KR-102962214-B1 - Thermal management system for vehicle

KR102962214B1KR 102962214 B1KR102962214 B1KR 102962214B1KR-102962214-B1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a thermal management system for a vehicle, and its primary purpose is to provide a thermal management system for a vehicle that can improve the problem of performance degradation of a heat pump system caused by a decrease in the flow rate of coolant during low-temperature driving. To achieve the above objective, the invention comprises: a first cooling circuit for cooling power electronic components, comprising a first radiator, a first coolant line for circulating coolant between the first radiator and the power electronic components, and a first electric water pump for circulating coolant along the first coolant line; a heat pump system comprising a compressor for compressing refrigerant, an internal condenser for heat exchange between the refrigerant compressed by the compressor and air supplied to the vehicle interior, a refrigerant line for circulating refrigerant between the compressor and the internal condenser, and a heat exchanger for heat exchange between the coolant and the refrigerant; and a bypass line for increasing the flow rate connecting the first coolant line at the inlet side and the outlet side of the power electronic components. A thermal management system for a vehicle is disclosed, comprising a cooling water control valve installed at a location where a bypass line for increasing the flow rate is branched from the first cooling water line, and controlling the direction of cooling water flow so that the cooling water can selectively bypass power electronic components.

Inventors

정성빈

Assignees

현대자동차주식회사
기아 주식회사

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20210510

Claims (20)

