U.S. patent application number 13/495458 was filed with the patent office on 2012-12-20 for heat pump system for vehicle.
This patent application is currently assigned to Kia Motors Corporation. Invention is credited to YONG WOONG CHA, WAN JE CHO, YONG HYUN CHOI, JAE YEON KIM, JAESAN KIM, JUNGHA PARK, MAN HEE PARK.
Application Number | 20120318012 13/495458 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47228602 |
Filed Date | 2012-12-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120318012 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
CHOI; YONG HYUN ; et
al. |
December 20, 2012 |
HEAT PUMP SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE
Abstract
A heat pump system may include a cooling assembly disposed on a
vehicle to circulate electric devices with coolant through a
cooling line, wherein the cooling assembly includes a radiator
disposed at a front side of the vehicle, uses a water pump to
circulate coolant through the cooling line, and cools the supplied
coolant through heat exchange with outside air, and a cooling fan
that blows wind through the radiator, an air conditioning assembly
connected to a refrigerant line connected to the cooling assembly
to control heating and cooling, and a heat exchanger connected to
the cooling line such that the coolant is circulated therein,
selectively uses the waste heat generated from the electric devices
according to modes to vary the temperature of the coolant, and is
connected to the refrigerant line of the air conditioning assembly
such that an inflow refrigerant exchanges heat with the
coolant.
Inventors: |
CHOI; YONG HYUN;
(Hwaseong-si, KR) ; KIM; JAE YEON; (Hwaseong-si,
KR) ; CHA; YONG WOONG; (Yongin-si, KR) ; CHO;
WAN JE; (Hwaseong-si, KR) ; PARK; JUNGHA;
(Gunpo-si, KR) ; KIM; JAESAN; (Yongin-si, KR)
; PARK; MAN HEE; (Suwon-si, KR) |
Assignee: |
Kia Motors Corporation
Seoul
KR
Hyundai Motor Company
Seoul
KR
|
Family ID: |
47228602 |
Appl. No.: |
13/495458 |
Filed: |
June 13, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/129 ;
165/104.13; 62/238.7 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60H 1/00921 20130101;
B60H 2001/00949 20130101; B60H 1/143 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
62/129 ;
165/104.13; 62/238.7 |
International
Class: |
F25B 29/00 20060101
F25B029/00; F25B 49/02 20060101 F25B049/02; F28D 15/00 20060101
F28D015/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 20, 2011 |
KR |
10-2011-0059768 |
Claims
1. A heat pump system, comprising: a cooling assembly that is
disposed on a vehicle to circulate electric devices with coolant
through a cooling line, wherein the cooling assembly includes a
radiator that is disposed at a front side of the vehicle, uses a
water pump to circulate coolant through the cooling line, and cools
the supplied coolant through heat exchange with outside air, and a
cooling fan that blows wind through the radiator; an air
conditioning assembly that is connected to a refrigerant line
connected to the cooling assembly to control heating and cooling;
and a heat exchanger that is connected to the cooling line such
that the coolant is circulated therein, selectively uses the waste
heat that is generated from the electric devices according to modes
to vary the temperature of the coolant, and is connected to the
refrigerant line of the air conditioning assembly such that an
inflow refrigerant exchanges heat with the coolant.
2. The heat pump system of claim 1, wherein the air conditioning
assembly includes: an HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air
Conditioning) module that is provided with an evaporator and an
opening/closing door therein, wherein the opening/closing door is
selectively closed such that outside air passing the evaporator is
supplied to an inner condenser and a PTC heater according to
heating, cooling, and dehumidifying modes; a compressor that is
connected to the evaporator through a refrigerant line and
compresses gaseous refrigerant; an accumulator that is disposed on
the refrigerant line between the compressor and the evaporator and
that supplies the compressor with gaseous refrigerant; an outside
condenser that is disposed in an engine compartment of the vehicle,
is connected to the refrigerant line, and condenses refrigerant; a
first valve that selectively supplies the inner condenser or the
outside condenser with the refrigerant that is exhausted from the
compressor according to a mode of the vehicle; a first expansion
valve that receives the refrigerant passing the inner condenser to
expands the refrigerant; a second valve that selectively supplies
the outside condenser or the heat exchanger with the expanded
refrigerant received from the first expansion valve; a third valve
that selectively supplies the evaporator or the accumulator with
the refrigerant passing the outside condenser or the heat
exchanger; and a second expansion valve that connects the
evaporator and the third valve and expands the refrigerant that is
supplied through the third valve.
3. The heat pump system of claim 2, wherein a pressure sensor is
disposed on the refrigerant line connecting the compressor with the
first valve.
4. The heat pump system of claim 2, wherein the first, second, and
third valves are a type of 3-way valve.
5. The heat pump system of claim 1, wherein the cooling assembly
and the air conditioning assembly are respectively connected to a
controller to be operated by a control signal of the
controller.
