CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM WITH A CONTROLLED EJECTOR

Abstract

In order to provide climate control system for heating or cooling a space, in particular a vehicle interior, having a compressor for conveying a refrigerant, which can efficiently use the refrigerant CO.sub.2 for heat pump applications as well, it is proposed to arrange a high-pressure chiller for cooling the refrigerant downstream of the compressor and a low-pressure chiller for heating the refrigerant upstream of the compressor, wherein a refrigerant exiting from the high-pressure chiller can be supplied to a motive mass inlet of a first ejector and a refrigerant exiting from the low-pressure chiller can be supplied to a suction mass inlet of the first ejector, and wherein an outlet of the first ejector is connected directly or indirectly to a liquid separator.

Claims

1. A climate control system for heating or cooling a space, in particular a vehicle interior, the climate control system comprising: a compressor to convey a refrigerant; a high pressure chiller or a gas cooler and/or an interior condenser being arranged downstream of the compressor to cool the refrigerant; and a low-pressure chiller arranged upstream of the compressor to heat the refrigerant, wherein a refrigerant exiting from the high-pressure chiller is supplied to a motive mass inlet of a first ejector, wherein a refrigerant exiting from the low-pressure chiller is supplied to a suction mass inlet of the first ejector, and wherein an outlet of the first ejector is connected directly or indirectly to a liquid separator.

2. The climate control system according to claim 1, wherein the outlet of the first ejector is indirectly connected to the liquid separator via an interior evaporator.

3. The climate control system according to claim 1, wherein an interior evaporator is connected in parallel to the low-pressure chiller, and wherein an expansion valve is connected upstream of the interior evaporator and/or the low-pressure chiller.

4. The climate control system according to claim 1, wherein a refrigerant outlet of the high-pressure chiller or the gas cooler is thermally coupled to a refrigerant inlet of the compressor or via an interior heat exchanger.

5. The climate control system according to claim 1, wherein the outlet of the first ejector is indirectly connected to the liquid separator via a second ejector, wherein the outlet of the first ejector is connected to a suction mass inlet of the second ejector and the outlet of the second ejector is connected to the liquid separator.

6. The climate control system according to claim 5, wherein a branch arranged downstream of the compressor or upstream of the compressor or downstream of the high-pressure chiller is connected directly or via an interior condenser or via an interior heat exchanger to a motive mass inlet of the second ejector or to a motive mass inlet of the first ejector.

7. The climate control system according to claim 1, wherein the outlet of the first ejector is connected to a motive mass inlet of the second ejector, wherein a refrigerant flows through an interior heat exchanger branched off upstream of the low-pressure chiller and is connected to the suction mass inlet of the first ejector, or wherein a refrigerant flows through the indoor heat exchanger flows branched off downstream of the high pressure chiller and is connected to the suction mass inlet of the second ejector.

8. The climate control system according to claim 1, wherein a gas cooler is connected between the refrigerant outlet of the high-pressure chiller and the motive mass inlet of the first ejector or between the refrigerant outlet of the liquid separator and the motive mass inlet of the first ejector.

9. The climate control system according to claim 1, wherein a refrigerant outlet of a gas cooler is connected to the motive mass inlet of the second ejector.

10. A motor vehicle comprising a climate control system according to claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are not limitive of the present invention, and wherein:

[0032] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a climate control device according to a first exemplary embodiment;

[0033] FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of a climate control device according to a second exemplary embodiment;

[0034] FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of a climate control device according to a third exemplary embodiment;

[0035] FIG. 4 shows a schematic representation of a climate control device according to a fourth exemplary embodiment;

[0036] FIG. 5 shows a schematic representation of a climate control device according to a fifth exemplary embodiment;

[0037] FIGS. 6a and 6b show schematic representations of a climate control device according to a sixth exemplary embodiment in a cooling mode and in a heating mode;

[0038] FIGS. 7a and 7b shows schematic representations of a climate control device according to a seventh exemplary embodiment in a cooling mode and in a heating mode;

[0039] FIGS. 8a and 8b show schematic representations of a climate control device according to an eighth exemplary embodiment in an air conditioning mode and in a heat pump mode;

