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CN-116194661-B - Component housing unit and vehicle thermal management system including the same

CN116194661BCN 116194661 BCN116194661 BCN 116194661BCN-116194661-B

Abstract

Component housing unit (1) for a vehicle thermal management system (S) and vehicle thermal management system (S) comprising the component housing unit (1). The component housing unit (1) is configured for attachment to an outer surface (2 a) of an expansion tank (2) having an inner surface (2 b) defining an inner volume (2 c). The component housing unit (1) is configured for connection to a first thermal control circuit (3 a) and a second thermal control circuit (3 b), and for connecting an interior volume (2 c) of the expansion tank (2) to the first thermal control circuit (3 a) and the second thermal control circuit (3 b), respectively. The component housing unit (1) comprises a first component interface (4 a) for direct attachment of a first system component (5 a) connected to a first thermal control circuit (3 a) and a second component interface (4 b) for direct attachment of a second system component (5 b) connected to a second thermal control circuit (3 b).

Inventors

  • D. Buwap
  • M. JOHNSON

Assignees

  • 宁波吉利汽车研究开发有限公司
  • 浙江吉利控股集团有限公司

Dates

Publication Date
20260512
Application Date
20210616
Priority Date
20200707

Claims (14)

  1. 1. A component housing unit (1) for a vehicle thermal management system (S), wherein the component housing unit (1) is configured for attachment to an outer surface (2 a) of an expansion tank (2) having an inner surface (2 b) defining an inner volume (2 c); Characterized in that the component housing unit (1) is configured for connection to a first thermal control circuit (3 a) and a second thermal control circuit (3 b), and wherein the component housing unit (1) is configured for connection of an internal volume (2 c) of the expansion tank (2) to the first thermal control circuit (3 a) and the second thermal control circuit (3 b), respectively; wherein the component housing unit (1) comprises a first component interface (4 a) and a second component interface (4 b), the first component interface (4 a) being configured for direct attachment of a first system component (5 a) connected to the first thermal control circuit (3 a), the second component interface (4 b) being configured for direct attachment of a second system component (5 b) connected to the second thermal control circuit (3 b); wherein the component housing unit (1) comprises a valve unit (11), wherein when the valve unit (11) is in a first position, the thermal control circuits (3 a, 3 b) are arranged in parallel relationship, and when the valve unit (11) is in a second position, the thermal control circuits (3 a, 3 b) are arranged in series; Wherein the component housing unit (1) comprises a first flow channel (6 a) connected to the first component interface (4 a) and a second flow channel (6 b) connected to the second component interface (4 b), wherein the first flow channel (6 a) and the second flow channel (6 b) are arranged within the component housing unit (1); Wherein the first flow channel (6 a) comprises a first tank fluid port (8 a), the second flow channel (6 b) comprises a second tank fluid port (8 b), wherein the first tank fluid port (8 a) is configured for connecting the first flow channel (6 a) to the interior volume (2 c) of the expansion tank (2) via a first inlet/outlet fluid opening (9 a) of the expansion tank (2), wherein the second tank fluid port (8 b) is configured for connecting the second flow channel (6 b) to the interior volume (2 c) of the expansion tank (2) via a second inlet/outlet fluid opening (9 b) of the expansion tank (2), and wherein the first tank fluid port (8 a) is arranged in overlapping relation with the first inlet/outlet fluid opening (9 a), the second tank fluid port (8 b) is arranged in overlapping relation with the second inlet/outlet fluid opening (9 b).
  2. 2. The component housing unit (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first flow channel (6 a) and the second flow channel (6 b) are arranged separately from each other within the component housing unit (1).
  3. 3. The component housing unit (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first component interface (4 a) is configured for attaching a first circulation pump (10 a) to the component housing unit (1) and the second component interface (4 b) is configured for attaching a second circulation pump (10 b) to the component housing unit (1).
  4. 4. The component housing unit (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the component housing unit (1) comprises a first housing fluid port (7 a) and a second housing fluid port (7 b), the first housing fluid port (7 a) being configured for connecting the component housing unit (1) to the first thermal control circuit (3 a) and/or the second thermal control circuit (3 b), the second housing fluid port (7 b) being configured for connecting the component housing unit (1) to the second thermal control circuit (3 b) and/or the first thermal control circuit (3 a); wherein the first flow channel (6 a) extends between the first housing fluid port (7 a) and the first component interface (4 a), and wherein the second flow channel (6 a) extends between the second housing fluid port (7 b) and the second component interface (4 b).
  5. 5. The component housing unit (1) according to claim 4, wherein the valve unit (11) comprises a valve housing (11 c) formed within the component housing unit (1) and a first valve inlet fluid port (11 a) and a second valve inlet fluid port (11 b) connected to the valve housing (11 c); Wherein the first valve inlet fluid port (11 a) is configured for connecting the valve unit (11) to the first thermal control circuit (3 a), and the second valve inlet fluid port (11 b) is configured for connecting the valve unit (11) to the second thermal control circuit (3 b); Wherein the valve housing (11 c) is further connected to the first housing fluid port (7 a) and the second housing fluid port (7 b), wherein the valve unit (11) is configured for connecting the first valve inlet fluid port (11 a) to the first flow channel (6 a) and/or the second flow channel (6 b), and the second valve inlet fluid port (11 b) to the second flow channel (6 b) and/or the first flow channel (6 a).
