FLOW CIRCUIT SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE AND METHOD THEREOF

Abstract

The invention relates to a flow circuit system (1) for a vehicle, with a first flow circuit (10) guiding a first fluid and operable as a heat pump, and a second flow circuit (50) with a conveying device (31) guiding a second fluid, and a switching device (35), wherein in the provided flow direction of the first fluid downstream of a compressor (3) and upstream of an expansion element (15), at least one first heat exchanger (7) between the first and second fluids, wherein the second flow circuit (50) has at least two flow circuit modes, wherein in the first flow circuit mode, apart from the at least one conveying device (31) for the second fluid and the at least one first heat exchanger (7), at least one outside heat exchanger (37) which may be flowed through by the second fluid and is configured as a radiator is connected to the second flow circuit (50), and in the second flow circuit mode this at least one outside heat exchanger (37) is not connected to the at least second flow circuit (50) containing the conveyor device (31) and the first heat exchanger (7), and preferably is also a heating flow circuit. In this way more flexibility is created in the flow circuit system (1) for a vehicle.

Claims

1. Flow circuit system (1) for a vehicle, at least comprising: a first flow circuit (10) guiding a first fluid, in which in the provided flow direction of the first fluid, at least one compressor (3), at least one heat exchanger (7) as a condenser or gas cooler, at least one expansion element (15), and at least one further heat exchanger (17, 21) as evaporator are arranged, and a second flow circuit (50) guiding a second fluid, in which at least one conveyor device (31) for the second fluid is arranged, wherein, in the provided flow direction of the first fluid, downstream of the at least one compressor (3) and upstream of the at least one expansion element (15), the at least one heat exchanger (7) is arranged, to which the first fluid is deliverable, in order to implement a heat exchange connection with the second flow circuit (50), characterized in a switching device (35) in the second flow circuit (50), the switching device (35) having at least two flow circuit modes, wherein in a first flow circuit mode, apart from the at least one conveyor device (31) for the second fluid and the at least one first heat exchanger (7), at least one outside heat exchanger (37) is connected through which the second fluid flows, and in a second flow circuit mode, the at least one outside heat exchanger (37) is not connected to the second flow circuit (50), which contains at least the conveyor device (31) and the first heat exchanger (7).

2. The flow circuit system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first flow circuit (10) is configured such that a supercritically operable fluid is supercritically operable as the first fluid.

3. The flow circuit system (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the first fluid is CO2.

4. The flow circuit system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the second fluid is water.

5. The flow circuit system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that in the first flow circuit (10), in the provided flow direction of the first fluid downstream of the at least one compressor (3) and upstream of the at least one expansion element (15), a further heat exchanger (9) configured as a fluid-air heat exchanger and operable as a condenser or gas cooler is arranged.

6. The flow circuit system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that in the second flow circuit (50), at least in the second flow circuit mode, at least one heat exchanger (39, 40, 41) is connected.

7. The flow circuit system (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that at least in the second flow circuit mode, at least one heating device (43, 45) which may additionally heat the second fluid is connected or may be connected to the second flow circuit (50).

8. The flow circuit system (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that in the second flow circuit (50), the at least one outside heat exchanger (37) is connectable in parallel in such away that in the first flow circuit mode, the second fluid except for the conveyor device (31), the first heat exchanger (7), and the at least one outside heat exchanger (37), flows through no further heat exchangers (39, 40), no convector (41), and no heating device (43, 45) which may additionally heat the second fluid.

9. The flow circuit system (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that in the second flow circuit, the at least one outside heat exchanger (37) is connectable in series in such a way that in the first flow circuit mode, the second fluid, apart from the conveyor device (31), the first heat exchanger (7), and the at least one outside heat exchanger (37) also flows through at least one further heat exchanger (39, 40) and/or convector (41) and/or a heating device (43, 45) which may additionally heat the second fluid.

10. The flow circuit system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the switching device (35) comprises a three-way valve.

11. The flow circuit system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the switching device (35) comprises a controller (36) dependent on the air temperature of the vehicle interior.

12. The flow circuit system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that in the provided flow direction of the first fluid in the first flow circuit (10) downstream of the at least one expansion element (15) and upstream of the at least one compressor (3), at least one further heat exchanger (21) is arranged, to which the first fluid may be supplied in order to implement a heat exchange connection with a third flow circuit (70) guiding a third fluid, preferably a cooling flow circuit.

13. The flow circuit (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it is configured for a bus provided with an electric drive motor.

