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EP-4741188-A1 - HEATING CONTROL METHOD FOR VEHICLE AND SYSTEM THEREOF

EP4741188A1EP 4741188 A1EP4741188 A1EP 4741188A1EP-4741188-A1

Abstract

Disclosed are a method for controlling heating of an HVAC system for an electric vehicle and an HVAC system thereof, the system comprising a refrigerant, a compressor (120) and a heater core (130), wherein the system is configured to circulate said refrigerant through the compressor (120) and the heater core (130) to perform heating control of the vehicle;wherein the refrigerant comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of a natural refrigerant; a hydrofluorocarbon (HFC)-based refrigerant;a hydrofluoroolefin (HFO)-based refrigerant;a hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC)-based refrigerant;a hydrocarbon-based refrigerant that is not a natural refrigerant; anda halon or a perfluorocarbon (PFC)-based refrigerant.

Inventors

  • NOH, JI SEONG
  • LEE, SU JIN

Assignees

  • SK Innovation Co., Ltd.
  • SK On Co., Ltd.

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20251111

Claims (15)

  1. A heating control method for a vehicle, wherein the heating control method comprises performing heating control by using a refrigerant, wherein the refrigerant comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of: a natural refrigerant; a hydrofluorocarbon (HFC)-based refrigerant; a hydrofluoroolefin (HFO)-based refrigerant; a hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC)-based refrigerant; a hydrocarbon-based refrigerant that is not a natural refrigerant; and a halon or a perfluorocarbon (PFC)-based refrigerant
  2. The heating control method according to claim 1, wherein the natural refrigerant comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of: methane (R-50), ammonia (R-717), carbon dioxide (R-744), ethane (R-170), and propane (R-290).
  3. The heating control method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the hydrofluorocarbon (HFC)-based refrigerant is a saturated hydrofluorocarbon (HFC)-based refrigerant and preferably comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of: difluoromethane (R-32), 1,1-difluoroethane (R-152a), pentafluoroethane (R-125), 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (R-134a), 1,1,1-trifluoroethane (R-143a), trifluoromethane (R-23), fluoroethane (R-161), 1,1,1,2,3,3,3-heptafluoropropane (R-227ea), 1,1,1,2,3,3-hexafluoropropane (R-236ea), 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoropropane (R-236fa), 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane (R-245fa), and 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluorobutane (R-365mfc).
  4. The heating control method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the hydrofluoroolefin (HFO)-based refrigerant comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of: 1,1,2-trifluoroethylene (R-1123), 1-chloro-2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (R1224yd(Z)), 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (R-1234yf), 1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (R-1234ze), 1,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (R-1234ye), 3,3,3-trifluoropropene (R-1243zf), 1,1-difluoroethylene (R-1132a), and 1,2,3,3,3-pentafluoropropene (R-1225ye).
  5. The heating control method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC)-based refrigerant comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of: chlorodifluoromethane (R-22), chlorotetrafluoroethane (R-124), and 1-chloro-1,1-difluoroethane (R-142b).
  6. The heating control method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the hydrocarbon-based refrigerant that is not a natural refrigerant comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of: propylene (R-1270), isobutane (R-600a), dimethyl ether, isopentane, and pentane.
  7. The heating control method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the halon or the perfluorocarbon (PFC)-based refrigerant comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of: trifluoroiodomethane (R-13I1), octafluoropropane (R-218), and octafluorocyclobutane (RC318).
  8. The heating control method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein performing of heating control of the vehicle by using the refrigerant comprises: operating an air conditioning system in a heating mode based on a target temperature set according to user input; controlling a post-compression temperature of the refrigerant, a flow rate of the refrigerant passing through a heater core (130), and a rotation speed of a blower fan (150) supplying air to the heater core (130), based on a difference value between the target temperature and an indoor temperature of the vehicle; and controlling the rotation speed of the blower fan (150) based on a temperature of the air that has passed through the heater core (130), or operating an electronic heating element (160) for heating the air passing through the heater core (130), after a preset time elapses.
  9. The heating control method of claim 8, wherein controlling of the post-compression temperature of the refrigerant, the flow rate of the refrigerant passing through the heater core (130), and the rotation speed of the blower fan (150) comprises: compressing the refrigerant so that the temperature of the refrigerant satisfies a preset maximum temperature; controlling the flow rate of the refrigerant so that the compressed refrigerant passes through the heater core (130) at a preset minimum flow rate; and controlling the rotation speed of the blower fan (150) to a minimum rotation speed, when a difference between the target temperature and the indoor temperature of the vehicle exceeds a preset temperature; and/or wherein controlling the rotation speed of the blower fan (150) or operating the electronic heating element (160) comprises: measuring a temperature of the air that has passed through the heater core (130), after a preset time has elapsed; incrementally increasing the rotation speed of the blower fan (150) when the temperature of the air that has passed through the heater core (130) reaches a limit temperature; and heating the air passing through the heater core (130) based on an electronic heating element (160) when the temperature of the air that has passed through the heater core (130) has not reached the limit temperature.
