VEHICLE THERMAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

• US 20140374081A1
• Filed: 01/30/2013
• Published: 12/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Kakehashi, Nobuharu, Yamanaka, Takashi, Takeuchi, Masayuki
• Granted Patent: US 9,643,469 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 165/202
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00278 for the battery arrangement of batteries B60R16/04
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/04 from cooling liquid of the plant B60H1/025, B60H1/03 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/143 the heat being derived from cooling an electric component, e.g. electric motors, electric circuits, fuel cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/32 Cooling devices B60H1/00478, B60H1/005 take precedence; vehicles adapted to transport refrigerated goods B60P3/20
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 11/02 with liquid cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/003 with means for cooling the electrical propulsion units
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/005 the electric storage means
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/625 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6561 Gases
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

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 with each other. Respective heat medium inlet sides of a plurality of temperature adjustment devices are connected to the first switching valve in parallel with each other. Respective heat medium outlet sides of the temperature adjustment devices are connected to a second switching valve in parallel with each other. A heat medium suction side of the first pump and a heat medium suction side of the second pump are connected to the second switching valve in parallel with each other. Each of the temperature adjustment devices is switched between a state in which the heat medium circulates between the device and the first pump, and another state in which the heat medium circulates between the device and the second pump.

Claims

1. A vehicle thermal management system comprising:

a first pump and a second pump drawing and discharging a heat medium;

a heat medium heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the heat medium and outside air;

a plurality of temperature adjustment devices with temperatures adjusted by the heat medium, each of the temperature adjustment devices having a flow path that allows the heat medium to flow therethrough;

a first switching valve that switches an inflow state of the heat medium flowing into each of the temperature adjustment devices between one state in which the heat medium discharged from the first pump flows to the temperature adjustment devices, and another state in which the heat medium discharged from the second pump flows to the temperature adjustment devices, wherein a heat medium discharge side of the first pump and a heat medium discharge side of the second pump are connected in parallel with each other, and respective heat medium inlet sides of the temperature adjustment devices are connected in parallel with each other;

a second switching valve that switches an outflow state of the heat medium from each of the temperature adjustment devices between one state in which the heat medium flowing out of the temperature adjustment devices flows to the first pump, and another state in which the heat medium flowing out of the temperature adjustment devices flows to the second pump, wherein a heat medium suction side of the first pump and a heat medium suction side of the second pump are connected in parallel with each other, and respective heat medium outlet sides of the temperature adjustment devices are connected in parallel with each other; and

a controller that controls operations of the first switching valve and the second switching valve to switch between (i) one circulation state of the heat medium circulating between the first pump and the temperature adjustment devices, and (ii) another circulation state of the heat medium circulating between the second pump and the temperature adjustment devices.

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

a detector that detects a temperature in connection with a temperature of the heat medium after being heat-exchanged at the heat medium heat exchanger,

wherein the controller controls the operations of the first switching valve and the second switching valve according to the temperature detected by the detector.

3. The vehicle thermal management system according to claim 2, further comprising

a cooler that cools the heat medium discharged from the second pump to a temperature lower than an outside air temperature, wherein

the heat medium heat exchanger exchanges heat between outside air and the heat medium discharged from the first pump, and

the controller controls the operations of the first switching valve and the second switching valve such that when the temperature detected by the detector is lower than a predetermined temperature, the heat medium circulates between the first pump and all of the temperature adjustment devices, and such that when the temperature detected by the detector is higher than the predetermined temperature, the number of the temperature adjustment devices through which the heat medium circulates with respect to the second pump is increased as the temperature detected by the detector increases.

4. The vehicle thermal management system according to claim 3, wherein

the temperature adjustment devices have different required cooling temperatures, and

the controller controls the first switching valve and the second switching valve such that when the temperature detected by the detector is higher than a predetermined temperature, the heat medium circulates between the second pump and the temperature adjustment devices in order of increasing the required cooling temperature from a lowest one as the temperature detected by the detector increases.

