THERMAL MANAGEMENT MODULE FOR A THERMAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

Abstract

A thermal management module for a thermal management system is disclosed. The thermal management module includes a first heat exchanger for flowing through by a refrigerant and by a working medium fluidically separately with respect to the refrigerant. A second heat exchanger is provided including at least a first fluid path and at least a second fluid path, separate from the first fluid path, respectively for flowing through by the refrigerant. A connecting arrangement is arranged between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger. The connecting arrangement connects the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger to one another mechanically and fluidically, so that the refrigerant can flow between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger.

Claims

1. A thermal management module for a thermal management system, comprising: a first heat exchanger for flowing through by a refrigerant and, fluidically separately with respect to the refrigerant, by a working medium, a second heat exchanger including at least a first fluid path and at least a second fluid path, separate from the first fluid path, respectively for flowing through by the refrigerant, and a connecting arrangement arranged between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger and connects these to one another mechanically and fluidically, so that the refrigerant can flow between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger.

2. The thermal management module according to claim 1, wherein: in the first heat exchanger at least one refrigerant path is provided for flowing through with the refrigerant, in the connecting arrangement at least one connecting refrigerant path is provided, able to be flowed through by the refrigerant, via which the at least one refrigerant path of the first heat exchanger and at least one of the first fluid path and the second fluid path of the second heat exchanger communicate fluidically with one another.

3. The thermal management module according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first heat exchangers and the second heat exchanger is configured as a stacked-plate heat exchanger with a plurality of stacked plates stacked on one another along a stacking direction.

4. The thermal management module according to claim 1, wherein: the connecting arrangement comprises a base body that delimits at least one connecting refrigerant path, the at least one connecting refrigerant path extends from a first body side, on which the first heat exchanger is arranged, to a second body side lying opposite the first body side, on which the second heat exchanger is arranged, wherein the at least one connecting refrigerant path communicates fluidically with at least the first fluid path of the second heat exchanger and at least a second connecting refrigerant path, fluidically separately from the at least one connecting refrigerant path, communicates fluidically with at least the second fluid path of the second heat exchanger.

5. The thermal management module according to claim 1, wherein at least one connecting refrigerant path of the connecting arrangement is structured as an aperture extending in a base body of the connecting arrangement from a first body side to a second body side lying opposite to the first body side.

6. The thermal management module according to claim 1, wherein a base body of the connecting arrangement has a circumferential side connecting a first body side to a second body side, on which at least one functional element is arranged.

7. The thermal management module according to claim 6, wherein at least one of: the at least one functional element includes a valve arrangement for controlling the throughflow of the connecting arrangement with the refrigerant; the at least one functional element includes a temperature sensor for determining a temperature of the refrigerant flowing through the connecting arrangement; and the at least one functional element includes a fastening element for mounting the thermal management module in a motor vehicle.

8. The thermal management module according to claim 1, wherein the connecting arrangement and the first heat exchangers and the second heat exchanger are formed in one piece.

9. The thermal management module according to claim 1, wherein: a material of a base body of the connecting arrangement is a metal, and the first heat exchangers and the second heat exchanger are connected respectively in a materially bonded manner to the connecting arrangement.

10. The thermal management module according to claim 1, wherein the connecting arrangement is a cast part or a forged part.

11. The thermal management module according to claim 1, wherein at least one of: the first heat exchanger is a chiller; and the second heat exchanger is an internal heat exchanger.

12. A thermal management system for a motor vehicle, comprising: a thermal management module, the thermal management module including: a first heat exchanger for flowing through by a refrigerant and by a working medium fluidically separately with respect to the refrigerant, a second heat exchanger including at least a first fluid path and at least a second fluid path, separate from the first fluid path, respectively for flowing through by the refrigerant, and a connecting arrangement arranged between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger, the connecting arrangement connecting the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger to one another mechanically and fluidically, such that the refrigerant can flow between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger, a refrigerant circuit, able to be flowed through by the refrigerant, in which the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger of the thermal management module are arranged, and a first media circuit, provided separately from the refrigerant circuit, and able to be flowed through by the working medium, in which the first heat exchanger is arranged.

