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EP-4741186-A1 - THERMAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE, AND METHOD

EP4741186A1EP 4741186 A1EP4741186 A1EP 4741186A1EP-4741186-A1

Abstract

A thermal management system for a vehicle, and a method. The thermal management system comprises: an air conditioning device (10), comprising an air conditioning main unit (101), a compressor (102), and a condenser (103) connected in sequence; and a heat exchange device (20), one end thereof being connected to a refrigerant input end of the compressor (102), and the other end thereof being connected between the condenser (103) and the air conditioning main unit (101). When the condenser (103) operates, a refrigeration circuit is formed among the air conditioning main unit (101), the compressor (102), and the condenser (103); and when the condenser (103) does not operate, a waste heat recovery circuit is formed among the air conditioning main unit (101), the compressor (102), the condenser (103), and the heat exchange device (20).

Inventors

  • WANG, JIAN
  • XIA, Songyong
  • HU, Lei
  • XU, JIAN
  • DAI, Lihui

Assignees

  • ZHEJIANG ZEEKR INTELLIGENT TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
  • Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co., Ltd.

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20240802

Claims (14)

  1. A thermal management system for a vehicle, comprising: an air conditioning device (10), the air conditioning device comprising a heating-ventilation and air conditioning host (101), a compressor (102), and a condenser (103) connected in sequence; and a heat exchange device (20), an end of the heat exchange device being connected to a refrigerant input end of the compressor (102), and another end of the heat exchange device being connected between the condenser (103) and the heating-ventilation and air conditioning host (101); wherein when the condenser (103) operates, the heating-ventilation and air conditioning host (101), the compressor (102), and the condenser (103) form a refrigeration circuit; and when the condenser (103) does not operate, the heating-ventilation and air conditioning host (101), the compressor (102), the condenser (103), and the heat exchange device (20) form a waste heat recovery circuit, and refrigerant is caused to flow through the heating-ventilation and air conditioning host (101) to release heat, then flow into the heat exchange device (20) before returning to the compressor (102).
  2. The thermal management system according to claim 1, wherein a first solenoid valve (SOV1) is connected between the heating-ventilation and air conditioning host (101) and the compressor (102), a first electronic expansion valve (EXV1) and a second solenoid valve (SOV2) are connected in sequence between the heating-ventilation and air conditioning host (101) and the condenser (103), and an end of a third electronic expansion valve (EXV3) is connected between the heating-ventilation and air conditioning host and the first solenoid valve (SOV1), and another end of the third electronic expansion valve (EXV3) is connected between the condenser (103) and the second solenoid valve (SOV2).
  3. The thermal management system according to claim 2, wherein the heat exchange device (20) comprises: a chiller (201), an end of the chiller (201) being connected to the refrigerant input end of the compressor (102); and a second electronic expansion valve (EXV2), an end of the second electronic expansion valve (EXV2) being connected to another end of the chiller (201), and another end of the second electronic expansion valve (EXV2) being connected between the first electronic expansion valve (EXV1) and the second solenoid valve (SOV2), wherein when the first solenoid valve (SOV1) and the second solenoid valve (SOV2) are closed, the third electronic expansion valve (EXV3) is throttling, the first electronic expansion valve (EXV1) is fully open, and the second electronic expansion valve (EXV2) is throttling, the waste heat recovery circuit is formed, and the refrigerant is caused to absorb heat through the chiller (201).
  4. The thermal management system according to claim 3, further comprising a controller (30) being electrically connected to the first solenoid valve (SOV1), the second solenoid valve (SOV2), the first electronic expansion valve (EXV1), the second electronic expansion valve (EXV2), the third electronic expansion valve (EXV3), and the heat exchange device, respectively, and configured to: when the refrigeration circuit is formed, control the first solenoid valve (SOV1) and the second solenoid valve (SOV2) to open, control the second electronic expansion valve (EXV2) and the third electronic expansion valve (EXV3) to close, and control the first electronic expansion valve (EXV1) to throttle; and when the waste heat recovery circuit is formed, control the first solenoid valve (SOV1) and the second solenoid valve (SOV2) to close, control the third electronic expansion valve (EXV3) to throttle, control the first electronic expansion valve (EXV1) to fully open, and control the second electronic expansion valve (EXV2) to throttle.
  5. The thermal management system according to claim 4, wherein the controller (30) comprises: a cabin signal acquisition unit, configured to acquire a circuit control signal indicating that a cabin of the vehicle is in an unoccupied state; a heat dissipation control unit, configured to control the condenser (103) to stop heat dissipation upon acquiring the circuit control signal; and a circuit control unit, configured to control switching between the refrigeration circuit and the waste heat recovery circuit.