6. A heat pump system control method for a vehicle that is applied
to a heat pump system that includes: a cooling assembly that is
connected to a controller and includes a radiator, a water pump,
and electric devices, each of which is connected through a cooling
line; an air conditioning assembly connected by a refrigerant line
and including an HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning)
module that has a plurality of valves, an expansion valve, a
compressor, an accumulator, an evaporator, an outside condenser, an
inner condenser, a PTC heater, and an opening/closing door; and a
heat exchanger that is connected to the cooling line and the
refrigerant line, and is used to operate a heating mode, a cooling
mode, and a humidifying mode according to a selection of a user,
wherein during the heating mode, raising by the cooling assembly,
the temperature of coolant that is supplied to the heat exchanger
through waste heat that is generated from the electric devices and
raising the temperature of refrigerant through heat exchange with
the refrigerant that is supplied to the heat exchanger through the
refrigerant line; passing by the air conditioning assembly the
refrigerant that is heated by the heat exchanger through the
accumulator and the compressor via the refrigerant line by opening
a third valve to be supplied to an inner condenser of the HAVC
module by an operation of a first valve; supplying the refrigerant
passing the inner condenser to the heat exchanger by an operation
of a second valve in an expanded condition through a first
expansion valve; and opening the opening/closing door such that
outside air passing the evaporator of the HAVC module passes the
inner condenser, and inflow outside air passes the inner condenser
to heat an interior room of the vehicle in conjunction with the
operation of the operation of a PTC heater.
7. The heat pump system control method of claim 6, wherein in the
cooling mode, operating the water pump by the cooling assembly to
supply coolant to the heat exchanger and to cool the electric
devices in a condition that the radiator cools inflow coolant by an
operation of a cooling fan, and cools refrigerant through heat
exchange with low temperature coolant according to a predetermined
condition; operating the third valve by the air conditioning
assembly to supply the evaporator with expanded refrigerant such
that the low temperature refrigerant that is cooled passing the
outside condenser is supplied to the second expansion valve that is
connected to the evaporator of the HAVC module, wherein the
refrigerant that is evaporated through heat exchange with outside
air in the evaporator passes the accumulator and the compressor to
be compressed; operating the first valve to open the refrigerant
line that is connected to the outside condenser such that a
compressed refrigerant is supplied to the outside condenser; and
closing the opening/closing door such that the outside air passes
the evaporator to be cooled by the refrigerant supplied to the
evaporator and is directly supplied to an interior room of a
vehicle and that the cooled outside air is not supplied to the
inner condenser.
8. The heat pump system control method of claim 6, wherein in the
dehumidification mode, cooling the coolant that is supplied to the
radiator by the operation of the cooling fan of the cooling
assembly, cooling the electric devices through the operation of the
water pump, supplying the coolant to the heat exchanger, and
cooling the refrigerant by exchanging heat with the coolant
supplied to the heat exchanger; opening the third valve by the air
conditioning assembly such that the coolant that is cooled while
passing the heat exchanger is supplied to the second expansion
valve that is connected to the evaporator of the HAVC, so as to
supply the expanded refrigerant to the evaporator, wherein the
refrigerant that is evaporated through heat exchange with outside
air in the evaporator passes the accumulator and the compressor to
be compressed; operating the first valve to open the refrigerant
line that is connected to the inside condenser such that the
compressed refrigerant is supplied to the inside condenser;
operating the second valve to supply the refrigerant passing the
inner condenser to the heat exchanger in an expanded condition
through the first expansion valve, opening the opening/closing door
such that outside air passing the evaporator of the HAVC module
passes the inner condenser, and inflow outside air passes the inner
condenser and the PTC heater to dehumidify an interior room of the
vehicle.
9. The heat pump system control method of claim 8, wherein in the
dehumidification mode, the controller controls an opening rate of
the first and second expansion valves to control an expansion rate
of the refrigerant.
10. The heat pump system control method of claim 6, wherein in the
heating mode, cooling mode, and dehumidification mode, the
controller controls operating power of the cooling fan and flowing
rate of the water pump according to the temperature of the waste
heat that is generated from the electric devices and the
temperature of the coolant and the refrigerant.
11. The heat pump system of claim 1, further comprising a four
valve that is configured to make coolant to bypass the radiator
according to a heating mode and a dehumification mode.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The present application claims priority to Korean Patent
Application No. 10-2011-0059768 filed in the Korean Intellectual
Property Office on Jun. 20, 2011, the entire contents of which is
incorporated herein for all purposes by this reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a heat pump system and a
control method thereof. More particularly, the present invention
relates to a heat pump system that uses waste heat that is
generated from electric devices, improves heating and dehumidifying
performance, prevents front accumulation on an outside condenser at
a low temperature, and simultaneously increases a travel distance,
and a control method thereof.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] Generally, an air conditioning system for a vehicle includes
an air conditioning module warming or cooling a cabin of the
vehicle.
[0006] Such an air conditioning module circulates a heat-exchanging
medium through a condenser, a receiver drier, an expansion valve,
and an evaporator by operation of a compressor. After that, the
heat-exchanging medium flows back to the compressor. At this
process, the air conditioning module warms up the cabin of the
vehicle through heat exchange at the evaporator or cools the cabin
of the vehicle through heat exchange with a coolant at a
heater.