  10. A heating control system (100) for a vehicle, the system comprising a refrigerant, a compressor (120) and a heater core (130), wherein the system is configured to circulate said refrigerant through the compressor (120) and the heater core (130) to perform heating control of the vehicle; wherein the refrigerant comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of: a natural refrigerant; a hydrofluorocarbon (HFC)-based refrigerant; a hydrofluoroolefin (HFO)-based refrigerant; a hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC)-based refrigerant; a hydrocarbon-based refrigerant that is not a natural refrigerant; and a halon or a perfluorocarbon (PFC)-based refrigerant.
  11. The heating control system (100) of claim 10, wherein the natural refrigerant comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of: methane (R-50), ammonia (R-717), carbon dioxide (R-744), ethane (R-170), and propane (R-290); wherein the hydrofluorocarbon (HFC)-based refrigerant is a saturated hydrofluorocarbon (HFC)-based refrigerant and preferably comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of: difluoromethane (R-32), 1,1-difluoroethane (R-152a), pentafluoroethane (R-125), 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (R-134a), 1,1,1-trifluoroethane (R-143a), trifluoromethane (R-23), fluoroethane (R-161), 1,1,1,2,3,3,3-heptafluoropropane (R-227ea), 1,1,1,2,3,3-hexafluoropropane (R-236ea), 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoropropane (R-236fa), 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane (R-245fa), and 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluorobutane (R-365mfc); wherein the hydrofluoroolefin (HFO)-based refrigerant comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of: 1,1,2-trifluoroethylene (R-1123), 1-chloro-2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (R1224yd(Z)), 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (R-1234yf), 1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (R-1234ze), 1,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (R-1234ye), 3,3,3-trifluoropropene(R-1243zf), 1,1-difluoroethylene(R-1132a), and 1,2,3,3,3-pentafluoropropene (R-1225ye); wherein the hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC)-based refrigerant comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of: chlorodifluoromethane (R-22), chlorotetrafluoroethane (R-124), and 1-chloro-1,1-difluoroethane (R-142b); wherein the hydrocarbon-based refrigerant that is not a natural refrigerant comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of: propylene (R-1270), isobutane (R-600a), dimethyl ether, isopentane, and pentane;, and/or wherein the halon or the perfluorocarbon (PFC)-based refrigerant comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of: trifluoroiodomethane (R-13I1), octafluoropropane (R-218), and octafluorocyclobutane (RC318).
  12. The heating control system (100) according to claim 10 or 11, comprising: a control panel configured to set a target temperature for an interior (11) of the vehicle; the compressor (120) configured to compress the refrigerant; a flow rate controller (170) configured to control a flow rate of the refrigerant; the heater core (130) configured to release heat from the compressed refrigerant; a blower fan (150) configured to supply air to the heater core (130); a pipe (10) configured such that the refrigerant is charged in and circulates through the compressor (120) and the heater core (130); a first temperature sensor (S1) configured to measure a temperature of the compressed refrigerant; a second temperature sensor (S2) configured to measure a temperature of air released from the heater core (130); a third temperature sensor (S3) configured to measure an indoor temperature of the vehicle; and a processor (110) configured to: operate an air conditioning system of the vehicle in a heating mode based on the target temperature set according to user input, control a post-compression temperature of the refrigerant, the flow rate of the refrigerant passing through the heater core (130), and a rotation speed of the blower fan (150), based on a difference value between the target temperature and the indoor temperature measured via the third temperature sensor (S3), and control the rotation speed of the blower fan (150) based on the temperature of the air that has passed through the heater core (130), or operate an electronic heating element (160) for heating the air passing through the heater core (130), after a preset time elapses; preferably. wherein the processor (110) is further configured to: compress the refrigerant via the compressor (120) so that the temperature of the refrigerant satisfies a preset maximum temperature; control the flow rate of the refrigerant via the flow rate controller (170) so that the compressed refrigerant passes through the heater core (130) at a preset minimum flow rate; and control the rotation speed of the blower fan (150) to a minimum rotation speed, when a difference between the target temperature and the indoor temperature of the vehicle exceeds a preset temperature.
  13. The heating control system according to claim 12, further comprising an electronic heating element (160) configured to heat the air that has passed through the heater core (130); wherein the processor (110) is further configured to: measure a temperature of the air that has passed through the heater core (130) via the second temperature sensor (S2), after a preset time has elapsed; incrementally increase the rotation speed of the blower fan (150) when the temperature of the air that has passed through the heater core (130) reaches a limit temperature; and heat the air passing through the heater core (130) based on the electronic heating element (160) when the temperature of the air that has passed through the heater core (130) has not reached the limit temperature.
  14. Use of a heating control method as defined in any one of claims 1 to 9 in an electric vehicle.
  15. An electric vehicle, comprising the heating control system as defined in any one of claims 10 to 13.