  6. The thermal management system according to claim 5, wherein the circuit control unit comprises: a temperature monitor, configured to acquire a temperature control signal indicating that a temperature difference between a temperature of the refrigerant about to enter the heating-ventilation and air conditioning host (101) and a temperature inside the cabin of the vehicle has not reached a predetermined temperature difference; and a pressure controller, configured to control a throttling pressure of the third electronic expansion valve (EXV3) on the refrigerant according to the temperature control signal until the temperature difference reaches the predetermined temperature difference.
  7. The thermal management system according to claim 6, wherein a range of the predetermined temperature difference is 10-20°C.
  8. The thermal management system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the condenser (103) comprises a water-cooled condenser or an air-cooled condenser.
  9. The thermal management system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the heating-ventilation and air conditioning host (101) comprises an evaporator (1011) and a blower, wherein the blower (1012) is mounted corresponding to the evaporator (1011) to control the blower (1012) to blow air towards the evaporator (1011) when the waste heat recovery circuit is formed.
  10. The thermal management system according to claim 9, wherein when the waste heat recovery circuit is formed, the blower (1012) blows air towards the evaporator (1011) for drying when a temperature of the refrigerant flowing through the heating-ventilation and air conditioning host (101) is 10-20°C higher than a temperature inside a cabin of the vehicle.
  11. A thermal management method for a vehicle, applied to the thermal management system according to any one of claims 1-10, the method comprising: (S1) acquiring a waste heat recovery control signal when the refrigeration circuit of the vehicle is closed and a circuit control signal indicates that a cabin of the vehicle is in an unoccupied state; (S2) according to the waste heat recovery control signal and the circuit control signal, controlling a condenser (103) in the thermal management system to stop, controlling a first solenoid valve (SOV1) and a second solenoid valve (SOV2) in the thermal management system to close, controlling a third electronic expansion valve (EXV3) to throttle, controlling a first electronic expansion valve (EXV1) to fully open, and controlling a second electronic expansion valve (EXV2) to throttle, to form a waste heat recovery circuit; (S3) monitoring temperature data of a to-be-cooled device, determining whether the temperature data of the to-be-cooled device exceeds a preset requirement, in response to the temperature data of the to-be-cooled device exceeding the preset requirement, controlling the refrigerant in the waste heat recovery circuit to pass through the second electronic expansion valve (EXV2) throttling, causing the refrigerant flowing through the heat exchange device (20) to absorb heat from a cooling device of the to-be-cooled device, and causing the refrigerant to return to the compressor (102), and in response to the temperature data of the to-be-cooled device not exceeding the preset requirement, controlling the refrigerant to return directly to the compressor (102) after passing through the second electronic expansion valve (EXV2) throttling.
  12. The method according to claim 11, wherein determining whether the temperature data of the to-be-cooled device exceeds the preset requirement comprises: determining whether a circulating water temperature of the to-be-cooled device is greater than a preset temperature, to control whether the refrigerant absorbs heat from a circulating water, and determining whether the circulating water temperature after the circulating water being heat-absorbed by the refrigerant meets a water inlet requirement of the to-be-cooled device.
  13. The method according to claim 12, wherein determining whether the circulating water temperature of the to-be-cooled device is greater than the preset temperature, to control whether the refrigerant absorbs heat from the circulating water comprises: in response to determining that the circulating water temperature of the to-be-cooled device is greater than the preset temperature, controlling the refrigerant to absorb heat from the circulating water; and in response to determining that the circulating water temperature of the to-be-cooled device is equal to or less than the preset temperature, controlling the refrigerant not to absorb heat from the circulating water, and return directly to the compressor (102).
  14. The method according to claim 12 or 13, wherein determining whether the circulating water temperature after the circulating water being heat-absorbed by the refrigerant meets the water inlet requirement of the to-be-cooled device comprises: in response to determining that the circulating water temperature after heat absorption exceeds a water inlet temperature of the to-be-cooled device, continuing to control the refrigerant to absorb heat from the circulating water of the to-be-cooled device; and in response to determining that the circulating water temperature after heat absorption meets the water inlet temperature of the to-be-cooled device, controlling the refrigerant to stop absorbing heat from the circulating water of the to-be-cooled device, and return directly to the compressor (102).