13. The thermal management system according to claim 12, wherein: in the first heat exchanger at least one refrigerant path is provided for flowing through with the refrigerant, and in the connecting arrangement at least one connecting refrigerant path is provided for flowing through with the refrigerant, via which the at least one refrigerant path of the first heat exchanger and at least one of the first fluid path and the second fluid path of the second heat exchanger communicate fluidically with one another.

14. The thermal management system according to claim 12, wherein at least one of the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger is configured as a stacked-plate heat exchanger with a plurality of stacked plates arranged on one another in a stacking direction.

15. The thermal management system according to claim 12, wherein: the connecting arrangement comprises a base body that delimits at least one connecting refrigerant path; the at least one connecting refrigerant path extends from a first body side, on which the first heat exchanger is arranged, to a second body side lying opposite to the first body side, on which the second heat exchanger is arranged; the at least one connecting refrigerant path communicates fluidically with at least the first fluid path of the second heat exchanger, and a second connecting refrigerant path of the connecting arrangement, fluidically separately from the at least one connecting refrigerant path, communicates fluidically with the second fluid path of the second heat exchanger.

16. The thermal management system according to claim 15, wherein the at least one connecting refrigerant path is structured as an aperture extending in the base body from the first body side to the second body side.

17. The thermal management system according to claim 16, wherein the base body has a circumferential side connecting the first body side to the second body side, and wherein at least one functional element is arranged on the second body side.

18. The thermal management system according to claim 17, wherein at least one of: the at least one functional element includes a valve arrangement for controlling the throughflow of the connecting arrangement with the refrigerant; the at least one functional element includes a temperature sensor for determining a temperature of the refrigerant flowing through the connecting arrangement; and the at least one functional element includes a fastening element for mounting the thermal management module in the motor vehicle.

19. The thermal management system according to claim 17, wherein the base body is composed of aluminium.

20. The thermal management system according to claim 12, wherein at least one of: the first heat exchanger is a chiller; and the second heat exchanger is an internal heat exchanger.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] There are shown, respectively schematically,

[0027] FIG. 1 an example of a thermal management module according to the invention for an electric vehicle, in perspective view,

[0028] FIG. 2 the thermal management module of FIG. 1 in an exploded view,

[0029] FIG. 3 an example of a thermal management system according to the invention with the thermal management module of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a thermal management module 1 according to the invention for an electric vehicle in perspective view. FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the thermal management module 1 of FIG. 1. The thermal management module 1 comprises a first heat exchanger 2a for flowing through by a refrigerant and—fluidically separate with respect to the refrigerant—by a working medium, for example a cooling medium. The thermal management module 1 comprises, in addition, a second heat exchanger 2b for flowing through by the refrigerant. For this, the second heat exchanger 2b has first fluid paths for flowing through by the refrigerant in liquid phase, and second fluid paths, formed fluidically separately with respect to the first fluid paths, for flowing through by the same refrigerant in gaseous phase. The first and second fluid paths can thus be integrated at various locations into a refrigerant circuit. The second heat exchanger 2b is therefore an internal heat exchanger.

[0031] Furthermore, the thermal management module 1 comprises a connecting arrangement 3, which is arranged between the first and the second heat exchanger 2a, 2b. The connecting arrangement 3 connects the first and the second heat exchanger 2a, 2b both mechanically and also fluidically to one another, so that the refrigerant can flow between the two heat exchangers 2a, 2b. The connecting arrangement 3 and the two heat exchangers 2a, 2b are formed in one piece.

[0032] In the first heat exchanger 2a a plurality of refrigerant paths (not shown) are arranged for flowing through by the refrigerant, which paths can likewise be integrated into the above-mentioned refrigerant circuit. Preferably, the refrigerant paths of the first heat exchanger downstream of the first fluid paths of the second heat exchanger 2b and upstream of the second fluid paths of the second heat exchanger 2b can be arranged in a refrigerant circuit. Fluidically separately with respect to these refrigerant paths, a plurality of media paths (not shown), through which the working medium can flow separately with respect to the refrigerant, run in the first heat exchanger 2a. Within the first heat exchanger 2a a thermal coupling of the working medium or respectively of the coolant with the refrigerant can take place, so that heat can be transferred between the refrigerant and the working medium. In the example scenario, the first heat exchanger 2a is configured as a stacked-plate heat exchanger 5 with a plurality of stacked plates 6 stacked on one another along a stacking direction S. By means of the stacked plates 6, refrigerant paths and media paths are alternately delimited and isolated with respect to one another fluidically.