[0007] Meanwhile, energy efficiency and environmental pollution are
of increasing concern, and environmentally friendly vehicles
substituting for vehicles having an internal combustion engine have
been researched. Such environmentally-friendly vehicles include
electric vehicles using a fuel cell or electricity as a power
source, and hybrid vehicles driven by an engine and an electric
battery.
[0008] An electric vehicle among an environmentally friendly
vehicle uses an electric heater, because the electric vehicle does
not have a combustion engine as a heat source.
[0009] But, the electric heater excessively consumes electric power
to reduce a travel distance of the electric vehicle. A heater pump
system having an improved heating efficiency is introduced instead
of the electric heater so as to resolve this problem.
[0010] According to the heat pump system, a high
temperature/pressure gaseous refrigerant compressed at a compressor
is condensed at a condenser and is then supplied to an evaporator
passing through a receiver drier and an expansion valve in a
cooling mode in the summer. The gaseous refrigerant is evaporated
at the evaporator and lowers temperature and humidity of the cabin.
However, the heat pump system has characteristics that the high
temperature/pressure gaseous refrigerant is used as a heater medium
in a warming mode in the winter.
[0011] That is, the high temperature/pressure gaseous refrigerant
is supplied not to an exterior condenser but to an interior
condenser through a valve and is heat-exchanged with air in the
warming mode in the electric vehicle. The heat-exchanged air passes
through a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) heater. After
that, the air flows into the cabin of the vehicle and raises the
cabin temperature of the vehicle.
[0012] The high temperature/pressure gaseous refrigerant flowing
into the interior condenser is condensed through heat exchange with
the air and flows out in a state of liquid refrigerant.
[0013] However, a conventional heat pump system as described above
is an air-cooled type in which the refrigerant is cooled by outside
air.
[0014] Also, the refrigerant that is cooled by outside air of a
very low temperature or a low temperature in winter is cooled by an
interior condenser to be exhausted in a very low temperature
condition to an outside condenser, and therefore ice is formed on a
surface of the outside condenser and heat exchange efficiency of
the heat exchange media and heating performance and efficiency are
deteriorated, and in a case that the cooling mode is transformed to
the heating mode, the condensate that stays on the evaporator
increases humidity such that moisture is formed on the interior of
the glass of the vehicle.
[0015] To solve such problems, the compressor stops operating and
warming is performed only by the PTC heater in a defrosting mode
where a surface of the exterior condenser is defrosted. Therefore,
heating performance may be seriously deteriorated, the heating load
may be increased due to the increase of power consumption, and the
mileage may be decreased when driving while warming.
[0016] In addition, since heat for converting the liquid
refrigerant into a gaseous refrigerant is insufficient when the
liquid refrigerant flows into the interior condenser, compressing
efficiency may be deteriorated, heating performance may be
seriously deteriorated when the air temperature is low, the system
may be unstable, and durability of the compressor may be
deteriorated when the liquid refrigerant flows into the
compressor
[0017] In addition, noise and vibration may occur due to a frequent
open/close operation of a 2-way valve in a dehumidification mode
where moisture is removed from the cabin of the vehicle.
[0018] The information disclosed in this Background of the
Invention section is only for enhancement of understanding of the
general background of the invention and should not be taken as an
acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information
forms the prior art already known to a person skilled in the
art.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[0019] Various aspects of the present invention are directed to
providing a heat pump system for a vehicle having advantages of
using a waste heat source in electric devices to heat coolant and
exchanging the heat between the coolant and refrigerant to improve
heating performance and dehumidification efficiency, and to prevent
frost accumulation on the outside condenser in a low temperature,
and a control method thereof.
[0020] Also, various aspects of the present invention are directed
to providing a heat pump system for a vehicle having advantages of
reducing a heating load in a heating mode of a vehicle and
increasing overall travel distance of a vehicle with same power
source, and a control method thereof.
[0021] In an aspect of the present invention, a heat pump system
may include a cooling assembly that is disposed on a vehicle to
circulate electric devices with coolant through a cooling line,
wherein the cooling assembly may include a radiator that is
disposed at a front side of the vehicle, uses a water pump to
circulate coolant through the cooling line, and cools the supplied
coolant through heat exchange with outside air, and a cooling fan
that blows wind through the radiator, an air conditioning assembly
that is connected to a refrigerant line connected to the cooling
assembly to control heating and cooling, and a heat exchanger that
is connected to the cooling line such that the coolant is
circulated therein, selectively uses the waste heat that is
generated from the electric devices according to modes to vary the
temperature of the coolant, and is connected to the refrigerant
line of the air conditioning assembly such that an inflow
refrigerant exchanges heat with the coolant.