[0040] FIGS. 9a and 9b show schematic representations of a climate control device according to a ninth exemplary embodiment in an air conditioning mode and in a heat pump mode;

[0041] FIGS. 10a to 10c show schematic representations of a climate control device according to a tenth exemplary embodiment in an air conditioning mode, in a heat pump mode, and in a reheating mode;

[0042] FIGS. 11a and 11b show schematic representations of a climate control device according to an eleventh exemplary embodiment in an air conditioning mode and in a heating mode;

[0043] FIGS. 12a and 12b show schematic representations of a climate control device according to a twelfth exemplary embodiment in an air conditioning mode and in a heating mode; and

[0044] FIG. 13 shows a side view of a motor vehicle of the invention according to an exemplary embodiment with a climate control device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0045] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a climate control device 10 according to a first exemplary embodiment. Climate control system 10 is used to heat or cool an exemplary vehicle interior 110, which is illustrated in FIG. 13.

[0046] Climate control system 10 has a compressor 11 for conveying a refrigerant. For example, CO.sub.2 can be used as the refrigerant. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, compressor 11 is designed as an electrically driven compressor.

[0047] Downstream of compressor 11, a high-pressure chiller 12 is provided for cooling the refrigerant or removing heat from the refrigerant to a water cooling circuit.

[0048] Analogous to high-pressure chiller 12, a low-pressure chiller 13 is provided upstream of compressor 11 for heating the refrigerant or for removing heat output from the thermally coupled water cooling circuit.

[0049] A refrigerant exiting high-pressure chiller 12 is supplied to a motive mass inlet 22 of a first ejector 21, and a refrigerant exiting from low-pressure chiller 13 is supplied to a suction mass inlet 23 of first ejector 21.

[0050] In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, an outlet 24 of first ejector 21 is indirectly connected to a liquid separator 14 via an interior evaporator 15. Interior evaporator 15 is preferably thermally coupled to vehicle interior 110 and can, for example, have air flowing therethrough from an interior fan.

[0051] Liquid separator 14 is designed as an economizer and can separate the liquid phase from the gaseous phase of the refrigerant. Accordingly, the gaseous phase can be guided in the direction of compressor 11 and the liquid phase to low-pressure chiller 13.

[0052] First ejector 21 is designed as a controlled ejector and has an electric drive 25. Electric actuator 25 is used to adjust a cross section of an annular gap, with which the velocity or a volumetric flow rate of the motive mass flow supplied through motive mass inlet 22 is adjusted.

[0053] Furthermore, an expansion valve 16 is arranged between liquid separator 14 and low-pressure chiller 13 in order to evaporate and thus to cool the refrigerant supplied in the liquid phase to low-pressure chiller 13.

[0054] A schematic representation of a climate control device 10 according to a second exemplary embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 2. In contrast to the first exemplary embodiment, an interior heat exchanger 17 is provided here, which thermally couples a refrigerant outlet of high-pressure chiller 12 to a refrigerant inlet of compressor 11.

[0055] FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of a climate control device 10 according to a third exemplary embodiment. Climate control device 10 according to a third exemplary embodiment is based on the exemplary embodiments already described, but interior evaporator 15 is arranged in parallel to low-pressure chiller 13. In this case, an expansion valve 18 is connected upstream of interior evaporator 15, analogous to low-pressure chiller 13.

[0056] Because interior evaporator 15 is arranged at a new position, first ejector 21, in particular outlet 24 of first ejector 21, can be connected proximately or directly to liquid separator 14.

[0057] FIG. 4 shows a schematic representation of a climate control device 10 according to a fourth exemplary embodiment, which is based on the second exemplary embodiment. In this case, in the fourth exemplary embodiment, analogous to the third exemplary embodiment, interior evaporator 15 has been moved downstream of liquid separator 14 and in parallel to low-pressure chiller 13. There is also an interior heat exchanger 17, which thermally couples the refrigerant outlet of high-pressure chiller 12 to the refrigerant inlet of compressor 11.

[0058] FIG. 5 illustrates in a schematic representation a climate control device 10 according to a fifth exemplary embodiment. Climate control device 10 according to the fifth exemplary embodiment is based on the third exemplary embodiment and has an interior condenser 19.