A first cooling circuit for cooling power electronic components, comprising a first radiator, a first cooling water line for circulating cooling water between the first radiator and the power electronic components, and a first electric water pump for circulating cooling water along the first cooling water line; A heat pump system comprising a compressor for compressing a refrigerant, an internal condenser for heat exchange between the refrigerant compressed by the compressor and the air supplied to the vehicle interior, a refrigerant line for circulating the refrigerant between the compressor and the internal condenser, and a heat exchanger for heat exchange between the coolant and the refrigerant; A bypass line for increasing flow rate connecting the first cooling water line between the inlet and outlet sides of the power electronic component; and It includes a cooling water control valve installed at a location where a bypass line for increasing the flow rate branches off from the first cooling water line, which controls the direction of cooling water flow so that the cooling water can selectively bypass power electronic components. The first cooling circuit further includes a first temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the cooling water passing through the power electronic component in the first cooling water line, and The controller controls the circulation of the cooling water in the first cooling circuit based on the cooling water temperature detected by the first temperature sensor and the ambient temperature detected by the ambient temperature sensor, and The above controller is, When the cooling water temperature detected by the first temperature sensor is higher than 'ambient temperature + α', At the same time as driving the first electric water pump, the first bypass valve is controlled to open the first bypass line connecting the first coolant line between the inlet and outlet sides of the first radiator, The cooling water that cools the above power electronic component performs heat exchange with the refrigerant that has passed through the internal condenser while passing through the heat exchanger, and A thermal management system for a vehicle characterized by allowing the coolant that has passed through the heat exchanger to bypass the first radiator and circulate.
In claim 1, The above power electronic component is, A thermal management system for a vehicle characterized by comprising at least one of a front wheel motor for driving a front wheel, a rear wheel motor for driving a rear wheel, a front wheel inverter connected to the front wheel motor, a rear wheel inverter connected to the rear wheel motor, a charger for charging a battery and a low voltage DC-DC converter (LDC), and a controller.
In claim 1, The above first cooling circuit is, A first bypass line connecting the first coolant line between the inlet side and the outlet side of the first radiator; and A thermal management system for a vehicle, characterized by further including a first bypass valve installed at a location where a first bypass line branches off from the first coolant line, which controls the direction of coolant flow so that the coolant can selectively bypass the first radiator.
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In claim 1, The apparatus further comprises a second cooling circuit including a second cooling water line for circulating cooling water between the heat exchanger and the second radiator, and a second electric water pump for circulating cooling water along the second cooling water line. A thermal management system for a vehicle characterized in that the above-described heat exchanger is configured to allow the coolant of the second coolant line to pass through, thereby enabling heat exchange between the coolant that has absorbed heat from the outside air in the second radiator and the refrigerant that has passed through the internal condenser.
In claim 6, The above second cooling circuit further includes a second temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the cooling water at the inlet side of the heat exchanger in the second cooling water line, and A thermal management system for a vehicle characterized by a controller controlling the circulation of coolant in a second cooling circuit based on the coolant temperature detected by the second temperature sensor and the ambient temperature detected by the ambient temperature sensor.
In claim 7, The above controller is, A thermal management system for a vehicle characterized by enabling heat exchange between the coolant that has absorbed heat from the outside air and the refrigerant in the second radiator, by driving a second electric water pump when the coolant temperature detected by the second temperature sensor is 'ambient temperature - β' or lower, thereby circulating the coolant in the second cooling circuit.
In claim 8, It further includes an active air flap installed at the outside air inlet of the front section of the vehicle, and A thermal management system for a vehicle characterized by the above controller opening an active air flap to allow outside air introduced through an outside air inlet to exchange heat with coolant in a second radiator.
In claim 8, The above controller is, When the cooling water temperature detected by the first temperature sensor is higher than 'ambient temperature + α' and the cooling water temperature detected by the second temperature sensor is lower than or equal to 'ambient temperature - β', By controlling the first bypass valve to open the first bypass line while simultaneously driving the first electric water pump, The cooling water that cools the above power electronic components performs heat exchange with the refrigerant that has passed through the internal condenser while passing through the heat exchanger, and A thermal management system for a vehicle characterized by allowing the coolant that has passed through the heat exchanger to bypass the first radiator and circulate.
In claim 8, The above controller is, When the cooling water temperature detected by the first temperature sensor is 'ambient temperature + α' or less, and the cooling water temperature detected by the second temperature sensor is 'ambient temperature - β' or less, The above-mentioned first electric water pump is driven, and The first bypass valve is controlled so that the coolant of the first coolant line can pass through the first radiator, and A thermal management system for a vehicle characterized by controlling a coolant control valve to open the above-mentioned bypass line for increasing the flow rate, so that the coolant, which has absorbed heat from the outside air in the first radiator and bypassed the power electronic components, performs heat exchange with the refrigerant that has passed through the internal condenser while passing through the heat exchanger.
In claim 7, The above controller is, A thermal management system for a vehicle characterized by stopping the second electric water pump so that the coolant does not circulate in the second cooling circuit when the coolant temperature detected by the second temperature sensor is higher than 'ambient temperature - β'.
In claim 12, It further includes an active air flap installed at the outside air inlet of the front section of the vehicle, and A thermal management system for a vehicle characterized by the above controller closing an active air flap to block the inflow of outside air from the outside air inlet.
In claim 12, The above controller is, When the coolant temperature detected by the first temperature sensor is higher than 'ambient temperature + α' and the coolant temperature detected by the second temperature sensor is higher than 'ambient temperature - β', By controlling the first bypass valve to open the first bypass line while simultaneously driving the first electric water pump, The cooling water that cools the above power electronic components performs heat exchange with the refrigerant that has passed through the internal condenser while passing through the heat exchanger, and A thermal management system for a vehicle characterized by allowing the coolant that has passed through the heat exchanger to bypass the first radiator and circulate.
In claim 12, The above controller is, When the cooling water temperature detected by the first temperature sensor is 'ambient temperature + α' or lower, and the cooling water temperature detected by the second temperature sensor is higher than 'ambient temperature - β', A thermal management system for a vehicle characterized by stopping both the first electric water pump and the second electric water pump to prevent cooling water from circulating in the first cooling circuit and the second cooling circuit.
In claim 1, The apparatus further comprises a second cooling circuit including a second cooling water line for circulating cooling water between the heat exchanger and the second radiator, and a second electric water pump for circulating cooling water along the second cooling water line. A thermal management system for a vehicle characterized in that the above-described heat exchanger is configured to allow the coolant of the second coolant line to pass through, thereby enabling heat exchange between the coolant that has absorbed heat from the outside air in the second radiator and the refrigerant that has passed through the internal condenser.
In claim 16, The above second cooling circuit further includes a second temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the cooling water at the inlet side of the heat exchanger in the second cooling water line, and A thermal management system for a vehicle characterized by a controller controlling the circulation of coolant in a second cooling circuit based on the coolant temperature detected by the second temperature sensor and the ambient temperature detected by the ambient temperature sensor.
In claim 17, The above controller is, A thermal management system for a vehicle characterized by enabling heat exchange between the coolant that has absorbed heat from the outside air and the refrigerant in the second radiator, by driving a second electric water pump when the coolant temperature detected by the second temperature sensor is 'ambient temperature - β' or lower, thereby circulating the coolant in the second cooling circuit.
In claim 17, The above controller is, A thermal management system for a vehicle characterized by stopping the second electric water pump so that the coolant does not circulate in the second cooling circuit when the coolant temperature detected by the second temperature sensor is higher than 'ambient temperature - β'.
In claim 3, It further includes an active air flap installed at the outside air inlet of the front section of the vehicle, and The controller is, Under conditions where cooling of power electronic components is required, Open the above active air flap, and The above-mentioned first electric water pump is driven, and To cool the power electronic component, the cooling water control valve is controlled so that the cooling water can pass through the power electronic component, and A thermal management system for a vehicle characterized by controlling the first bypass valve so that the coolant cooling the power electronic component can pass through the first radiator.