[0022] The air conditioning assembly may include an HVAC (Heating,
Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) module that is provided with an
evaporator and an opening/closing door therein, wherein the
opening/closing door is selectively closed such that outside air
passing the evaporator is supplied to an inner condenser and a PTC
heater according to heating, cooling, and dehumidifying modes, a
compressor that is connected to the evaporator through a
refrigerant line and compresses gaseous refrigerant, an accumulator
that is disposed on the refrigerant line between the compressor and
the evaporator and that supplies the compressor with gaseous
refrigerant, an outside condenser that is disposed in an engine
compartment of the vehicle, is connected to the refrigerant line,
and condenses refrigerant, a first valve that selectively supplies
the inner condenser or the outside condenser with the refrigerant
that is exhausted from the compressor according to a mode of the
vehicle, a first expansion valve that receives the refrigerant
passing the inner condenser to expands the refrigerant, a second
valve that selectively supplies the outside condenser or the heat
exchanger with the expanded refrigerant received from the first
expansion valve, a third valve that selectively supplies the
evaporator or the accumulator with the refrigerant passing the
outside condenser or the heat exchanger, and a second expansion
valve that connects the evaporator and the third valve and expands
the refrigerant that is supplied through the third valve.
[0023] A pressure sensor is disposed on the refrigerant line
connecting the compressor with the first valve.
[0024] The first, second, and third valves are a type of 3-way
valve.
[0025] The cooling assembly and the air conditioning assembly are
respectively connected to a controller to be operated by a control
signal of the controller.
[0026] In another aspect of the present invention, a heat pump
system control method for a vehicle that is applied to a heat pump
system that may include a cooling assembly that is connected to a
controller and may include a radiator, a water pump, and electric
devices, each of which is connected through a cooling line, an air
conditioning assembly connected by a refrigerant line and including
an HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) module that
may have a plurality of valves, an expansion valve, a compressor,
an accumulator, an evaporator, an outside condenser, an inner
condenser, a PTC heater, and an opening/closing door, and a heat
exchanger that is connected to the cooling line and the refrigerant
line, and is used to operate a heating mode, a cooling mode, and a
humidifying mode according to a selection of a user, wherein during
the heating mode, raising by the cooling assembly, the temperature
of coolant that is supplied to the heat exchanger through waste
heat that is generated from the electric devices and raising the
temperature of refrigerant through heat exchange with the
refrigerant that is supplied to the heat exchanger through the
refrigerant line, passing by the air conditioning assembly the
refrigerant that is heated by the heat exchanger through the
accumulator and the compressor via the refrigerant line by opening
a third valve to be supplied to an inner condenser of the HAVC
module by an operation of a first valve, supplying the refrigerant
passing the inner condenser to the heat exchanger by an operation
of a second valve in an expanded condition through a first
expansion valve, and opening the opening/closing door such that
outside air passing the evaporator of the HAVC module passes the
inner condenser, and inflow outside air passes the inner condenser
to heat an interior room of the vehicle in conjunction with the
operation of the operation of a PTC heater.
[0027] In the cooling mode, operating the water pump by the cooling
assembly to supply coolant to the heat exchanger and to cool the
electric devices in a condition that the radiator cools inflow
coolant by an operation of a cooling fan, and cools refrigerant
through heat exchange with low temperature coolant according to a
predetermined condition, operating the third valve by the air
conditioning assembly to supply the evaporator with expanded
refrigerant such that the low temperature refrigerant that is
cooled passing the outside condenser is supplied to the second
expansion valve that is connected to the evaporator of the HAVC
module, wherein the refrigerant that is evaporated through heat
exchange with outside air in the evaporator passes the accumulator
and the compressor to be compressed, operating the first valve to
open the refrigerant line that is connected to the outside
condenser such that a compressed refrigerant is supplied to the
outside condenser, and closing the opening/closing door such that
the outside air passes the evaporator to be cooled by the
refrigerant supplied to the evaporator and is directly supplied to
an interior room of a vehicle and that the cooled outside air is
not supplied to the inner condenser.
[0028] In the dehumidification mode, cooling the coolant that is
supplied to the radiator by the operation of the cooling fan of the
cooling assembly, cooling the electric devices through the
operation of the water pump, supplying the coolant to the heat
exchanger, and cooling the refrigerant by exchanging heat with the
coolant supplied to the heat exchanger, opening the third valve by
the air conditioning assembly such that the coolant that is cooled
while passing the heat exchanger is supplied to the second
expansion valve that is connected to the evaporator of the HAVC, so
as to supply the expanded refrigerant to the evaporator, wherein
the refrigerant that is evaporated through heat exchange with
outside air in the evaporator passes the accumulator and the
compressor to be compressed, operating the first valve to open the
refrigerant line that is connected to the inside condenser such
that the compressed refrigerant is supplied to the inside
condenser, operating the second valve to supply the refrigerant
passing the inner condenser to the heat exchanger in an expanded
condition through the first expansion valve, opening the
opening/closing door such that outside air passing the evaporator
of the HAVC module passes the inner condenser, and inflow outside
air passes the inner condenser and the PTC heater to dehumidify an
interior room of the vehicle.
[0029] In the dehumidification mode, the controller controls an
opening rate of the first and second expansion valves to control an
expansion rate of the refrigerant.
[0030] In the heating mode, cooling mode, and dehumidification
mode, the controller controls operating power of the cooling fan
and flowing rate of the water pump according to the temperature of
the waste heat that is generated from the electric devices and the
temperature of the coolant and the refrigerant.
