CHILLER INTEGRATION INTO vCOOL SYSTEM

Abstract

Vehicle climate control system and method for control of the vehicle climate control system for temperature regulation of a vehicle battery, the vehicle climate control system includes a refrigerant circuit containing at least a compressor, a gas cooler/condenser, an expansion element, an evaporator, as well as refrigerant lines to connect the components, wherein an intermediate expansion element is arranged upstream from the expansion element in the refrigerant flow direction and a heat exchanger for the temperature regulation of a vehicle battery is arranged between the expansion elements.

Claims

1. A vehicle climate control system comprising: a refrigerant circuit having components a compressor, a gas cooler/condenser, an expansion element, an evaporator, and refrigerant lines connecting the components; an intermediate expansion element arranged upstream from the expansion element in a refrigerant flow direction; and a heat exchanger for temperature regulation of a vehicle battery arranged between the expansion element and the intermediate expansion element.

2. The vehicle climate control system according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle battery is directly heated or cooled by the heat exchanger.

3. The vehicle climate control system according to claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger is designed as a heat exchanger in a battery temperature regulation circuit for indirect heating or cooling of the vehicle battery.

4. The vehicle climate control system according to claim 3, wherein the battery temperature regulation circuit has a separate battery heat exchanger and a pump for circulating a heat transfer fluid.

5. The vehicle climate control system according to claim 3, wherein the battery temperature regulation circuit has a low-temperature heat exchanger.

6. The vehicle climate control system according to claim 3, wherein the battery temperature regulation circuit is designed for heating or cooling of a driving motor of the vehicle.

7. The vehicle climate control system according to claim 1, wherein an internal heat exchanger is arranged in the refrigerant circuit.

8. A method for heating or cooling of a vehicle battery with a climate control system, the method comprising the steps of: providing a refrigerant circuit having components a compressor, a gas cooler/condenser, an expansion element, an evaporator, and refrigerant lines connecting the components, an intermediate expansion element arranged upstream from the expansion element in a refrigerant flow direction, and a heat exchanger for temperature regulation of a vehicle battery arranged between the expansion element and the intermediate expansion element; and adjusting an intermediate pressure in the refrigerant circuit for the heat exchanger with the intermediate expansion element, wherein the intermediate pressure in the refrigerant circuit is controlled in dependence on at least one of a required and a desired temperature of the vehicle battery.

Description

DRAWINGS

[0029] Further details, features and benefits of embodiments of the invention will emerge from the following description of sample embodiments with reference to the corresponding drawings. There are shown:

[0030] FIG. 1, a vehicle climate control system with heat exchanger for the indirect temperature regulation of the vehicle battery in a separate battery temperature regulation circuit in compact design of the vehicle climate control system; and

[0031] FIG. 2, a vehicle climate control system with direct heat exchanger for the temperature regulation of the vehicle battery.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] FIG. 1 shows a basic diagram of a compact vehicle climate control system. The vehicle climate control system has a refrigerant circuit 1, which contains at least the usual components. In particular, there are provided a compressor 2 as the refrigerant compressor, a gas cooler/condenser 3, an internal heat exchanger 4 as well as an expansion element 5 with the afterwards arranged evaporator 6. The circuit is closed by the usual fluid connection lines and the configuration represented shows a combined storage battery and internal heat exchanger 4, which is provided for suitable refrigerants for superheating of the refrigerant vapor and for supercooling of the condensate with the function of the refrigerant collector in the refrigerant circuit 1.

[0033] Furthermore, a second expansion element is provided in the refrigerant circuit 1 as an intermediate expansion element 7, which is arranged upstream from the expansion element 5 and has the function of providing an intermediate pressure level. Between the intermediate expansion element 7 and the expansion element 5, which produces the evaporation pressure level for the evaporator 6, is arranged a heat exchanger 8. This heat exchanger 8 is integrated in a battery temperature regulation circuit 9 on the other side and thus thermally connects the refrigerant circuit 1 to the battery temperature regulation circuit 9. The battery temperature regulation circuit 9 has, besides the heat exchanger 8, its own battery heat exchanger 10, which is in thermal contact with the vehicle battery (not shown), in order to heat or cool the battery depending on the operating situation. The functional designation of indirect heating and indirect cooling of the battery (not shown) by the heat exchanger 8 results from the use of the additional battery heat exchanger 10 or by use of the battery temperature regulation circuit 9.

[0034] Furthermore, there is provided in the battery temperature regulation circuit 9 a pump 13 for circulating the heat transfer fluid. Moreover, a low-temperature heat exchanger 12 distinguished by its temperature level is provided for the transfer of heat of the battery temperature regulation circuit 9 to the surroundings or to other suitable heat sinks. The heat management of the vehicle's driving motor 11 can likewise be done via the battery temperature regulation circuit 9, for which the vehicle's driving motor 11 is also thermally integrated in the battery temperature regulation circuit 9.

[0035] FIG. 2 shows the refrigerant circuit 1 of the vehicle climate control system similar to FIG. 1. The heat exchanger for the transfer of heat or the uptake of heat from the refrigerant circuit is represented immediately and directly as the battery heat exchanger 10 in this embodiment.

[0036] Both embodiments shown per FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 fulfill the function of temperature regulation of the vehicle battery by means of a vehicle climate control system. The incorporating of a heat exchanger for the direct or indirect heating or cooling of the battery in the refrigerant circuit 1 by utilizing an intermediate pressure level thanks to providing a second expansion element and the regulation or control of the intermediate expansion element 7 enables the flexible utilization of the embodiments for the heating or cooling of the vehicle battery. Thus, an efficient temperature regulation of the vehicle battery can be accomplished by means of a vehicle climate control system with few components and an inexpensive control method.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0037] 1 refrigerant circuit [0038] 2 compressor [0039] 3 gas cooler/condenser [0040] 4 internal heat exchanger [0041] 5 expansion element [0042] 6 evaporator [0043] 7 intermediate expansion element [0044] 8 heat exchanger [0045] 9 battery temperature regulation circuit [0046] 10 battery heat exchanger [0047] 11 vehicle's driving motor [0048] 12 low-temperature heat exchanger [0049] 13 pump