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the benefit of priority to Chinese Application No. 202311151674.7, filed to the China National Intellectual Property Administration on September 07, 2023, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. TECHNICAL FIELD Embodiments of the present application relate to, but are not limited to, the field of vehicle air conditioning technology, and in particular, relate to, but are not limited to, a thermal management system and method for a vehicle. BACKGROUND A vehicle air conditioning device, referred to as a vehicle air conditioner, is used to adjust and control the temperature, humidity, air cleanliness, and air flow within the vehicle compartment to an optimal state, providing a comfortable riding environment for occupants and reducing travel fatigue; simultaneously, the vehicle air conditioner creates favorable working conditions for the driver, playing a significant role in ensuring safe driving. The vehicle air conditioner generally includes a refrigeration device, a heating device, and a ventilation device. SUMMARY The present application provides a thermal management system for a vehicle, including: an air conditioning device including a heating-ventilation and air conditioning host, a compressor, and a condenser connected in sequence; and a heat exchange device, an end of the heat exchange device being connected to a refrigerant input end of the compressor, and another end of the heat exchange device being connected between the condenser and the heating-ventilation and air conditioning host; where, when the condenser operates, the heating-ventilation and air conditioning host, the compressor, and the condenser form a refrigeration circuit; when the condenser does not operate, the heating-ventilation and air conditioning host, the compressor, the condenser, and the heat exchange device form a waste heat recovery circuit, and the refrigerant is caused to flow through the heating-ventilation and air conditioning host to release heat, then flow into the heat exchange device before returning to the compressor. In an embodiment of the present application, a first solenoid valve is connected between the heating-ventilation and air conditioning host and the compressor, a first electronic expansion valve and a second solenoid valve are connected in sequence between the heating-ventilation and air conditioning host and the condenser, an end of a third electronic expansion valve is connected between the heating-ventilation and air conditioning host and the first solenoid valve, and another end of the third electronic expansion valve is connected between the condenser and the second solenoid valve. In an embodiment of the present application, the heat exchange device includes: a chiller, an end of the chiller being connected to the refrigerant input end of the compressor; and a second electronic expansion valve, an end of the second electronic expansion valve being connected to another end of the chiller, and another end of the second electronic expansion valve being connected between the first electronic expansion valve and the second solenoid valve; where, when the first solenoid valve and the second solenoid valve are closed, the third electronic expansion valve is throttling, the first electronic expansion valve is fully open, and the second electronic expansion valve is throttling, the waste heat recovery circuit is formed, and the refrigerant is caused to absorb heat through the chiller. In an embodiment of the present application, the thermal management system further includes a controller electrically connected to the first solenoid valve, the second solenoid valve, the first electronic expansion valve, the second electronic expansion valve, the third electronic expansion valve, and the heat exchange device, respectively, and configured to: control the first solenoid valve and the second solenoid valve to open, control the second electronic expansion valve and the third electronic expansion valve to close, and control the first electronic expansion valve to throttle when forming the refrigeration circuit; and control the first solenoid valve and the second solenoid valve to close, control the third electronic expansion valve to throttle, control the first electronic expansion valve to fully open, and control the second electronic expansion valve to throttle when forming the waste heat recovery circuit. In an embodiment of the present application, the controller includes: a cabin signal acquisition unit, configured to acquire a circuit control signal indicating that the cabin of the vehicle is in an unoccupied state; a heat dissipation control unit, configured to control the condenser to stop heat dissipation upon acquiring the circuit control signal; and a circuit control unit, configured to control switching between the refrigeration circuit and the waste heat recovery circuit. In an embodiment of the present application