[0031] The heat pump system control method may further include a
four valve that is configured to make coolant to bypass the
radiator according to a heating mode and a dehumification mode.
[0032] In the heat pump system for a vehicle and the control method
according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a
heat exchanger using coolant as a heat exchange assembly is applied
and a waste heat source from the electric devices is used to
exchange heat with the refrigerant to improve heating performance,
efficiency, and dehumidification performance and to prevent the
frost accumulation on the outside condenser in chilly weather.
[0033] Also, in the heating mode, the overall system is
simultaneously operated with an operation of the PTC heater during
an idle condition and driving condition in very chilly weather to
prevent the increment of the power usage such that the heating load
is reduced to increase travel distance of the vehicle with the same
power.
[0034] Further, in the cooling mode of the vehicle, the system
maintains air conditioner condition of air cooled type through an
outside condenser to improve cooling performance, and the first,
second, and third valves are 3-way valves to reduce frequent
opening/closing operations such that the noise and vibration can be
reduced.
[0035] The methods and apparatuses of the present invention have
other features and advantages which will be apparent from or are
set forth in more detail in the accompanying drawings, which are
incorporated herein, and the following Detailed Description, which
together serve to explain certain principles of the present
invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0036] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a heat pump system for a
vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention.
[0037] FIG. 2 shows an operational state of a heat pump system for
a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention.
[0038] FIG. 3 shows a cooling mode state of a heat pump system for
a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention.
[0039] FIG. 4 shows a dehumidification mode state of a heat pump
system for a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the
present invention.
[0040] It should be understood that the appended drawings are not
necessarily to scale, presenting a somewhat simplified
representation of various features illustrative of the basic
principles of the invention. The specific design features of the
present invention as disclosed herein, including, for example,
specific dimensions, orientations, locations, and shapes will be
determined in part by the particular intended application and use
environment.
[0041] In the figures, reference numbers refer to the same or
equivalent parts of the present invention throughout the several
figures of the drawing.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0042] Reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments
of the present invention(s), examples of which are illustrated in
the accompanying drawings and described below. While the
invention(s) will be described in conjunction with exemplary
embodiments, it will be understood that the present description is
not intended to limit the invention(s) to those exemplary
embodiments. On the contrary, the invention(s) is/are intended to
cover not only the exemplary embodiments, but also various
alternatives, modifications, equivalents and other embodiments,
which may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention
as defined by the appended claims.
[0043] An exemplary embodiment of the present invention will
hereinafter be described in detail with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
[0044] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a heat pump system for a
vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention.
[0045] Referring to the drawings, the heat pump system 100 for a
vehicle and the control method thereof according to an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention use waste heat that is
generated from electric devices, improves heating and dehumidifying
performance, prevents the front accumulation on an outside
condenser at a low temperature, and simultaneously increases a
travel distance.
[0046] Also, a heating load that can be generated in a heating mode
of a vehicle is reduced to increase overall travel distance of a
vehicle with the same fuel amount.
[0047] For this purpose, the heat pump system 100 for the vehicle
according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, as
shown in FIG. 1, includes a cooling assembly 110 that is disposed
in a vehicle to supply and circulate coolant to electronic devices
111 and an engine in a hybrid vehicle through a cooling line
(hereinafter "C.L"), and an air conditioning assembly 150 that is
connected to a refrigerant line (hereinafter "R.L") to control
interior cabin heating and cooling of the vehicle.
[0048] In the present exemplary embodiment, the cooling assembly
110 includes a radiator 115 that is disposed at the front of the
vehicle to circulate coolant along the cooling line (C.L.) through
a water pump 113 and cools the coolant through heat exchange with
outside air, and a cooling fan 117 that is disposed at the rear of
the radiator 115.
[0049] And, the heat pump system 100 includes a heat exchanger 130
that is disposed between the electric devices 111 and the radiator
115 to be respectively connected to the cooling line (C.L) and the
refrigerant line (R.L).
[0050] The heat exchanger 130 is connected to the cooling line
(C.L) to circulate coolant, and selectively uses the waste heat
source that is generated from the electric devices to vary the
temperature of the coolant depending on a heating mode, a cooling
mode, and a dehumidification mode such that the refrigerant that is
supplied through the refrigerant line (R.L) exchanges heat with the
coolant.
[0051] That is, the heat exchanger 130 can be a water cooling type
that uses a coolant to exchange heat with the refrigerant.
[0052] The heat exchanger 130 includes a temperature sensor that is
disposed therein, and the temperature sensor can detect the
temperature of the coolant and the refrigerant.
[0053] In the present exemplary embodiment, the air conditioning
assembly 150 includes an HVAC module (heating, ventilation, and air
conditioning, 151), a compressor 161, an accumulator 163, an
outside condenser 164, first, second, and third valves 165, 167,
and 169, and first and second expansion valves 171 and 173, and
they are explained as follows.
