KR-20260065412-A - SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR THERMAL MANAGEMENT OF VEHICLE

KR20260065412AKR 20260065412 AKR20260065412 AKR 20260065412AKR-20260065412-A

Abstract

In this disclosure, a thermal management system and a thermal management method for a vehicle are introduced, wherein the engine's driving efficiency is improved by stopping the flow of coolant in the engine during heating, and initial heating heat is secured by transferring coolant heated through a water-cooled intercooler to a heater core during engine operation, and heating performance is maintained while ensuring engine driving efficiency by transferring coolant that has passed through the engine or coolant that has passed through a water-cooled intercooler to a heater core while considering the temperature of the coolant.

Inventors

박선규
정혜운
김한상
서경근
이형석

Assignees

현대자동차주식회사
기아 주식회사

Dates

Publication Date: 20260508
Application Date: 20241101

Claims (19)

A heater core that heats the interior of a vehicle using engine waste heat; A water-cooled intercooler that cools the intake of the above-mentioned engine and performs heat dissipation through the above-mentioned first radiator; and A thermal management system for a vehicle comprising: a connection line that selectively connects the heater core and the water-cooled intercooler to allow heat exchange depending on the operating state of the engine, thereby enabling the heater core to perform indoor heating through the heat generated from the water-cooled intercooler.
In claim 1, The above engine starting state is a thermal management system of a vehicle that includes at least one of the engine coolant temperature or whether the engine is initially started.
In claim 2, The above engine starting state is a thermal management system of a vehicle that checks the state in which the engine coolant temperature is lower than the set temperature derived in advance through experiments for fuel-efficient operation of the engine during the engine design.
In claim 1, A thermal management system for a vehicle further comprising: an engine heat exchange line comprising a first line including the engine, the heater core, and a first valve, and a second line branched from a downstream point of the heater core to an upstream point of the water-cooled intercooler.
In claim 4, The above engine heat exchange line is a thermal management system of a vehicle in which a third line is connected to the first line and provided with a heat exchange means including at least one of a transmission heat exchanger, a motor heat exchanger, and an electrical component heat exchanger.
In claim 5, The above engine heat exchange line is a thermal management system for a vehicle in which the flow of coolant in the engine is switched by the above first valve, the flow of coolant that has passed through the engine to the heater cooler, or the flow of coolant to the above heat exchange means.
In claim 1, It further includes a cooling line connecting the above-mentioned water-cooled intercooler and the second radiator so as to allow heat exchange; A thermal management system for a vehicle in which the above connecting line and the above cooling line allow heat exchange between the water-cooled intercooler and the heater core by means of a second valve, or heat exchange between the water-cooled intercooler and the second radiator.
In claim 1, The above engine operating state confirms that the engine's coolant temperature is lower than the set temperature derived in advance through experiments for fuel-efficient operation during the engine design, and A thermal management system for a vehicle that stops the flow of engine coolant when the engine coolant temperature is lower than the set temperature.
In claim 1, It further includes an outdoor temperature determination unit that determines the outdoor temperature, and A thermal management system for a vehicle that stops the flow of coolant in the engine when the ambient temperature is lower than a preset low temperature judgment temperature through the above-mentioned ambient temperature judgment unit.
In claim 1, A thermal management system for a vehicle that enables the heater core and the water-cooled intercooler to exchange heat through the connection line according to the operating state of the engine when heating the interior, including at least one of performing a defrosting mode, setting the interior temperature to a set heating temperature, or setting the air conditioning blower to a set level.
In claim 1, It further includes a cooling water temperature determination unit that determines the temperature of the cooling water flowing through the heater core; A thermal management system for a vehicle that allows the heater core and the water-cooled intercooler to exchange heat through the connection line according to the engine starting state when the temperature of the coolant flowing to the heater core is lower than a preset minimum heating temperature through the coolant temperature determination unit.
In claim 1, It further includes a cooling water temperature determination unit that determines the temperature of the cooling water flowing through the heater core; A thermal management system for a vehicle that enables the water-cooled intercooler and the first radiator to exchange heat when the temperature of the coolant flowing to the heater core reaches a preset minimum heating temperature through the coolant temperature determination unit.
Step to check engine starting status; A step of determining whether heat exchange between the heater core and the water-cooled intercooler is required according to the above engine operating state; and A method for thermal management of a vehicle comprising: a step of enabling the heater core to perform indoor heating through heat generated from the water-cooled intercooler when the above-mentioned engine operating state requires heat exchange between the heater core and the water-cooled intercooler.
In claim 13, A thermal management method for a vehicle that includes at least one of the engine coolant temperature or whether the engine is initially started in the step of checking the engine starting state.
In claim 14, The step of checking the above engine starting state is a thermal management method for a vehicle that checks the engine coolant temperature to be lower than the set temperature derived in advance through experiments for fuel-efficient operation of the engine during engine design.
In claim 15, A thermal management method for a vehicle further comprising: a step of stopping the flow of engine coolant when the engine coolant temperature is lower than a set temperature in the step of checking the engine starting state.
In claim 13, It further includes a step of determining the outside temperature; and A thermal management method for a vehicle, comprising the step of stopping the flow of engine coolant when the ambient temperature is lower than a preset low temperature judgment temperature in the step of determining the ambient temperature.
In claim 13, A thermal management method for a vehicle that checks whether heat exchange between the heater core and the water-cooled intercooler is required, including at least one of performing a defrost mode, setting the indoor temperature to a set heating temperature, or setting the air conditioning blower to a set level to perform indoor heating.
In claim 1, The method further includes a step of determining the temperature of the cooling water flowing through the heater core; and A thermal management method for a vehicle in which the step of causing the heater core to perform indoor heating is to maintain indoor heating of the heater core by heat generated from a water-cooled intercooler when the temperature of the coolant flowing to the heater core is lower than a preset minimum heating temperature.