14. A method of operating a flow circuit system (1) for a vehicle, comprising the steps of: flowing a first fluid through a first flow circuit (10) comprising a compressor (3), a condenser heat exchanger (7), an expansion valve (15) and an evaporator heat exchanger (17, 21); flowing a second fluid through a second flow circuit (50) comprising a conveying device (31), the condenser heat exchanger (7), and a switching device (35); operating the switching device (35) to increase the cooling performance of the first flow circuit (10) and flowing the second fluid in either a first flow circuit mode through an outside heat exchanger (37) or in a second flow circuit mode that bypasses the outside heat exchanger (37).

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of flowing the second fluid in the second flow circuit mode, further comprises the step of flowing the second fluid through a heating device (43, 45) to additionally heat the second fluid.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of flowing the second fluid in the first flow circuit mode, comprises the step of flowing the second fluid through the outside heat exchanger (37) and not through further heat exchangers (39, 40), no convector (41), and no heating device (43, 45) which may additionally heat the second fluid.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of flowing the second fluid in the first flow circuit mode, comprises the step of flowing the second fluid through at least one further heat exchanger (39, 40) and/or convector (41) and/or a heating device (43, 45) which may additionally heat the second fluid.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of operating the switching device (35) further comprises the step of operating the switching device (35) dependent on the air temperature of the vehicle interior.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of flowing a third fluid through a third flow circuit (70) comprising a heat exchanger (21), the first fluid flowing through the heat exchanger (21).

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of operating the vehicle with an electric motor.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] With reference to the drawings, exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained:

Wherein:

[0024] FIG. 1 as the main schematic shows an embodiment of the flow circuit system according to the invention for a vehicle in the first flow circuit mode of the second flow circuit,

[0025] FIG. 2 as the main schematic shows the embodiment in FIG. 1 of the flow circuit system according to the invention for a vehicle in the second flow circuit mode of the second flow circuit, and

[0026] FIG. 3 as the main schematic shows a further embodiment of the flow circuit system according to the invention for a vehicle.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0027] All drawings are to be understood schematically. To-scale figures are dispensed with for purposes of increased clarity of the representation.

[0028] In FIG. 1 as the main schematic an embodiment of the flow circuit system 1 according to the invention is shown for a vehicle in the first flow circuit mode of the second flow circuit 50. The first flow circuit 10 contains a first fluid that is guided in the first flow circuit 10. In this exemplary embodiment the first flow circuit 10 is configured in such a pressure-resistant manner and its components are designed such that the first fluid can be operated therein in the supercritical range. The first fluid is CO2 (carbon dioxide).

[0029] There are also other coolants conceivable as the first fluid for supercritical operation. In the provided flow direction of the first fluid, in the first flow circuit 10, connected via coolant lines, in particular the following components of a heat pump flow circuit suited for supercritical operation are incorporated:

[0030] A compressor 3, the first side 5 of the first heat exchanger 7, a further heat exchanger 9 configured as a fluid/air heat exchanger as a gas cooler for heat exchange with the outer air, the high-pressure 11 of a heat exchanger 13 configured as an inner heat exchanger, an expansion element 15 configured as an expansion valve, a heat exchanger 17 configured as an evaporator, a further heat exchanger 21 and upstream of the entry to the compressor 3, the low-pressure side 19 of the heat exchanger 13 configured as an inner heat exchanger.

[0031] The second flow circuit 50 via the first heat exchanger 7, which is integrated with its first side 5 in the provided flow direction of the first fluid downstream of the compressor 3 and upstream of the expansion element 15 in the first flow circuit 10 is thermally coupled to the first flow circuit 10. The first heat exchanger 7 included both in the first flow circuit 10, namely with its first side 5, and in the second flow circuit 50, namely with its second side 33. The second flow circuit 50 guides a second fluid, which is a tempering fluid. As the second fluid, water or for example a glycol-water mixture may be considered. Also, other usual tempering fluids are conceivable as the second fluid. From the conveyor device 31 configured as a water pump, the second fluid can be pumped through the second side 33 of the first heat exchanger 7, in order to pick up heat from the first fluid flowing through the first side 5. The first heat exchanger 7 in this case is formed as a plate heat exchanger. Other known widely used types of suitable first heat exchangers 7 are conceivable for heat exchange between the first and second fluid. The different embodiments, that the first heat exchanger 7 is connectably arranged in the first flow circuit 10 with a bypass and valve for the flow-through of the first fluid, or that the first heat exchanger 7 constitutes the only gas cooler or condenser in the first flow circuit 10, are also conceivable.

