat medium and the high-pressure refrigerant of the refrigeration cycle, and

the high-pressure refrigerant is cooled using cold heat stored in the cold storage device by cooperatively operating the first switching valve, the second switching valve, the third switching valve, and the fourth switching valve so as to allow the heat medium to circulate through between the heat exchanger for heat medium heating and the cold storage device.

31. The thermal management system for a vehicle, according to claim 29, wherein

the second target device group for heat exchange includes a heat exchanger for air cooling that exchanges heat between the heat medium and air to be blown into the vehicle interior to thereby cool the air, and

the air is cooled using cold heat stored in the cold storage device by cooperatively operating the third switching valve and the fourth switching valve so as to allow the heat medium to circulate through between the heat exchanger for air cooling and the cold storage device.

32. The thermal management system for a vehicle, according to claim 29, wherein

the second target device group for heat exchange includes an intake air cooler that cools intake air of the internal combustion engine by exchanging heat between the heat medium and the intake air, and

the intake air is cooled using cold heat stored in the cold storage device by cooperatively operating the third switching valve and the fourth switching valve so as to allow the heat medium to circulate through between the intake air cooler and the cold storage device.

33. The thermal management system for a vehicle, according to claim 4, wherein

the second flow path group includes a flow path without any second target devices for heat exchange included in the second target device group for heat exchange.