A heat pump includes a refrigerant loop. The refrigerant loop includes a first heat exchanger, a first region of a second heat exchanger, a third heat exchanger, a fourth heat exchanger, a first heat exchange fluid, a compressor, a vapor generator, and a four-way valve. The compressor includes a low-pressure inlet, a mid-pressure inlet, and an outlet. The vapor generator is positioned downstream of the outlet of the compressor and upstream of both the low-pressure inlet and the mid-pressure inlet. The four-way valve is positioned immediately upstream of the first heat exchanger. At least one component chosen from the group including the first heat exchanger, the second heat exchanger, and the vapor generator is free from compressor-driven flow of the first heat exchange fluid during a predetermined set of heating modes of operation of the heat pump and a predetermined set of cooling modes of operation of the heat pump.

A thermal management system comprises a first coolant loop with a first pump, a second coolant loop with a second pump, and a refrigerant loop. A four-way valve is selectively configurable to maintain the first and second coolant loops separate, or to combine the first and second coolant loops in a single coolant loop operable with one of the first pump and the second pump. The refrigerant loop includes an inside condenser for conditioning air, and a chiller for extracting heat from coolant. The thermal management system is capable of operation in a plurality of modes depending on the thermal state of components heated and cooled by the thermal management system.

A cooling system and method for a motor vehicle for circulating a coolant, having, on the one hand, a battery sub-circuit, which includes a first coolant pump and a battery, and having, on the other hand, a heating sub-circuit for heating a passenger compartment of the motor vehicle, which includes a second coolant pump, a heating air radiator, and a coolant heater for heating coolant flowing within the heating sub-circuit. The cooling system additionally includes a chiller sub-circuit having a chiller. The battery sub-circuit and/or the heating sub-circuit, and/or the chiller sub-circuit are optionally connectable to each other in a coolant-conducting manner with the aid of a multi-way valve of the cooling system.

Device for controlling a flow-through and distributing a fluid in at least one fluid circuit, in particular a refrigerant in a refrigerant circuit including a housing with ports for connecting with fluid lines, each of which is connected via a passage opening with the at least one interior volume of the housing, as well as with at least one valve element disposed in the interior volume of the housing with a drive element for moving the valve element relative to the housing. The at least one valve element is supported rotatably about a rotational axis and comprises at least three through openings developed as through-bores forming in the interior of the valve element a common volume. An axis of symmetry of a first opening and the rotational axis of the valve element are located on a common axis. The device is used in a refrigerant circuit of a thermal system.

The various embodiments described herein include methods, devices, and systems for conditioning air and heating water in a vehicle. In one aspect, a method includes: (1) obtaining a desired temperature for an interior of the vehicle; (2) obtaining a desired temperature for water in a water storage tank of the vehicle; (3) determining a current interior temperature; (4) and a current water temperature; (5) if the current water temperature is below the desired water temperature, and if the current interior temperature is below the desired interior temperature, operating a system in a first mode to concurrently heat the water and heat the interior; and (6) if the current water temperature is below the desired water temperature, and if the current interior temperature is above the desired interior temperature, operating the system in a second mode to concurrently heat the water and cool the interior.

A vehicle thermal management system including a heating heat exchanger which exchanges heat with air within an air-conditioning case to heat the air, and a cooling heat exchanger which exchanges heat with air to cool the air; a refrigerant line circulating through a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, and a chiller; a first coolant line that passes through the heating heat exchanger and exchanges heat with the condenser of the refrigerant line; a second coolant line that passes through the cooling heat exchanger and exchanges heat with the chiller of the refrigerant line; a radiator that exchanges heat between the coolant and outside air; a third coolant line that passes through the radiator and exchanges heat with a battery of a vehicle; and a mixing tank provided to mix the coolant of the first coolant line, the second coolant line, and the third coolant line.

A thermal management system, the thermal management system including a refrigerant system, a first heat exchange system and a second heat exchange system. In a circulation mode of the thermal management system, the cooling liquid in the first heat exchange system and the second heat exchange system can be exchanged.

A heat pump includes a refrigerant loop. The refrigerant loop includes a first heat exchanger, a first region of a second heat exchanger, a third heat exchanger, a fourth heat exchanger, a compressor, a vapor generator, and a four-way valve. The compressor includes a low-pressure inlet, a mid-pressure inlet, and an outlet. The vapor generator is positioned downstream of the outlet of the compressor and upstream of both the low-pressure inlet and the mid-pressure inlet. The four-way valve is positioned immediately upstream of the first heat exchanger. At least one component chosen from the first heat exchanger, the second heat exchanger, and the vapor generator is free from compressor-driven flow of the first heat exchange fluid during a first predetermined set of heating modes of operation of the heat pump and a first predetermined set of cooling modes of operation of the heat pump.

A refrigerant cycle provides a heat pump cycle apparatus. An outdoor heat exchanger, a control valve, and a refrigerant container are arranged in series in this order. The outdoor heat exchanger provides a passage in which a passage cross-sectional area of the refrigerant changes. When the outdoor heat exchanger is used as a condenser, the flow direction of the refrigerant is a direction in which the passage cross-sectional area becomes relatively small. When the outdoor heat exchanger is used as an evaporator, the flow direction of the refrigerant is a direction in which the passage cross-sectional area becomes relatively large. In both flow directions, the refrigerant container acts as a receiver.

A vehicle heat pump system including a thermal loop, an eight-way valve, and a controller is provided. The thermal loop includes a compressor, a first portion, and a second portion. The first portion includes an outside heat exchanger. The second portion includes a cabin heat exchanger. The eight-way valve is downstream of the compressor and has a first position in which refrigerant flows within the portions in a cooling mode and a second position in which refrigerant flows within the portions in a heating mode. The controller switches the eight-way valve between the first and second positions. The outside heat exchanger operates as a condenser in the cooling mode and the eight-way valve directs refrigerant flow from the outside heat exchanger to the cabin heat exchanger.