5. The vehicle thermal management system according to claim 2, further comprising

a low-pressure side heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the heat medium and a low-pressure refrigerant of the refrigeration cycle, wherein

a heat medium inlet side of the low-pressure side heat exchanger is connected to the first switching valve,

a heat medium outlet side of the low-pressure side heat exchanger is connected to the second switching valve,

the first switching valve switches between an inflow state of the heat medium discharged from the first pump into the low-pressure side heat exchanger, and another inflow state of the heat medium discharged from the second pump into the low-pressure side heat exchanger,

the second switching valve switches between an outflow state of the heat medium flowing out of the low-pressure side heat exchanger into the first pump, and another outflow state of the heat medium flowing out of the low-pressure side heat exchanger into the second pump,

one device among the temperature adjustment devices is a high-pressure side heat exchanger exchanging heat between the heat medium and a high-pressure refrigerant of the refrigeration cycle,

the heat medium heat exchanger is adapted to exchange heat between outside air and the heat medium discharged from the first pump, and

the controller controls the first switching valve and the second switching valve, such that the heat medium circulates between the low-pressure side heat exchanger and the first pump, and the heat medium circulates between the high-pressure side heat exchanger and the second pump, when the temperature detected by the detector is lower than a predetermined temperature.

6. The vehicle thermal management system according to claim 5, further comprising

a heating heat exchanger that heats air to be blown into an interior of the vehicle by using the heat medium after being heat-exchanged at the high-pressure side heat exchanger.

7. The vehicle thermal management system according to claim 5, being applied to a vehicle capable of charging a battery with an electric power supplied from an external power source, the vehicle thermal management system further comprising:

a supercooler that cools the refrigerant after being heat-exchanged at the high-pressure side heat exchanger, by using the heat medium; and

an opening/closing valve opening or closing a refrigerant flow path in which the refrigerant flowing into the low-pressure side heat exchanger flows, wherein

one device among the temperature adjustment devices is a battery cooler that cools the battery by using the heat medium,

the supercooler is provided such that the heat medium after flowing through the low-pressure side heat exchanger and the battery cooler flows to the supercooler, and

the controller opens the opening/closing valve when the battery is being charged with the electric power supplied from the external power source, and closes the opening/closing valve after the battery is charged with the electric power supplied from the external power source.

8. The vehicle thermal management system according to claim 7, wherein

a heat medium inlet side of the supercooler is connected to the first switching valve, and

a heat medium outlet side of the supercooler is connected to a heat medium inlet side of the battery cooler.

9. The vehicle thermal management system according to claim 1, further comprising

a cooler that cools the heat medium discharged from the second pump to a temperature lower than an outside air temperature, wherein

the heat medium heat exchanger is adapted to exchange heat between outside air and the heat medium discharged from the first pump,

two of the temperature adjustment devices are a battery cooler that cools a battery by using the heat medium, and an inverter cooler that cools an inverter with a smaller heat capacity than that of the battery, by using the heat medium, and

the controller controls the first switching valve and the second switching valve such that when a temperature of the inverter is higher than a predetermined temperature, the heat medium circulates between the inverter cooler as the temperature adjustment device and the second pump, and the heat medium circulates between the battery cooler as the temperature adjustment device and the first pump.

10. The vehicle thermal management system according to claim 1, further comprising

a heating heat exchanger that heats air to be blown into a vehicle interior by using the heat medium, wherein

a heat medium inlet side of the heating heat exchanger is connected to the first switching valve,

a heat medium outlet side of the heating heat exchanger is connected to the second switching valve,

the first switching valve switches an inflow state of the heat medium to the heating heat exchanger between a state in which the heat medium discharged from the first pump flows into the heating heat exchanger and another state in which the heat medium discharged from the second pump flows into the heating heat exchanger,

the second switching valve switches an outflow state of the heat medium from the heating heat exchanger between a state in which the heat medium from the heating heat exchanger flows into the first pump and another state in which the heat medium from the heating heat exchanger flows into the second pump,

one of the temperature adjustment devices is a battery cooler that cools a battery by using the heat medium,

the heat medium heat exchanger is adapted to exchange heat between outside air and the heat medium discharged from the first pump, and

the controller controls the first switching valve and the second switching valve such that when the temperature detected by the detector is lower than a predetermined temperature, the heat medium circulates between the second pump and each of the battery cooler and the heating heat exchanger.