  6. 6. The component housing unit (1) according to claim 1, wherein the first flow channel (6 a) comprises a first air separator (12 a) configured for guiding separated air to the expansion tank (2) and/or the second flow channel (6 b) comprises a second air separator (12 b) configured for guiding separated air to the expansion tank (2).
  7. 7. The component housing unit (1) according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that the component housing unit (1) comprises one or more further component interfaces (13) configured for direct attachment of a corresponding one or more further system components (14).
  8. 8. The component housing unit (1) according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that the component housing unit (1) is configured for connection to one or more further thermal control circuits (15), wherein the component housing unit (1) is configured for connection of the inner volume (2 c) of the expansion tank (2) to the one or more further thermal control circuits (15).
  9. 9. A vehicle thermal management system (S) comprising a component housing unit (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the system (S) further comprises an expansion tank (2), a first thermal control circuit (3 a), a second thermal control circuit (3 b), a first system component (5 a) and a second system component (5 b); wherein the expansion tank (2) is arranged with an outer surface (2 a) and an inner surface (2 b) defining an inner volume (2 c), wherein the component housing unit (1) is attached to the outer surface (2 a) of the expansion tank (2); Wherein the first thermal control circuit (3 a) and the second thermal control circuit (3 b) are connected to the component housing unit (1), wherein the component housing unit (1) connects the internal volume (2 c) of the expansion tank (2) to the first thermal control circuit (3 a) and the second thermal control circuit (3 b), respectively; Wherein the component housing unit (1) comprises a first component interface (4 a) and a second component interface (4 b), wherein the first system component (5 a) is connected to the first thermal control circuit (3 a) and the second system component (5 b) is connected to the second thermal control circuit (3 b), wherein the first system component (5 a) is directly attached to the first component interface (4 a) and the second system component (5 b) is directly attached to the second component interface (4 b); Wherein the component housing unit (1) further comprises a valve unit (11), wherein the thermal control circuits (3 a, 3 b) are arranged in parallel relationship when the valve unit (11) is in a first position, and wherein the thermal control circuits (3 a, 3 b) are arranged in series when the valve unit (11) is in a second position.
  10. 10. The vehicle thermal management system (S) according to claim 9, characterized in that the component housing unit (1) comprises a first flow channel (6 a) connected to the first component interface (4 a) and a second flow channel (6 b) connected to the second component interface (4 b), wherein the first flow channel (6 a) comprises a first tank fluid port (8 a) and the second flow channel (6 b) comprises a second tank fluid port (8 b), wherein the first tank fluid port (8 a) connects the first flow channel (6 a) to the inner volume (2 c) of the expansion tank (2) via a first inlet/outlet fluid opening (9 a) of the expansion tank (2), and wherein the second tank fluid port (8 b) connects the second flow channel (6 b) to the inner volume (2 c) of the expansion tank (2) via a second inlet/outlet fluid opening (9 b) of the expansion tank (2).
  11. 11. The vehicle thermal management system (S) according to claim 9, characterized in that the valve unit (11) comprises a valve housing (11 c) formed within the component housing unit (1) and a first valve inlet fluid port (11 a) and a second valve inlet fluid port (11 b) connected to the valve housing (11 c); Wherein the first valve inlet fluid port (11 a) connects the valve unit (11) to the first thermal control circuit (3 a) and the second valve inlet fluid port (11 b) connects the valve unit (11) to the second thermal control circuit (3 b); Wherein the valve housing (11 c) is further connected to a first housing fluid port (7 a) and a second housing fluid port (7 b), wherein the valve unit (11) connects the first valve inlet fluid port (11 a) to the first flow channel (6 a) and/or the second flow channel (6 b), and the second valve inlet fluid port (11 b) to the second flow channel (6 b) and/or the first flow channel (6 a).
  12. 12. The vehicle thermal management system (S) according to any one of claims 9-11, characterized in that the component housing unit (1) comprises one or more further component interfaces (13) and the system (S) further comprises a corresponding one or more further system components (14), wherein the one or more further system components (14) are directly attached to the one or more further component interfaces (13).
  13. 13. The vehicle thermal management system (S) according to any of claims 9-11, characterized in that the system (S) further comprises one or more further thermal control circuits (15), wherein the component housing unit (1) connects the internal volume (2 c) of the expansion tank (2 a) to the one or more further thermal control circuits (15).
  14. 14. The vehicle thermal management system (S) according to any one of claims 9-11, characterized in that the system components (5 a, 5b, 14) are removably attached to their corresponding component interfaces (4 a, 4b, 13).