[0054] First, the HVAC module 151 includes an evaporator 157
cooling air and an inner condenser 153 heating the air passing the
evaporator 157, and an opening/closing door 159 is disposed
therein, wherein the opening/closing door 159 is controlled such
that the outside air passing the evaporator 157 is selectively
supplied to the inner condenser 153 and a PTC heater 155 depending
on the cooling, the heating, and the dehumidification modes.
[0055] That is, the opening/closing door 159 is opened to make the
outside air pass the evaporator 157 be supplied to the inner
condenser 153 and the PTC heater 155 in the heating mode of the
vehicle, and the door 159 is closed to make the outside air passing
the evaporator 157 be supplied to the interior room of the
vehicle.
[0056] In the present exemplary embodiment, the compressor 161 is
connected to the evaporator 157 through the refrigerant line (R.L)
to compress the gaseous refrigerant.
[0057] And, the accumulator 163 is disposed on the refrigerant line
(R.L) between the compressor 161 and the evaporator 157, stores the
liquid refrigerant therein, and supplies gaseous refrigerant to the
compressor 161 to improve efficiency and durability of the
compressor 161.
[0058] The outside condenser 164 is disposed at a front side of the
radiator of the vehicle to be connected to the refrigerant line
(R.L), and receives the refrigerant exhausted from the compressor
161 to condense the refrigerant.
[0059] The first valve 165 selectively supplies the inner condenser
153 or the outside condenser with the refrigerant that is exhausted
from the compressor 161 depending on the mode of the vehicle in the
present exemplary embodiment.
[0060] The first expansion valve 171 receives the refrigerant
passing the inner condenser 153 through the refrigerant line (R.L)
and expands it.
[0061] Here, a pressure sensor 175 is disposed on the refrigerant
line (R.L) between the compressor 161 and the first valve 165, and
the pressure sensor 175 detects the pressure of the compressed
refrigerant that is exhausted from the compressor 161.
[0062] The second valve 167 selectively supplies the outside
condenser 164 and the heat exchanger 130 with the refrigerant that
is expanded by the first expansion valve 171.
[0063] The third valve 169 selectively supplies the evaporator 157
or the accumulator 163 with the refrigerant passing the heat
exchanger 130 or the outside condenser 164.
[0064] And, the second expansion valve 173 is disposed between the
evaporator 157 and the third valve 169 to expand the inflow
refrigerant and supplies the evaporator 157 with the expanded
refrigerant through the third valve 169.
[0065] Here, the first valve 165 is used to direct the refrigerant
to the inner condenser 153 or the heat exchanger 130, the second
valve 167 is used to direct the refrigerant to the heat exchanger
130 or the outside condenser 164, and the third valve 169 is used
to direct the refrigerant to the accumulator 163 or the second
expansion valve 173, wherein the valves 165, 167, and 169 can be
3-way valves that selectively connect the refrigerant line
(R.L).
[0066] The cooling assembly 110 and the air conditioning assembly
150 that have the above configuration are respectively connected to
a controller 180 to be operated by the control signal of the
controller 180.
[0067] That is, the controller 180 controls the cooling fan 117 and
the water pump 113 of the cooling assembly 110 according to the
heating mode, the cooling mode, and the dehumidification mode, and
the signal that is outputted from the temperature sensor of the
heat exchanger 130.
[0068] Also, the controller 180 controls the opening/closing door
159 of the HVAC module 151 in the air conditioning assembly 150
depending on the mode of the vehicle, and simultaneously controls
the first, second, and third valves 165, 167, and 169, and controls
the first and second expansion valves 171 and 173 to control the
expansion amount of the refrigerant.
[0069] Hereinafter, referring to FIG. 2 to FIG. 4, the operation of
a heater pump system for a vehicle and the control method thereof
will be described according to an exemplary embodiment of the
present invention.
[0070] FIG. 2 to FIG. 4 show operational states of a heating mode,
a cooling mode, and a dehumidification mode of a heat pump system
for a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention.
[0071] Here, the heating mode, the cooling mode, and the
dehumidification mode of the heat pump system 100 can be operated
by a selection of a user or automatic control.
[0072] First, referring to FIG. 2, the heating mode of the heat
pump system 100 will be explained.
[0073] Referring to FIG. 2, the cooling assembly 110 heats the
coolant by using the waste heat source of the electric devices 111
and supplies the heated coolant to the heat exchanger 130 connected
to the cooling line (C.L) in the heating mode.
[0074] In this case, the cooling fan 117 can be stopped or operated
in a slow speed to delay or to prevent the cooling of the coolant
that is supplied to the radiator 117.
[0075] In this condition, the heat exchanger 130 raises the
temperature of the coolant through the heat exchange with the
coolant that is supplied through the refrigerant line (R.L).
[0076] Here, the controller 180 detects the temperature of the
coolant and the refrigerant through the temperature sensor that is
disposed in the heat exchanger 130, and controls the operation
level of the water pump 113 and the cooling fan 117 depending on
the temperature of the waste heat from the electric devices 111,
the temperature of the coolant, and the temperature of the
refrigerant.
[0077] And, the air conditioning assembly 150 controls the third
valve 169 to supply the accumulator 163 and the compressor 161 with
the coolant that is heated by the coolant in the heat exchanger
through the refrigerant line (R.L).