Description

BACKGROUND Technical Field The present disclosure relates generally to heating control for a vehicle, and more particularly, to a heating control method and a system thereof. The present disclosure further relates to the use of a heating control system as disclosed herein in an electric vehicle, and to an electric vehicle that comprises a heating control system as disclosed herein. Technical Considerations An automotive heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system is generally configured to heat and cool the air within a passenger cabin to ensure occupant comfort. Such systems may be configured to selectively switch between air sources, such as fresh outside air and recirculated cabin air. Some systems draw in a mixture of this outside and inside air, condition it, and then supply the conditioned air into the cabin. The automotive HVAC system includes a condenser and a heat core disposed within an HVAC casing. The HVAC casing has an inlet through which air is introduced and a plurality of outlets for discharging the air into the passenger cabin. For cooling the cabin temperature, the condenser exchanges heat with air blown by a cooling fan to introduce the cooled air into the passenger cabin. For heating the cabin temperature, the heat core may exchange heat with air provided by a blower fan to introduce the heated air into the passenger cabin. In an electric vehicle, since most of the heating or cooling of the HVAC system must rely on battery power, operating the heating or cooling system causes a sharp increase in battery consumption. This may lead to a degradation in the performance of the electric vehicle or a reduction in the expected driving range. In particular, if there is a large temperature difference from a target temperature when starting the vehicle, the heating or cooling system consumes more battery power to quickly reach the target temperature. This increases initial battery consumption, which shortens the drivable range and leads to more frequent charging cycles, thereby causing inconvenience to the driver. SUMMARY Embodiments of the present disclosure may provide a method for efficiently controlling heating of a vehicle based on a temperature of a refrigerant and a temperature of air flowing into an interior of the vehicle, and a system for implementing the same. Problems to be solved through various embodiments are not limited to the above-described problems, and other problems not described above will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a heating control method for a vehicle, the heating control method is performing heating control by using a refrigerant , wherein the refrigerant comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of a natural refrigerant; a hydrofluorocarbon (HFC)-based refrigerant ; a hydrofluoroolefin (HFO)-based refrigerant; a hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC)-based refrigerant; a hydrocarbon-based refrigerant that is not a natural refrigerant; and a halon or a perfluorocarbon (PFC)-based refrigerant. In some non-limiting embodiments, the natural refrigerant may include at least one selected from the group consisting of: methane (R-50), ammonia (R-717), carbon dioxide (R-744), ethane (R-170), and propane (R-290). In some non-limiting embodiments, the hydrofluorocarbon (HFC)-based refrigerant is a saturated hydrofluorocarbon (HFC)-based refrigerant and may preferably include at least one selected from the group consisting of: difluoromethane (R-32), 1,1-difluoroethane (R-152a), pentafluoroethane (R-125), 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (R-134a), 1,1,1-trifluoroethane (R-143a), trifluoromethane (R-23), fluoroethane (R-161), 1,1,1,2,3,3,3-heptafluoropropane (R-227ea), 1,1,1,2,3,3-hexafluoropropane (R-236ea), 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoropropane (R-236fa), 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane (R-245fa), and 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluorobutane (R-365mfc). In some non-limiting embodiments, the hydrofluoroolefin (HFO)-based refrigerant may include at least one selected from the group consisting of: 1,1,2-triffuoroethylene (R-1123), 1-chloro-2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (R1224yd(Z)), 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (R-1234yf), 1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (R-1234ze), 1,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (R-1234ye), 3,3,3-trifluoropropene (R-1243zf), 1,1-difluoroethylene (R-1132a), and 1,2,3,3,3-pentafluoropropene (R-1225ye). In some non-limiting embodiments, the hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC)-based refrigerant may include at least one selected from the group consisting of: difluorochloromethane (R-22), chlorotetrafluoroethane (R-124), and 1-chloro-1,1-difluoroethane (R-142b). In some non-limiting embodiments, the hydrocarbon-based refrigerant that is not a natural refrigerant may include at least one selected from the group consisting of: propylene (R-1270), isobutane (R-600a), dimethyl ether, isopentane, and pentane. In some non-limiting embodiments, the halon or the perfluorocarbon (PFC)-based