[0032] The second flow circuit 50 has an outside heat exchanger 37, here a radiator, which is connectable with a switching device 35, in this case a three-way valve. Two or more such connectable outside heat exchangers 37 are also conceivable. The outside heat exchanger 37 in this case is connected with the switching device 35 to the second flow circuit 50, so that the first flow circuit mode of the second flow circuit 50 is connected. The outside heat exchanger 37 is connected in parallel, thus the second fluid pumped through the conveyor device 31 and the second side 33 of the first heat exchanger 7 flows further through the outside heat exchanger 37, where heat is released from the second fluid outward into the air, and from there flows on to the inlet side of the conveyor device 31. The at least one outside heat exchanger 37 is provided in the exemplary embodiment to be positioned outside the vehicle interior or it/they 37 for a flow circuit system 1 built into the vehicle is/are built outside of the vehicle interior. Triangles of a symbolized valve marked in black instead of white show in FIGS. 1 and 2 the opening of the valve for the line of the respective fluid connected thereto. In this first flow circuit mode of the second flow circuit 50, the represented further components such as the heat exchanger 39 provided for heating the air in the vehicle interior, the convector 41 likewise provided thereto, and the heating devices 43 and 45 which may additionally heat the second fluid are not connected, i.e. are not flowed through by the second fluid. The arrows shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 give the flow direction of the respective fluid.

[0033] In the provided flow direction of the first fluid in the first flow circuit 10 downstream of the expansion element 15 and upstream of the compressor 3, an optional further heat exchanger 21 is arranged in order to implement a heat exchange connection with an optional third flow circuit 70, which is a cooling flow circuit, guiding a third fluid. Also conceivable is an embodiment of the flow circuit system 1 according to the invention in which in the first flow circuit 10 upstream of the first heat exchanger 21, especially an expansion element 15 is arranged functionally parallel to the expansion element 15 upstream of a heat exchanger 17 integrated as an evaporator. The third flow circuit 70 is represented only in very simplified form with the conveyor device 61 integrated therein, a further heat exchanger 21 and for example a traction battery 63 to be cooled or other vehicle component to be cooled. The first flow circuit 10 is thus operable in heat pump operation. The flow circuit system 1 shown in FIG. 1 is configured for an omnibus, or bus, provided with an electric motor. Other road or rail vehicles, preferably electrical or hybrid motor vehicles can likewise be provided with an accordingly configured embodiment of the flow circuit system 1 according to the invention.

[0034] Furthermore, an embodiment of the flow circuit 10, in which the first fluid is operated in the subcritical range, as with the usual HFC coolant, basically is also conceivable.

[0035] In FIG. 2, as the main schematic the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 of the flow circuit system 1 according to the invention for a vehicle in the second flow circuit mode of the second flow circuit 50 is represented. As regards the description of the first flow circuit 50 with its components and the third flow circuit 70 and its components, reference is made to the above description of FIG. 1. In the second flow circuit 50 however, the switching device 35 comprising a three-way valve is connected such that the outside heat exchanger 37 is not connected to the second flow circuit 50, thus the switching device 35 has closed the line to the outside heat exchanger 37 to through flow of the second fluid. For the second fluid however, the switching device 35 is opened such that the second fluid is guided by the conveyor device 31 through the second side 33 of the first heat exchanger 7 further through the usual lines for such heating flow circuits to an optional heat exchanger 43 for additionally heating the second fluid. From there the second fluid flows according to the connection of the further valves 47, 49 either directly to the inlet of the conveyor device 31 or first before that through the convector 41 in the vehicle interior and/or through further heating device 45 for additionally heating the second fluid and the heat exchanger 39 for heating the interior of the vehicle. Thus, the second flow circuit mode is switched on for the second flow circuit 50 by the switching device 35. In the heat exchanger 39, heat is released from the second fluid into the air of the vehicle interior or a region of the vehicle interior, such as for example the region of the vehicle driver. Several heat exchangers 39 integrated into the second flow circuit 50 for heat exchange from the second fluid to the interior air at various points of the vehicle interior for heating various regions of the vehicle interior are also conceivable. For this purpose, known embodiments with valve connections are conceivable, which along with the convector(s) 41 allow heating of the individual regions of the vehicle interior independently of one another with heat from the second fluid heat exchangers 39. The additionally heating heaters 43, 45 for example are continuous-flow or PTC heaters for example which are suitable and known for this purpose and run on a 400 V AC current.

[0036] The exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 optionally has a controller 36 for the switching device 35 for switching the first or second flow circuit mode of the second flow circuit 50. This controller 36 comprises for example the automatic controls of the switching device 35 depending on the air temperature of the vehicle interior. If the temperature of the previously cooler interior air of the vehicle interior does not reach the present temperature of 20 C., for example, measured by the temperature sensors not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, through the controller 36 of the switching device 35, a switch is made of the second flow circuit mode to the first flow circuit mode of the second flow circuit 50. If the measured air temperature in the vehicle interior drops below a preset value, however, for example 19 C., the controller 36 of the switching device 35 automatically switches from the first flow circuit mode of the second flow circuit 50 to the second flow circuit mode, so that then the second flow circuit 50 is operated as a heating flow circuit for heating the vehicle interior. However cumulatively or alternatively, other parameters, such as the outside temperature or a cooling requirement in the third flow circuit 70 are also conceivable, on which the controller 36 of the switching device 35 for both flow circuit modes can depend.