[0078] Accordingly, refrigerant passes the compressor 161 to be
compressed to a gaseous condition having a high temperature and
high pressure to be supplied to the inner condenser 153 by the
opening of the first valve 165 on the refrigerant line (R.L) that
is connected to the inner condenser 153.
[0079] Here, the pressure sensor 175 that is disposed on the
refrigerant line (R.L) between the compressor 161 and the first
valve 165 measures the pressure of the coolant that is exhausted
from the compressor 161 to transfer the measured value to the
controller 180.
[0080] The controller 180 detects the pressure of the coolant
depending on the value measured by the pressure sensor 175 to
control the opening rate of the first valve 165 according to the
vehicle condition demanded.
[0081] The coolant passing the inner condenser 153 is expanded by
the first expansion valve 171 to flow along the refrigerant line
(R.L), is supplied to the heat exchanger 130 through the operation
of the second valve 167, and circulates in the refrigerant line
(R.L) through the operation as described above.
[0082] That is, if the high temperature and high pressure gaseous
refrigerant is supplied to the inner condenser 153 in the heating
mode, the controller 180 opens the opening/closing door 159 such
that outside air passing the evaporator 157 of the HAVC module 151
is supplied to the inner condenser 153.
[0083] Thus, when the inflow outside air passes the evaporator that
the refrigerant is not supplied therein, the outside air is not
cooled by the evaporator 157 and is supplied to the inner condenser
153 to be heated thereby, and the heated outside air is supplied to
the interior room of the vehicle with a selective operation of the
PTC heater 155.
[0084] The operation of the cooling mode of the heat pump system
100 and the control method thereof will be explained in the present
exemplary embodiment with reference to FIG. 3.
[0085] Firstly, as shown in FIG. 3, the cooling assembly 110
operates the cooling fan 117 through the controller 180 to cool the
coolant circulating in the radiator 115 in the cooling mode.
[0086] In this process, the cooling fan 117 is operated at a
maximum speed to effectively cool the coolant circulating in the
radiator 115.
[0087] In this condition, the cooled coolant is circulated by the
water pump 115 through the cooling line (C.L) to cool the electric
devices 111.
[0088] Here, the controller 180 detects the coolant temperature
through the temperature sensor disposed in the heat exchanger 130,
controls the flow rate of the water pump 113, or controls the flow
rate of the cooling fan 117 according to the temperature of the
waste heat source of the electric devices 111 and the temperature
of the coolant.
[0089] And, the air conditioning assembly 150 controls the first
valve 165 to open the refrigerant line (R.L) that is connected to
the outside condenser 164 such that the refrigerant that is
exhausted from the compressor 161 is supplied to the outside
condenser 164 to be condensed.
[0090] In this process, the outside condenser 164 is disposed at a
front side of the radiator 115 that is disposed at a front side of
the vehicle, and therefore the coolant circulating in the condenser
164 is cooled and condensed by the wind flowing into the front side
of a vehicle and the wind that is formed by the cooling fan
117.
[0091] Thereafter, the controller 180 controls the third valve 169
to open the refrigerant line (R.L) such that the refrigerant
passing the outside condenser 164 is supplied to the second
expansion valve 173 that is connected to the evaporator of the HAVC
module 151.
[0092] The low temperature coolant that flows into the second
expansion valve 175 is expanded to be supplied to the evaporator
157 through the refrigerant line (R.L).
[0093] Next, the refrigerant is evaporated in the evaporator 157
through the heat exchange with the outside air and passes the
accumulator 163 and the compressor 161 along the refrigerant line
(R.L) to be compressed.
[0094] The first valve 165 is opened to open the refrigerant line
(R.L) that is connected to the outside condenser 164 such that the
coolant that is compressed through the above process flows into the
outside condenser 164 and circulates in the refrigerant line (R.L)
while repeating the operations as described above.
[0095] Here, the outside air flowing into the HVAC module 151
passes the evaporator 157 to be cooled by the low temperature
refrigerant that flows into the evaporator 157.
[0096] The opening/closing door 159 closes the passage connected to
the inner condenser 153 and the cooled outside air does not pass
the inner condenser 153 and the PTC heater 155 such that the cooled
outside air is directly supplied to the interior room of the
vehicle.
[0097] The dehumidification mode of the heat pump system 100 will
be described with reference to FIG. 4.
[0098] Firstly, as shown in FIG. 4, the cooling assembly 110
controls the cooling fan 117 to be operated by the controller 180
and to cool the coolant flowing into the radiator 115 in the
dehumidification mode.
[0099] In this condition, the cooled coolant circulates in the
cooling line (C.L) through the operation of the water pump 115 to
cool the electric devices 111 and is supplied to the heat exchanger
130, and the coolant flowing into the heat exchanger 130 cools the
refrigerant through the heat exchange.
[0100] Here, the controller 180 detects the coolant temperature
through the temperature sensor disposed in the heat exchanger 130
and controls the flow rate of the water pump 113 or controls the
flow rate of the cooling fan 117 according to the temperature of
the waste heat source of the electric devices 111, the coolant
temperature, and the coolant pressure.
