COOLING SYSTEM

• US 20120102995A1
• Filed: 04/08/2011
• Published: 05/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Inventors: SAKATA, Kazuki
• Granted Patent: US 10,315,519 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/238.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/003 to auxiliary motors, e.g. for pumps, compressors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/36 Temperature of vehicle components or parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/425 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/525 Temperature of converter or components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/545 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/003 relating to inverters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0061 relating to electrical machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/26 by cooling
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations

Abstract

The cooling system includes a heat exchanger, the circulating pump, a first refrigerant channel in which an electric device and the circulating pump are provided, a second refrigerant channel connected to the first refrigerant channel so as to form a circulation channel of the refrigerant, in which the heat exchanger is provided, a bypass channel connected to the first refrigerant channel in parallel to the second refrigerant channel, in which a charger is provided, and a valve provided at a position where the first refrigerant channel and the bypass channel are connected to each other, for forming a circulation channel of the refrigerant, the circulation channel including the first refrigerant channel and the second refrigerant channel, to restrict a flow of the refrigerant through the bypass channel when the electric device is in operation.

Claims

1. A cooling system provided to an electric system including a battery, a charger for charging the battery with electric power received from outside, and an electric device to be driven by the electric power of the battery, the cooling system comprising:

a heat exchanger;

a circulating pump;

a first refrigerant channel in which the electric device is provided;

a second refrigerant channel in which the heat exchanger is provided, the second refrigerant channel being connected to the first refrigerant channel so as to form a circulation channel of a refrigerant;

a bypass channel in which the charger is provided, the bypass channel being connected to the first refrigerant channel in parallel to the second refrigerant channel; and

a valve provided at a position where the first refrigerant channel and the bypass channel are connected to each other, for forming a circulation channel of the refrigerant, the circulation channel including the first refrigerant channel and the second refrigerant channel, to restrict a flow of the refrigerant through the bypass channel when the electric device is in operation.

2. A cooling system according to claim 1, wherein the circulating pump is provided in the first refrigerant channel.

3. A cooling system according to claim 1, wherein the circulating pump is provided in the second refrigerant channel.

4. A cooling system according to claim 1, wherein the circulating pump is provided in each of the first refrigerant channel and the bypass channel.

5. A cooling system according to claim 1, wherein the circulating pump is provided in each of the second refrigerant channel and the bypass channel.

6. A cooling system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a second bypass channel connected to the first refrigerant channel in parallel to a first bypass channel corresponding to the bypass channel and the electric device; and

a second valve provided at a position where the first refrigerant channel and the second bypass channel are connected to each other, for forming, in cooperation with a first valve corresponding to the valve, different circulation channels between at time of operation of the electric device and at time of operation of the charger.

7. A cooling system according to claim 1, wherein:

the valve forms a circulation channel of the refrigerant, the circulation channel including the first refrigerant channel and the second refrigerant channel, when the electric device is in operation;

the valve forms a circulation channel of the refrigerant, the circulation channel including the first refrigerant channel and the bypass channel, when the charger is in operation and a temperature of the refrigerant is less than a predetermined temperature; and

the valve forms a circulation channel of the refrigerant, the circulation channel including the second refrigerant channel and the bypass channel, and causes a part of the refrigerant from the first refrigerant channel to flow through the second refrigerant channel when the charger is in operation and the temperature of the refrigerant is equal to or higher than the predetermined temperature.

8. A cooling system according to claim 2, wherein:

the valve forms a circulation channel of the refrigerant, the circulation channel including the first refrigerant channel and the second refrigerant channel, when the electric device is in operation;

the valve forms a circulation channel of the refrigerant, the circulation channel including the first refrigerant channel and the bypass channel, when the charger is in operation and a temperature of the refrigerant is less than a predetermined temperature; and

the valve forms a circulation channel of the refrigerant, the circulation channel including the second refrigerant channel and the bypass channel, and causes a part of the refrigerant from the first refrigerant channel to flow through the second refrigerant channel when the charger is in operation and the temperature of the refrigerant is equal to or higher than the predetermined temperature.

9. A cooling system according to claim 3, wherein:

the valve forms a circulation channel of the refrigerant, the circulation channel including the first refrigerant channel and the second refrigerant channel, when the electric device is in operation;

the valve forms a circulation channel of the refrigerant, the circulation channel including the first refrigerant channel and the bypass channel, when the charger is in operation and a temperature of the refrigerant is less than a predetermined temperature; and

the valve forms a circulation channel of the refrigerant, the circulation channel including the second refrigerant channel and the bypass channel, and causes a part of the refrigerant from the first refrigerant channel to flow through the second refrigerant channel when the charger is in operation and the temperature of the refrigerant is equal to or higher than the predetermined temperature.

10. A cooling system according to claim 4, wherein:

the valve forms a circulation channel of the refrigerant, the circulation channel including the first refrigerant channel and the second refrigerant channel, when the electric device is in operation;

the valve forms a circulation channel of the refrigerant, the circulation channel including the first refrigerant channel and the bypass channel, when the charger is in operation and a temperature of the refrigerant is less than a predetermined temperature; and

the valve forms a circulation channel of the refrigerant, the circulation channel including the second refrigerant channel and the bypass channel, and causes a part of the refrigerant from the first refrigerant channel to flow through the second refrigerant channel when the charger is in operation and the temperature of the refrigerant is equal to or higher than the predetermined temperature.

11. A cooling system according to claim 5, wherein:

the valve forms a circulation channel of the refrigerant, the circulation channel including the first refrigerant channel and the second refrigerant channel, when the electric device is in operation;

the valve forms a circulation channel of the refrigerant, the circulation channel including the first refrigerant channel and the bypass channel, when the charger is in operation and a temperature of the refrigerant is less than a predetermined temperature; and

the valve forms a circulation channel of the refrigerant, the circulation channel including the second refrigerant channel and the bypass channel, and causes a part of the refrigerant from the first refrigerant channel to flow through the second refrigerant channel when the charger is in operation and the temperature of the refrigerant is equal to or higher than the predetermined temperature.

12. A cooling system according to claim 6, wherein:

the valve forms a circulation channel of the refrigerant, the circulation channel including the first refrigerant channel and the second refrigerant channel, when the electric device is in operation;

the valve forms a circulation channel of the refrigerant, the circulation channel including the first refrigerant channel and the bypass channel, when the charger is in operation and a temperature of the refrigerant is less than a predetermined temperature; and

the valve forms a circulation channel of the refrigerant, the circulation channel including the second refrigerant channel and the bypass channel, and causes a part of the refrigerant from the first refrigerant channel to flow through the second refrigerant channel when the charger is in operation and the temperature of the refrigerant is equal to or higher than the predetermined temperature.

13. A cooling system according to claim 1, wherein a refrigerant heater for heating the refrigerant and a heating apparatus using the refrigerant flowing from the refrigerant heater as a heat source are provided in the first refrigerant channel.