[0037] FIG. 3 shows as the main schematic a further embodiment of the flow circuit system 1 for a vehicle according to the invention. The basic structure for the first flow circuit 10 and the third flow circuit 70 corresponds to the exemplary embodiment of a flow circuit system 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0038] As regards the description of the first flow circuit 10 with its components and reference symbols and the third flow circuit 70 with its components and reference symbols, reference is made to the above description of FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0039] A conveyor device 31 and the second side 33 of the first heat exchanger 7 are integrated into the second flow circuit 50. The conveyor device 31, in this case configured as a water pump, pumps the second fluid through a pipe to and through the second side 33 of the first heat exchanger 7. In the heat exchanger 7 the second fluid absorbs heat from the first fluid of the first flow circuit 10 flowing through the first side 5 of the heat exchanger 7. The second fluid is water, for example. The switching device 35 downstream in the flow direction of the second fluid in the second flow circuit 50 of the second side 33 of the first heat exchanger 7 depending on the connection either opens the way for the second fluid on the outside heat exchanger 37, so that the second flow circuit 50 is connected in the first flow circuit mode, or does not open the way to the outside heat exchanger 37, but allows the second fluid to flow on to the heating device 43 for additionally heating the second fluid, so that then the second flow circuit mode in the second flow circuit 50 is switched on. In the outside heat exchanger 37, which is configured as a radiator, in the first flow circuit mode heat is released into the outside air from the second fluid guided in the second flow circuit 50. The at least one outside heat exchanger 37 is provided in the exemplary embodiment for this purpose to be positioned outside the vehicle interior, or it/they 37 are built outside of the vehicle interior for a flow circuit system 1 that is built into the vehicle. The outside heat exchanger 37 in the first flow circuit mode of the second flow circuit 50 is connected in series. When the first flow circuit mode is switched on, the second fluid downstream of the outside heat exchanger 37 flows through the heating device 43, which additionally heats the second fluid. After that, depending on the connection of the further valves 47, 49, and 51 it flows directly on to the inlet of the conveyor device 31 or first flows through the convector 41 in the vehicle interior and/or through the heating device 45 which additionally heats the second fluid and the heat exchanger 39 to heat the air for a vehicle interior region and/or also through the heat exchanger 40 for heating the air for another vehicle interior region. The two vehicle interior regions may be for example the driver's seat region and the passenger seat region of an omnibus. In the second flow circuit mode, thus without connected outside heat exchanger 37, downstream of the heating device 43, depending on the connection of the further valves 37, 49, and 51, accordingly as in the first flow circuit mode the convector 41, the heating device 45, and the heat exchangers 39 and 40 can be flowed through by the second fluid before reaching the inlet of the conveyor device 31.

[0040] With respect to the optional controller 36 of the switching device 35, which in this case, without being limited thereto, comprises a three-way valve, reference is made to the above descriptive embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2 in this regard.

[0041] Also conceivable is a variant of the embodiment of the second flow circuit 50 of the flow circuit system 1 according to the invention in which the outside heat exchanger 37 in the first flow circuit mode is connectably arranged in parallel or in series. This may be implemented for example downstream of the outside heat exchanger 37 by an additional direct return line provided with a valve to the inlet of the conveyor device 31 in the thus expanded exemplary embodiment of FIG. 3.

[0042] The exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 3 is configured or usable for an omnibus provided with an electric drive motor. Other street or rail vehicles, preferably electric or hybrid motor vehicles can likewise be provided with an accordingly configured embodiment of the flow circuit system 1.

[0043] As regards the flow circuit systems shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 and other embodiments of the flow circuit system according to the invention, the following applies: Due to the fact that in the first flow circuit mode of the second flow circuit 50, the at least one outside heat exchanger 37 is connected to the second flow circuit 50 and there heat is released to the outside air from the second fluid, so that in the first heat exchanger 7 more heat can be released to the second fluid from the first fluid, which then in the first flow circuit 10 on the low-pressure side, that is downstream of the expansion element 15 and upstream of the compressor 3, results in improved cooling performance. There through the further heat exchanger 21 a heat exchange connection of the first fluid, of the first flow circuit 10 arises with the third flow circuit 70 guiding the third fluid, so that in this way the cooling, performance of the third flow circuit 70 for cooling for example the air for a region of the vehicle interior or a traction battery 63 is increased. The method of operation of the flow circuit system 1 according to the invention thus comprises, when there is a need to increase the cooling performance of the first flow circuit 10 and thus also possibly that of the third flow circuit 70, the method step of switching the first flow circuit mode of the second flow circuit 50.