11. The vehicle thermal management system according to claim 1, wherein

the first switching valve is adapted to switch a flow of the heat medium among (i) two inlets individually connected one by one to a heat medium discharge side of the first pump and a heat medium discharge side of the second pump, respectively, and (ii) a plurality of outlets individually connected one by one to respective heat medium inlet sides of the temperature adjustment devices, and

the second switching valve is adapted to switch the flow of the heat medium among (i) a plurality of inlets individually connected one by one to respective heat medium outlet sides of the temperature adjustment devices, and (ii) two outlets individually connected one by one to a heat medium discharge side of the first pump and a heat medium discharge side of the second pump, respectively.

12. The vehicle thermal management system according to claim 1, further comprising

a third pump disposed in a circulation flow path through which the heat medium circulates without passing through the first switching valve and the second switching valve, the third pump being adapted to suck and discharge the heat medium, wherein

at least one temperature adjustment device among the temperature adjustment devices allows both the heat media to flow therethrough, the both heat media including (i) the heat medium flowing through a non-circulation flow path from the first switching valve to the second switching valve via the at least one temperature adjustment device, and (ii) the heat medium flowing through the circulation flow path, and

the first switching valve and the second switching valve is capable of switching between a non-circulation mode that allows the heat medium flowing through the non-circulation flow path to flow through the at least one temperature adjustment device, and a circulation mode that allows the heat medium circulating through the circulation flow path to flow through the at least one temperature adjustment device.

13. The vehicle thermal management system according to claim 12, wherein the first switching valve and the second switching valve are operated to switch between the circulation mode and the non-circulation mode by switching a flow of the heat medium with respect to the non-circulation flow path.

14. The vehicle thermal management system according to claim 12, further comprising a circulation switching valve for switching between opening and closing of each of the non-circulation flow path and the circulation flow path.

15. The vehicle thermal management system according to claim 12, wherein the circulation mode or the non-circulation mode is switched based on an inflow heat medium temperature which is a temperature of the heat medium flowing into the at least one temperature adjustment device.

16. The vehicle thermal management system according to claim 15, wherein in a cooling operation of the at least one temperature adjustment device, the circulation mode is switched when the inflow heat medium temperature is equal to or lower than a first cooling determination temperature, and the non-circulation mode is switched when the inflow heat medium temperature is equal to or higher than a second cooling determination temperature which is higher than the first cooling determination temperature.

17. The vehicle thermal management system according to claim 15, wherein in a heating operation of the at least one temperature adjustment device, the circulation mode is switched when the inflow heat medium temperature is equal to or higher than a first heating determination temperature, and the non-circulation mode is switched when the inflow heat medium temperature is equal to or lower than a second heating determination temperature which is lower than the first heating determination temperature.

18. The vehicle thermal management system according to claim 16, wherein

the at least one temperature adjustment device is a battery cooler that cools a battery by using the heat medium, and

the first cooling determination temperature is a temperature determined based on a lower limit temperature in a range of usable temperatures of the battery.

19. The vehicle thermal management system according to claim 16, wherein

the at least one temperature adjustment device is an air cooler that cools air to be blown into an interior of a vehicle by using the heat medium, and

the first cooling determination temperature is a temperature determined based on a lower limit temperature in a range of temperatures that do not cause frost formation on the air cooler.

20. The vehicle thermal management system according to claim 17, wherein

the at least one temperature adjustment device is a device that heats a battery by using the heat medium, and

the first heating determination temperature is a temperature determined based on an upper limit temperature in a range of usable temperatures of the battery.

21. The vehicle thermal management system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one temperature adjustment device is a heat-pipe heat exchanger which includes a first gas-liquid phase changing portion that condenses or evaporates a working fluid by exchanging heat between the heat medium and the working fluid, and a second gas-liquid phase changing portion that evaporates or condenses the working fluid by absorbing or dissipating heat in or from the working fluid.

22. The vehicle thermal management system according to claim 21, wherein the controller controls an operation of at least one of the first switching valve, the second switching valve, the first pump, and the second pump, to adjust a flow rate of the heat medium flowing into the at least one temperature adjustment device.

23. The vehicle thermal management system according to claim 21, wherein the at least one temperature adjustment device is a battery cooler that cools and condenses the working fluid having absorbed heat from the battery.

24. The vehicle thermal management system according to claim 21, wherein the at least one temperature adjustment device is an air cooler that cools and condenses the working fluid having absorbed heat from air blown into the vehicle interior.