[0059] Interior condenser 19 is placed downstream of compressor 11, in parallel to high-pressure chiller 12.

[0060] Furthermore, outlet 24 of first ejector 21 opens into a suction mass inlet 33 of a second ejector 31. Interior condenser 19 is connected to a motive mass inlet 32 of second ejector 31. Finally, an outlet 34 of second ejector 31 opens into liquid separator 14. Thus, first ejector 21 is indirectly connected to liquid separator 14 via second ejector 31.

[0061] Second ejector 31 is designed as a controlled ejector, analogous to first ejector 21.

[0062] In the fifth exemplary embodiment, a branch A1 arranged downstream of the compressor is indirectly connected to motive mass inlet 23 of second ejector 31 via interior condenser 19.

[0063] Thus, an interior condenser 19 is arranged in parallel to high-pressure chiller 12 and is set up to heat a supply air of vehicle interior 110. The second jet pump or second ejector 31 is used to control the application and utilization of the expansion work.

[0064] In the fifth exemplary embodiment, heating as well as cooling and reheating are realized by direct heat transfer from the climate control circuit to the interior air.

[0065] FIG. 6a and FIG. 6b show schematic representations of a climate control device 10 according to a sixth exemplary embodiment in a cooling mode and in a heating mode. Here, FIG. 6a shows climate control device 10 in a cooling mode or air conditioning mode, and FIG. 6b shows the climate control device in a heating mode.

[0066] The sixth exemplary embodiment is based on the first exemplary embodiment and was expanded by second ejector 31 and an interior heat exchanger 40. Interior heat exchanger 40 is arranged in parallel to second ejector 31 and is connected to motive mass inlet 32 of second ejector 31. In the cooling mode, interior heat exchanger 40 is coupled to second ejector 31 via liquid separator 14.

[0067] To realize the heating mode, it is necessary to connect interior heat exchanger 40 via a branch A1 located downstream of the compressor. In both operating modes, interior heat exchanger 40 opens into motive mass inlet 32 of second ejector 31. An expansion valve 18 is positioned in branch A1.

[0068] The switching of the operating modes occurs via two valves 51, 52.

[0069] Optionally, a water heat exchanger or an air heater for the interior air can be provided to ensure the reheating mode for drying air in vehicle interior 110.

[0070] The exemplary embodiments shown in the figures explain the principle, for the sake of simplicity, using a motor vehicle 100 (see FIG. 13). However, climate control system 10 is not limited to use in motor vehicles 100.

[0071] Schematic representations of a climate control device according to a seventh exemplary embodiment in a cooling mode and in a heating mode are shown in FIG. 7a and FIG. 7b. The seventh exemplary embodiment substantially corresponds to the sixth exemplary embodiment. In particular, the operating mode shown in FIG. 7a for cooling the vehicle interior 110 by means of interior heat exchanger 40 corresponds to FIG. 6a.

[0072] FIG. 7b differs in that a branch A2 downstream of high-pressure chiller 12 is used to provide refrigerant to interior heat exchanger 40 and to supply it to motive mass inlet 32 of second ejector 31.

[0073] FIG. 8a and FIG. 8b are schematic representations of a climate control device 10 according to an eighth exemplary embodiment in an air conditioning mode and in a heat pump mode. The eighth exemplary embodiment is based on the second exemplary embodiment and has been supplemented by second ejector 31, which is arranged in parallel to an interior heat exchanger 40. Interior heat exchanger 40 replaces interior evaporator 15 in this case.

[0074] In the cooling mode, interior heat exchanger 40 is supplied with refrigerant via a third branch A3, which is located between low-pressure chiller 13 and liquid separator 14. Interior heat exchanger 40 opens into suction mass port 23 of first ejector 21.

[0075] In the heat pump mode, which is illustrated in FIG. 8b, interior heat exchanger 40 is connected to suction mass port 33 of second ejector 31 in parallel to motive mass port 22 of first ejector 21. In the heat pump mode, interior heat exchanger 40 can be connected in parallel to high-pressure chiller 12 via branch A2 and used to heat vehicle interior 110.