Description

Thermal management system for vehicle The present invention relates to a thermal management system for a vehicle, and more specifically, to a thermal management system for a vehicle that can improve the problem of performance degradation of a heat pump system caused by a decrease in coolant flow rate during low-temperature driving. Generally, automobiles are equipped with an air conditioning system that heats or cools the interior. In a vehicle, the air conditioning system maintains the interior temperature at an optimal level regardless of changes in the outside temperature, providing passengers with a comfortable indoor environment. An automotive air conditioning system includes an air conditioning system that circulates refrigerant. The air conditioning system includes, as its main components, a compressor that compresses and discharges refrigerant; a condenser that condenses the refrigerant compressed by the compressor; an expansion valve that expands the refrigerant condensed and liquefied by the condenser; and an evaporator that cools the air blown into the vehicle cabin by utilizing the latent heat of vaporization of the refrigerant while evaporating the refrigerant expanded by the expansion valve. In an air conditioning system, during summer cooling mode, high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant compressed by the compressor is condensed through the condenser, then circulated back to the compressor via the expansion valve and evaporator. At this stage, the expansion valve expands the condensed liquid refrigerant to a low temperature and low pressure, while the evaporator cools the air through heat exchange with the expanded refrigerant before discharging it into the vehicle's interior to enable indoor cooling. Meanwhile, with the recent increase in interest regarding energy efficiency and environmental pollution, the development of eco-friendly vehicles capable of effectively replacing internal combustion engine cars is underway. Eco-friendly vehicles can be classified into electric vehicles (FCEVs, BEVs) that operate using fuel cells or batteries as power sources, and hybrid vehicles (HEVs, PHEVs) that operate using engines and motors. These eco-friendly vehicles (xEVs) are electric vehicles in a broad sense, and they all share the common characteristic of being motor-driven vehicles or electrified vehicles that drive by powering a motor with electricity stored in a battery. Electric vehicles are equipped with a thermal management system to manage the overall thermal performance of the vehicle. The thermal management system can be defined as a system in a broad sense that includes the air conditioning and heating systems of the HVAC unit, a cooling system that performs thermal management and cooling of the power system using coolant and refrigerant, and a heat pump system. Here, the heat pump system is a system configured to be used as an auxiliary heating device in conjunction with an electric heater (e.g., PTC heater), which is the main heating device of an air conditioning system, by recovering waste heat from power electronic (PE) components or batteries and utilizing it for heating. Additionally, the cooling system includes components capable of managing the heat of the power system by circulating cooling water to cool or heat components of the power system. A known cooling system may be configured to include a reservoir tank for storing cooling water, an electric water pump (EWP) for pressurizing and circulating the cooling water, a radiator and a cooling fan for dissipating heat from the cooling water, a battery chiller for cooling the battery, a battery heater for raising the temperature of the battery, valves for controlling the flow of cooling water, hoses (cooling water lines) connecting these devices, and a controller for controlling the devices of the cooling circuit to control the circulation and flow of the cooling water and to control the temperature of the cooling water. Here, the battery chiller cools the coolant using the refrigerant of the air conditioning system; it is a heat exchanger that transfers heat from the coolant to the refrigerant through heat exchange between the coolant and the refrigerant while the heat from the battery is transferred to the coolant, and it is a cooler that cools the coolant through the refrigerant so that the battery is ultimately cooled by the coolant. In addition, the cooling system of an electric vehicle controls the temperature of power electronic components and the battery by circulating coolant along the coolant passages of the power electronic components for vehicle propulsion and the coolant passages of the battery that supplies operating power to these power electronic components. Furthermore, the cooling system can be configured to cool the power electronic components and the battery separately or to cool them together as a single unit, as needed. To this end, the cooling system can control the direction of coolant flow by cont