A method for operating a coolant circuit of a vehicle cooling system in an AC mode and in a heating mode, implemented by a heat pump function, having an evaporator branch including an evaporator and a first expansion element, a coolant compressor, an AC and heat pump branch, having an outer condenser or gas cooler, as a heat pump evaporator having a second expansion element. The AC and heat pump branch is connected to the coolant compressor via a first blocking element and to the evaporator branch via the second expansion element, a heating branch having an inner heating condenser or heating gas cooler and a second blocking element, connected downstream thereto.

A heat exchanger includes a first collecting pipe, a number of heat exchange tubes and a partition plate. The heat exchange tubes are inserted into the first collecting pipe. By means of the partition plate, a first inner cavity of the first collecting pipe is divided into a first sub-cavity and a second sub-cavity. One end of each heat exchange tube is in communication with the first sub-cavity. In the process of a refrigerant entering the first collecting pipe, the refrigerant flows into the second sub-cavity firstly, and forms a severe turbulence effect after interacting with the heat exchange tubes inserted into the second sub-cavity. Then, the refrigerant flows into the first sub-cavity through holes provided in the partition plate, and then flows into the heat exchange tubes. As a result, the uniformity of the two-phase refrigerant distribution can be relatively improved.

A cooling system of an electric vehicle is provided. The system includes an integral valve having at least one or more coolant inlets and at least two or more coolant outlets, and selectively discharges a coolant through one of the at least two or more coolant outlets. A plurality of coolant paths connected such that the coolant discharged through one of the at least two or more coolant outlets is introduced back into the integral valve through the at least one or more coolant inlets after being supplied to a portion where coolant circulation is required. A heat pump device is disposed in at least one or more of the plurality of coolant paths to selectively increase or decrease a temperature of the coolant.

An air conditioning unit for a recreational vehicle including a first heater and a second heater, and configured to initiate a heating operation including analyzing an interior temperature and an exterior temperature, determine an operating mode of the air conditioning unit, and controlling the first heater and the second heater according to the determined operation mode.

An air-conditioning device includes: a compressor; an outdoor heat exchanger; an evaporating unit configured to evaporate refrigerant a heater unit configured to heat the air by using the heat of the refrigerant a liquid receiver arranged at the downstream side of the outdoor heat exchanger and a restrictor mechanism provided between the heater unit and the outdoor heat exchanger, wherein, in an operation state in which the flow of the refrigerant is restricted by the restrictor mechanism and heat is released in the heater unit, a first operation mode and a second operation mode are switched, the first operation mode being set such that the liquid-phase refrigerant is stored in the liquid receiver and the gaseous-phase refrigerant is guided to the compressor and the second operation mode being set such that the liquid-phase refrigerant stored in the liquid receiver is guided to the evaporating unit.

A vehicle HVAC system includes a compressor, a first heat exchanger for exchanging heat between the refrigerant outside air, a first check valve set, a first expansion device for decompressing a first portion of the refrigerant, a second heat exchanger for exchanging heat between the first portion of the refrigerant and a second portion of the refrigerant, a second expansion device for decompressing the second portion of the refrigerant, a second check valve set, a third heat exchanger for exchanging heat between the refrigerant and inside air, and a selector valve for switching between a heating mode and a cooling mode. The first check valve set and the second check valve set together maintain a constant flow direction through the first expansion device, the second heat exchanger, and the second expansion device in the heating mode and the cooling mode.

A vehicle thermal management system includes a vehicle heat pump system, a battery system coolant loop, a drive train coolant loop, and control electronics. The vehicle heat pump system includes a compressor, a cabin condenser, a cabin evaporator, a cabin blower, and a chiller. The battery system coolant loop is in thermal communication with a battery system and with the chiller and selectively in thermal communication with the drive train coolant loop. The control electronics control the components of the vehicle thermal management system to heat the cabin, cool the cabin, heat the battery system, cool the battery system, and cool the drive train. The control electronics may control the compressor to operate in an efficient mode or a lossy mode in which the compressor generates heat. The control electronics may also control the components of the vehicle thermal management system to precondition the battery.

An electric drivetrain for installation in a vehicle chassis. A generator coupled to an engine generates electric power for charging an array of batteries. The vehicle, including components and subsystems, may be powered electrically from the batteries, allowing the engine and generator to be easily replaced or customized for an industry, geographic region, fuel type, or a set of emission requirements. A thermal management system may determine a battery temperature for the set of batteries and cause one or more of a coolant system, a refrigerant system, an exhaust gas system or an ambient air heat exchanger to add heat to the set of batteries or transfer heat away from the set of batteries.

The present invention relates to a heat pump system for a vehicle which can enhance heating performance of a plug-in hybrid vehicle by heating engine coolant necessary for heating using a refrigerant cycle. The heat pump system for a vehicle includes: an evaporator disposed inside an air-conditioning case to exchange heat between air and refrigerant; a heater core disposed inside the air-conditioning case to exchange heat between air and coolant; a first coolant line connecting an engine with the heater core so that the coolant is circulated; a first refrigerant circulation loop which circulates a compressor for compressing and discharging the refrigerant, an air-cooled condenser for exchanging heat between the refrigerant and air, a first expansion means for expanding the refrigerant, and the evaporator in a cooling mode; and a second refrigerant circulation loop which circulates the compressor, a water-cooled heat exchanger for exchanging heat between the refrigerant and the coolant, a second expansion means for expanding the refrigerant, and the air-cooled condenser in a heating mode. The water-cooled heat exchanger is disposed in the first coolant line between the engine and the heater core to exchange heat between the refrigerant of high temperature and high pressure passing through the compressor and the coolant of the first coolant line.

A thermal management arrangement for vehicles is disclosed including a refrigerant circuit having chillers and/or heat pump function and a heat carrier network for cooling and/or heating components of the vehicle. The heat carrier network has a heat carrier reservoir and a plurality of heat carrier supply segments fed from the heat carrier reservoir. A separately controlled and regulated ambient heat exchanger supply segment implements a circuit having a central low-temperature ambient heat exchanger and least one heat carrier reservoir.