A temperature adjustment circuit for a vehicle includes a first temperature adjustment circuit for vehicle interior air conditioning or heating, a second temperature adjustment circuit that is configured to transfer heat with a battery, a connection path that is configured to connect the first temperature adjustment circuit and the second temperature adjustment circuit to form a connection circuit, and a first valve and a second valve that are configured to switch between an independent state where the first temperature adjustment circuit and the second temperature adjustment circuit are independent and a connection state where the connection circuit is formed.

Certain disclosed embodiments pertain to controlling temperature in a passenger compartment of a vehicle. For example, a temperature control system (TCS) can include an air channel configured to deliver airflow to the passenger compartment of the vehicle. The TCS can include a one thermal energy source and a heat transfer device connected to the air channel. A first fluid circuit can circulate coolant to the thermal energy source and a thermoelectric device (TED). A second fluid circuit can circulate coolant to the TED and the heat transfer device. A bypass circuit can connect the thermal energy source to the heat transfer device. An actuator can cause coolant to circulate selectively in either the bypass circuit or the first fluid circuit and the second fluid circuit. A control device can operate the actuator when it is determined that the thermal energy source is ready to provide heat to the airflow.

A vehicle air-conditioning device is provided which is capable of eliminating or suppressing vibration and noise generated due to the application of a counterpressure to an opening/closing valve. The vehicle air-conditioning device includes a refrigerant circuit R having a compressor 2, a radiator 4 to perform heat exchange between a refrigerant and air, an outdoor heat exchanger 7, a heat absorber 9, and a solenoid valve 40. The compressor 2 and the solenoid valve 40 are controlled to air-condition a vehicle interior. A decompression speed at a refrigerant inflow side of the solenoid valve when the compressor 2 is stopped and the solenoid valve 40 is closed is faster than that at a refrigerant outflow side thereof. When operation is stopped from a state in which the compressor 2 is operating with the solenoid valve 40 being in an opened state, the opened state of the solenoid valve 40 is maintained even after the compressor 2 is stopped.

A heat management system which includes: a refrigerant circulation line which includes a compressor, a water cooling-type condenser, a first expansion valve, an air cooling-type condenser, a second expansion valve, and an evaporator, and cools the indoor space by circulating a refrigerant; a heating line which heats the indoor space by circulating cooling water which exchanges heat with the refrigerant through the water cooling-type condenser; a first cooling line which cools a battery by circulating cooling water which exchanges heat with air or the refrigerant; and a second cooling line which cools electric components including a driving motor, by circulating cooling water which exchanges heat with air or the refrigerant. The heat management system enables efficient heat management of electric components and a battery in a vehicle as well as cooling and heating of the vehicle.

An electric vehicle has a thermal management system that comprises a common radiator, a brake resistor loop, and an electric power source loop. The brake resistor loop comprises a brake resistor and a brake resistor controller that are coupled to the common radiator. The electric power source loop comprises an electric power source coupled to the common radiator. When the brake resistor loop is determined to be in operation, the common radiator is utilized by the brake resistor loop to absorb heat generated by the brake resistor loop. When the brake resistor loop is determined to not be in operation, the common radiator is utilized by the electric power source to absorb heat generated by the electric power source loop.

The control apparatus includes a heater configured to generate heat to heat the internal combustion engine, a controller configured to control a heat exchange system in such a way as to transfer EV exhaust heat to the internal combustion engine, and an controller configured to let electrical power be supplied from a battery to the heater before the internal combustion engine is started if it is predicted that a specific warmed-up condition of the internal combustion engine will not be established before the start of the internal combustion engine and not to let electrical power be supplied from a battery to the heating if it is predicted that a specific warmed-up condition of the internal combustion engine will be established before the start of the internal combustion engine.

A heating device for a vehicle is described. The heating device includes a heater core and a housing assembly. The housing assembly includes a housing configured with a protruded portion, a first terminal, and a second terminal. The first terminal is configured on the protruded portion of the housing and adapted to be connected with a first bus bar. The second terminal is configured on a first end of the housing and adapted to be connected with a second bus bar. The first bus bar and the second bus bar are connected to the heater core to provide an electrical connectivity to the heater core. The first terminal and the second terminal are laterally offset to each other, and are at least partially on opposite sides of a reference line coinciding with an edge of a printed circuit board received in the housing.

A heat pump system for a vehicle utilizes one chiller in which a coolant and a refrigerant are heat-exchanged to adjust a temperature of a battery module, and utilizes a sub-centralized energy module with waste heat of an electrical component in a heating mode of the vehicle to improve heating efficiency.

An ultra low cost electric vehicle heating apparatus, components thereof, and related method are herein described. A driver circuit operates a switching device at an intermediate state between fully-turned-off and fully-turned-on, in a high power dissipation heating mode, to efficiently produce heat energy for heating a passenger compartment, or energy storage system, of an electric vehicle. The driver circuit operates the switching device to have a fully-turned-off state and a fully-turned-on state in a main function mode for a traction inverter or an energy storage system charger of the electric vehicle. The driver circuit is operable to cycle the heating mode and the main function mode for combining such heating and such main function operation of the traction inverter, or the charger, without compromising the operation of the traction motor, or charger, while simultaneously eliminating many of the expensive resistive heating components in use by practitioners of the art.

Selective efficiency multi-phase traction inverters and chargers as heat sources for thermal conditioning of electric vehicles is provided. The traction inverter comprises a plurality of phases, each of the plurality of phases having at least one semiconductor switching device, the at least one semiconductor switching device configured to switch between at least three differing states, for thermal management of the electric vehicle components and compartments. The traction inverter includes a controller coupled to the plurality of phases, to operate the plurality of phases in a first mode of the traction inverter to drive the electric motor as a traction motor. The controller operates the plurality of phases in a second mode of the traction inverter as a first type of converter. The controller to operate the plurality of phases in a third mode of the traction inverter as a second type of converter.