Description

Vehicle Thermal Management System and Vehicle Thermal Management Method {SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR THERMAL MANAGEMENT OF VEHICLE} The present disclosure relates to a thermal management system for a vehicle and a thermal management method for a vehicle, wherein engine efficiency and heating performance are ensured in a hybrid vehicle. Fuel efficiency is a key factor for hybrid vehicles, and to improve it, it is important to extend driving time powered by the battery rather than by the engine. Hybrid vehicles are driven by an engine and an electric motor, and utilize engine waste heat as a heating source for interior heating. In other words, when driven by the engine, there is sufficient engine waste heat to use the air conditioning system just like in conventional vehicles; however, when driven by the electric motor, the waste heat remaining in the engine coolant is used as a heating source even when the engine is off. However, under conditions where the vehicle is driven by an electric motor, if the engine coolant temperature drops below a certain level due to insufficient waste heat from the engine coolant under low ambient temperatures, a PTC heater (Positive Temperature Coefficient Heater) is used to secure a heating source. Since PTC heaters have low energy efficiency, they consume excessive power, which leads to a problem of reduced fuel economy in hybrid vehicles. In addition, when dissatisfaction with heating performance is anticipated, the engine is started again to secure heater performance. However, in this structure, since there is no separate means of insulation for the coolant that rises due to engine heat, fuel efficiency may deteriorate as the engine is started more frequently. The matters described as background technology above are intended only to enhance understanding of the background of the present disclosure and do not constitute prior art already known to those skilled in the art. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a thermal management system for a vehicle according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a control part in a thermal management system for a vehicle according to the present disclosure. FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of a thermal management system for a vehicle according to the present disclosure. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing indoor heating using a water-cooled intercooler in the circuit diagram of the vehicle thermal management system shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing indoor heating using engine coolant in the circuit diagram of the vehicle thermal management system shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a thermal management method for a vehicle according to the present disclosure. FIG. 7 is a detailed flowchart of a thermal management system for a vehicle according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. In describing the embodiments disclosed in this specification, detailed descriptions of related prior art are omitted if it is determined that such detailed descriptions may obscure the essence of the embodiments disclosed in this specification. Furthermore, the attached drawings are intended only to facilitate understanding of the embodiments disclosed in this specification, and the technical concept disclosed in this specification is not limited by the attached drawings; it should be understood that they include all modifications, equivalents, and substitutions that fall within the spirit and technical scope of this disclosure. The disclosure below is not intended to limit this disclosure to the described form or specific field, and it is considered that various alternative modes and modifications to this disclosure are possible, whether explicitly stated or implied in this specification. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the form and details of this disclosure may change. The present disclosure is described with reference to specific embodiments. However, as understood by those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains, the various embodiments disclosed herein may be modified or otherwise implemented in various other ways without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the following description should be considered illustrative and is intended to teach those skilled in the art to the manner in which various embodiments are made and used. It will be understood that the forms of the disclosure shown and described herein are to be taken as representative embodiments. Equivalent elements, or materials, processes, or steps may be substituted for those representatively exemplified and described in the present disclosure. Expressions used in describing the present disclosure, such as "including," "comprising," "incorporating," "consisting of," "have," "is," etc., should be interpreted as allowing items, components, or elements not explicitly described to be indicated in a non-exclusive manner, i.e., to be indicated. In addition, references to the singular