[0076] In the cooling mode of climate control device 10, an expansion valve 18 is connected upstream of interior heat exchanger 40.

[0077] Additional gas coolers 41 are used in the following exemplary embodiments shown in FIGS. 9 to 12. These additional gas coolers 41 can be positioned in a front end of motor vehicle 100, for example. In this regard, a direct heat transfer between the refrigerant and an environment is possible. In this regard, depending on the design, an optional interior heat exchanger 17 can also be used.

[0078] In FIG. 9a and FIG. 9b, schematic representations of a climate control device 10 according to a ninth exemplary embodiment are shown in an air conditioning mode and in a heat pump mode. The ninth exemplary embodiment is substantially based on the first exemplary embodiment and has been expanded by gas cooler 41, which is integrated into the refrigerant circuit in series with the refrigerant outlet of high-pressure chiller 12.

[0079] A refrigerant outlet of gas cooler 41 is connected both to motive mass inlet 22 of first ejector 21 and to the refrigerant outlet, for liquid refrigerant, of liquid separator 14.

[0080] Preferably, a water heat exchanger or an air heater for the interior air of vehicle interior 110 can be provided to ensure the heating and reheating mode for air drying.

[0081] In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, three valves or shut-off valves 51, 52, 53 are required to selectively drive first ejector 21 with the refrigerant exiting gas cooler 41 or exiting high-pressure chiller 12.

[0082] FIG. 10a, FIG. 10b, and FIG. 10c show schematic representations of a climate control device 10 according to a tenth exemplary embodiment in an air conditioning mode, a heat pump mode, and a reheating mode. Climate control device 10 according to the eighth exemplary embodiment is based on the third exemplary embodiment and, analogous to the tenth exemplary embodiment, has three shut-off valves 51, 52, 53 to control the connection between high-pressure chiller 12 or gas cooler 41 with first ejector 21.

[0083] Preferably, the respective shut-off valves 51, 52, 53 can be controlled by a control unit 54 which, for example, can also control expansion valves 16, 18.

[0084] In the tenth exemplary embodiment, heating as well as cooling and reheating are realized by direct heat transfer from the refrigerant circuit to vehicle interior 110.

[0085] A further expansion valve 18, which is used in the heat pump mode, is connected downstream of gas cooler 41. Refrigerant flows through interior condenser 19 via shut-off valves 51, 52, 53 in the heat pump mode and in the reheating mode in order to provide a heat output for vehicle interior 110.

[0086] In the air conditioning mode of climate control device 10, interior condenser 19 is decoupled from the refrigerant circuit, and only interior evaporator 15 is used to generate a cooling output.

[0087] FIG. 11a and FIG. 11b show schematic representations of a climate control device 10 according to an eleventh exemplary embodiment in an air conditioning mode and in a heating mode. The eleventh exemplary embodiment of climate control device 10 is based on the sixth exemplary embodiment. Analogous to this, depending on whether interior heat exchanger 40 is supplied with refrigerant via branch A1 downstream of compressor 11 or via liquid separator 14, a heat output or a cooling output can be generated in interior heat exchanger 40 and discharged to vehicle interior 110.

[0088] Due to the additional gas cooler 41, three further shut-off valves 53, 55, 56 are required in addition to the already present two shut-off valves 51, 52 to control the refrigerant flow.

[0089] FIG. 12a and FIG. 12b show schematic representations of a climate control device 10 according to a twelfth exemplary embodiment in an air conditioning mode and in a heating mode. The twelfth exemplary embodiment is based on the seventh exemplary embodiment and is also supplemented by gas cooler 41.

[0090] Interior heat exchanger 40 can optionally be connected in series to high-pressure chiller 12 in order to heat vehicle interior 110 in the heat pump mode.

[0091] An optional water heat exchanger or an air heater for the interior air is provided to ensure the reheating mode for air drying.

[0092] FIG. 13 shows a side view of a motor vehicle 100 of the invention according to an exemplary embodiment with a climate control device 10 of the invention. Motor vehicle 100 is preferably designed as an electric vehicle or BEV and has a vehicle interior 110 which can be heated, cooled, or dehumidified by climate control device 10.

[0093] The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are to be included within the scope of the following claims.