[0101] The air conditioning assembly 150 operates the third valve
169 to open the refrigerant line (R.L) such that the low
temperature refrigerant that is cooled by the low temperature
coolant of the heat exchanger 130 is supplied to the second
expansion valve 173 that is connected to the evaporator 157 of the
HAVC module 151.
[0102] Thus, the low temperature refrigerant flowing into the
second expansion valve 173 is expanded to be supplied to the
evaporator 157 through the refrigerant line (R.L).
[0103] Thereafter, the refrigerant is evaporated through the heat
exchange with outside air in the evaporator 157, and passes the
accumulator 163 and the compressor 161 through the refrigerant line
(R.L) to be compressed to a high temperature and high pressure
gaseous refrigerant.
[0104] The refrigerant line (R.L) that is connected to the inner
condenser 153 is opened by the first valve 165 such that the
compressed gaseous refrigerant is supplied to the inner condenser
153.
[0105] Here, the pressure sensor 175 that is disposed on the
refrigerant line (R.L) between the compressor 161 and the first
valve 165 detects the pressure of the refrigerant that is exhausted
from the compressor 161 to output the value to the controller
180.
[0106] The controller 180 uses the value measured by the pressure
sensor 175 to detect the refrigerant pressure and controls the
opening rate of the first valve 165 according to the demanded
condition of the vehicle.
[0107] The refrigerant passing the inner condenser 153 is expanded
by the first expansion valve 171 to be supplied to the heat
exchanger 130 by the opening of the second valve 167 through the
refrigerant line (R.L) that is connected to the heat exchanger 130,
and circulates in the refrigerant line (R.L) while repeating the
above processes.
[0108] In this case, the controller 180 controls the opening rate
of the first and second expansion valves 171 and 173 to control the
expansion rate of the refrigerant.
[0109] Here, the outside air flowing in the HVAC module 151 passes
the evaporator 157 to be cooled by the low temperature refrigerant
flowing into the evaporator 157.
[0110] In this case, the opening/closing door 159 opens the part
that is connected to the inner condenser 153 such that the cooled
outside air passes the inner condenser 153, the inflow outside air
passes the evaporator 157 to be dehumidified to be heated through
the inner condenser 153, and the dehumidified outside air flows
into the vehicle to dehumidify the interior room thereof.
[0111] Meanwhile, in a heat pump system for a vehicle and the
control method thereof according to an exemplary embodiment of the
present invention, it is described that the PTC heater 155 is
operated with the outside air in the heating mode as an exemplary
embodiment, but it is not limited thereto, and the PTC heater 155
can be selectively operated according to a heating temperature set
by a user.
[0112] Accordingly, in a heat pump system 100 for a vehicle and a
control method according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention, a heat exchanger using coolant as a heat exchange
assembly is applied and a waste heat source from the electric
devices 111 is used to exchange heat with the refrigerant to
improve heating performance, efficiency, and dehumidification
performance and to prevent the frost accumulation on the outside
condenser in chilly weather.
[0113] Also, in the heating mode, the overall system is
simultaneously operated with an operation of the PTC heater 155
during an idle condition and a driving condition in very chilly
weather to prevent the increment of the power usage such that the
heating load is reduced to increase travel distance of the vehicle
with the same power.
[0114] Further, in the cooling mode of the vehicle, the coolant is
cooled by the low temperature refrigerant to be able to improve the
cooling performance, and the first, second, and third valves (165,
167, and 169) are 3-way valves to reduce frequent opening/closing
operations such that the noise and vibration can be reduced.
[0115] Also, coolant is used as a heat exchange assembly in the
heat exchanger 130 to simplify the structure of the respective
constituent elements, and simultaneously one radiator 115 is used
to cool the electric devices such that the overall system is
reduced and efficiency of the radiator 115 is improved.
[0116] Referring to FIG. 4, the heat pump system control method
includes a four valve 190 that is configured to make coolant to
bypass the radiator according to a heating mode and a
dehumification mode.
[0117] Meanwhile, in a heat pump system for a vehicle and the
control method according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention, the first, second, and third valves are provided as an
exemplary embodiment, but it is not limited thereto, and a separate
2-way valve can be applied on the cooling line and the refrigerant
line to control flow rate or to bypass the operating fluid,
coolant, or refrigerant.
[0118] For convenience in explanation and accurate definition in
the appended claims, the terms "upper", "lower", "inner" and
"outer" are used to describe features of the exemplary embodiments
with reference to the positions of such features as displayed in
the figures.
[0119] The foregoing descriptions of specific exemplary embodiments
of the present invention have been presented for purposes of
illustration and description. They are not intended to be
exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms
disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are
possible in light of the above teachings. The exemplary embodiments
were chosen and described in order to explain certain principles of
the invention and their practical application, to thereby enable
others skilled in the art to make and utilize various exemplary
embodiments of the present invention, as well as various
alternatives and modifications thereof. It is intended that the
scope of the invention be defined by the Claims appended hereto and
their equivalents.
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