Description

Component housing unit and vehicle thermal management system including the same Technical Field The present disclosure relates to a component housing unit for a vehicle thermal management system. The component housing unit is configured for attachment to an outer surface of an expansion tank having an inner surface defining an interior volume. The present disclosure also relates to a vehicle thermal management system including a component housing unit, an expansion tank, a first thermal control circuit, and a second thermal control circuit. Background Vehicle thermal management systems are widely used in today's vehicles for controlling the temperature ranges of different vehicle units, such as for example power electronics units and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, as well as other types of vehicle units or components that are part of the vehicle construction). In new energy vehicles, for example, such as hybrid vehicles or electric vehicles (including battery electric vehicles, fuel cell electric vehicles, and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles), it is necessary to temperature control high-voltage battery components and power electronic components for supplying energy to a motor. Temperature control may depend on, for example, the driving conditions of the vehicle, the ambient temperature, and the type of components used in the vehicle system. Thermal management of a vehicle is configured to cool or heat a corresponding vehicle system. For new energy vehicles, thermal management systems require redesign compared to systems used in conventional vehicles with internal combustion engines. These systems are often complex in design and construction, involving a large number of components that take up space in the vehicle and add weight to the vehicle construction. This leads to packaging and weight problems for the components and further causes the thermal management system to be generally expensive and lack flexibility in construction. Accordingly, there is a need for an improved thermal management system that is simple in design and construction and has fewer components than those used today, wherein such a system is further designed with reduced weight and reduced packaging problems. Disclosure of Invention It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a component housing unit for a vehicle thermal management system and a vehicle thermal management system that avoid the aforementioned problems. This object is at least partly achieved by the features of the independent claims. The dependent claims contain further improvements of the component housing unit and of the vehicle thermal management system. The present disclosure relates to a component housing unit for a vehicle thermal management system. The component housing unit is configured for attachment to an outer surface of an expansion tank having an inner surface defining an interior volume. The component housing unit is configured for connection to the first and second thermal control circuits, and the component housing unit is configured for connection of the internal volume of the expansion tank to the first and second thermal control circuits, respectively. The component housing unit includes a first component interface configured for direct attachment of a first system component connected to a first thermal control circuit and a second component interface configured for direct attachment of a second system component connected to a second thermal control circuit. An advantage of having these features is that by design and construction of the component housing unit, the thermal management system can be manufactured with a compact design having a lighter weight than conventional systems. By attaching the system components to the component interface, the number of system components that occupy vehicle space is reduced, which enables these systems to also be manufactured with less complex designs and configurations. The component housing unit thus simplifies the component packaging and provides a flexible and less expensive system construction. This solution is simpler in design, having fewer parts and thus lighter in weight than the systems currently in use. The component housing simplifies the integration of the different components with each other and integrating the system components in an efficient manner is increasingly important to simplify the removal, attachment and replacement of the system components when needed. According to one aspect of the disclosure, the component housing unit includes a first flow channel connected to the first component interface and a second flow channel connected to the second component interface. This configuration of the component housing unit allows the system components to be integrated into the respective thermal control circuits in an efficient manner by connecting to the flow channels. The system components can be integrated in the thermal control circuit through a component interf