[0033] In the connecting arrangement 3, connecting refrigerant paths 10 (cf. FIG. 2) are formed which are able to be flowed through by the refrigerant, by means of which the refrigerant paths of the first heat exchanger 2a communicate fluidically either with the first fluid paths or with the second fluid paths of the second heat exchanger 2b.

As FIGS. 1 and 2 show, the connecting arrangement 3 comprises a base body 7 which delimits the connecting refrigerant paths 10. In the example scenario, the base body 7 of the connecting arrangement 3 is a cast part. Alternatively thereto, it is conceivable to use a forged part as base body 7. According to FIGS. 1 and 2, the base body 7 has a circumferential side 9 connecting the first body side 8a to the second body side 8b. The connecting refrigerant paths 10 extend respectively within the base body 7 at a distance with respect to one another from a first body side 8a, on which the first heat exchanger 2a is arranged, to a second body side 8b, lying opposite the first body side 8a, at which the second heat exchanger 2b is arranged. The connecting refrigerant paths 10 can be configured respectively as an aperture 12 extending in the base body 7 from the first to the second body side 8a, 8b (cf. FIG. 2).

[0034] Functional elements 11 of the thermal management module 1 can be arranged on the circumferential side 9 of the base body 7. Such a functional element 11 can be a valve arrangement (not shown) for controlling the throughflow of the connecting refrigerant paths 10 with the refrigerant. Such a functional element 11 can also be a temperature sensor (not shown) for determining a temperature of the refrigerant flowing the connecting refrigerant paths 10. Such a functional element 11 can be, in addition, a fastening element 4 for mounting the thermal management module 1 into a thermal management system 20 for a motor vehicle.

[0035] The material of the base body 7 can be a metal, for example aluminium. The two heat exchangers 2a, 2b can be respectively connected to the base body 7 of the connecting arrangement 3 in a materially bonded manner by means of a welded connection. Instead of a welded connection, a soldered connection is also conceivable.

[0036] FIG. 3 shows a thermal management system 20 according to the invention with a thermal management module 1 according to the invention, as explained above. The system 20 comprises a refrigerant circuit, able to be flowed through by the refrigerant, in which the first and second heat exchanger 2a, 2b of the thermal management module 1 are arranged. The first heat exchanger 2a is a chiller. In the example of FIG. 3, the second heat exchanger 2b is an internal heat exchanger. In addition, the system 20 comprises a media circuit, formed separately from the refrigerant circuit and able to be flowed through by the first working medium—fluidically separately with respect to the refrigerant—, in which media circuit the first heat exchanger 2a is arranged.

[0037] In the refrigerant circuit, the first fluid paths of the second heat exchanger 2b can be arranged, downstream therefrom a (first) connecting refrigerant path 10 of the connecting arrangement 3, downstream therefrom the refrigerant paths of the first heat exchanger 2a, downstream therefrom a (second) connecting refrigerant path 10 of the connecting arrangement 3 and downstream therefrom the second fluid paths of the second heat exchanger 2b.

[0038] As FIG. 3 illustrates, the thermal management system 20 comprises, in addition to the components of the thermal management module 1 already explained with the aid of FIGS. 1 and 2, therefore the first heat exchanger 2a, the second heat exchanger 2b and the connecting arrangement 3, in addition a compressor 21, also arranged in the refrigerant circuit, which is fastened on the connecting arrangement 3 of the thermal management module 1 via a holding arrangement 22—in the example of FIG. 3 a type of holding clamp 23. A drier 24 can be arranged on the second heat exchanger 2b. Likewise, on a side 27 of the second heat exchanger 2a, facing away from the connecting arrangement 3, as shown an indirect heat exchanger 25 can be arranged. The heat exchanger 25 can function as a condenser 26 and can also be incorporated into the refrigerant circuit of the thermal management system 20.