U.S. patent application number 14/327161 was filed with the patent office on 2015-06-04 for heat pump system for vehicle.
This patent application is currently assigned to Hyundai Motor Company. The applicant listed for this patent is Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation. Invention is credited to Kilwoo Lee.
Application Number | 20150153078 14/327161 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 53058586 |
Filed Date | 2015-06-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150153078 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lee; Kilwoo |
June 4, 2015 |
HEAT PUMP SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE
Abstract
A heat pump system for a vehicle may include an outdoor
condenser, an expansion valve, an evaporator, a compressor, and an
indoor condenser that primarily condenses the refrigerant
compressed through the compressor and is connected with the outdoor
condenser, in which the outdoor condenser, the expansion valve, the
evaporator, the compressor, and the indoor condenser are connected
through refrigerant pipes, a first valve disposed in the
refrigerant pipe between the outdoor condenser and the expansion
valve; a chiller connected with the first valve through the
refrigerant pipe, between the evaporator and the compressor, and
controls the temperature of the refrigerant by exchanging heat; a
connection pipe selectively allowing some of the refrigerant
flowing into the chiller in a dehumidifying mode; and a second
valve disposed in the connection pipe.
Inventors: |
Lee; Kilwoo; (Seoul,
KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Hyundai Motor Company
Kia Motors Corporation |
Seoul
Seoul |
|
KR
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
Hyundai Motor Company
Seoul
KR
Kia Motors Corporation
Seoul
KR
|
Family ID: |
53058586 |
Appl. No.: |
14/327161 |
Filed: |
July 9, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/324.6 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25B 41/04 20130101;
B60H 1/00914 20130101; F25B 30/02 20130101; F25B 6/04 20130101;
F25B 2341/066 20130101; B60H 2001/00949 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F25B 30/02 20060101
F25B030/02; F25B 41/04 20060101 F25B041/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 2, 2013 |
KR |
10-2013-0148737 |
Claims
1. A heat pump system for an electric vehicle which controls
cooling/heating of an interior of the electric vehicle by
circulating a refrigerant in accordance a heating mode and a
cooling mode, the heat pump system comprising an outdoor condenser
that condenses the refrigerant; an expansion valve that is
fluidly-connected to the outdoor condenser and expands the
refrigerant condensing through the outdoor condenser; an evaporator
that is fluidly-connected to the expansion valve and evaporates the
refrigerant expanding through the expansion valve; a compressor
that is fluidly-connected to the evaporator and compresses the
refrigerant evaporating through the evaporator; an indoor condenser
that primarily condenses the refrigerant compressed through the
compressor, wherein the indoor condenser is connected with the
outdoor condenser, the expansion valve, the evaporator, the
compressor, and the indoor condenser through refrigerant pipes; a
first valve disposed in a first refrigerant pipe of the refrigerant
pipes between the outdoor condenser and the expansion valve; a
chiller connected with the first valve through a second refrigerant
pipe, between the evaporator and the compressor, and controls a
temperature of the refrigerant by exchanging heat; a connection
pipe selectively allowing some of the refrigerant flowing into the
chiller in a dehumidifying mode; and a second valve disposed in the
connection pipe.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the connection pipe connects the
second refrigerant pipe disposed between the first valve and the
chiller with a third refrigerant pipe disposed between the
expansion valve and the evaporator.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein the chiller is connected with an
accumulator disposed between the evaporator and the compressor,
through the third refrigerant pipe, wherein the third refrigerant
pipe connects the evaporator, the accumulator, the compressor, and
the indoor condenser.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the second valve is a check valve
that prevents the refrigerant from flowing back into the chiller
from the evaporator through the connection pipe.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first valve is a 3-Way
valve.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein a fourth refrigerant pipe of the
refrigerant pipes further has an orifice between the outdoor
condenser and the indoor condenser, wherein the fourth refrigerant
pipe connects the outdoor condenser and the indoor condenser.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein; in the heating mode, the
refrigerant from the outdoor condenser is sent not into the
expansion valve and the evaporator, but into the chiller by an
operation of the first valve, and is then sent, with the
temperature increased, into the compressor, and when the
dehumidifying mode is required during the heating mode, some of the
refrigerant flowing into the chiller is sent into the evaporator
through the connection pipe by opening the second valve, with the
heating mode keeping operated.
8. A heat pump system for an electric vehicle which controls
cooling/heating of an interior of the electric vehicle in
accordance with a heating mode and a cooling mode, the heat pump
system comprising: an outdoor condenser that condenses a
refrigerant; an expansion valve that is fluidly connected to the
outdoor condenser and expands the refrigerant condensing through
the outdoor condenser; an evaporator that is fluidly connected to
the expansion valve and evaporates the refrigerant expanding
through the expansion valve; a compressor that that is fluidly
connected to the evaporator and compresses the refrigerant
evaporating through the evaporator; an indoor condenser that
primarily condenses the refrigerant compressed through the
compressor, wherein the indoor condenser is connected with the
outdoor condenser, the expansion valve, the evaporator, the
compressor, and the indoor condenser, through refrigerant pipes; a
first valve disposed in a first refrigerant pipe of the refrigerant
pipes between the outdoor condenser and the expansion valve; a
chiller connected with an accumulator between the evaporator and
the compressor, disposed between the first valve and the
accumulator, and controlling a temperature of the refrigerant by
exchanging heat; a connection pipe connected to a second
refrigerant pipe of the refrigerant pipes disposed between the
expansion valve and the evaporator, to a third refrigerant pipe of
the refrigerant pipes disposed between the outdoor condenser and
the indoor condenser to selectively send some of the refrigerant
flowing into the outdoor condenser to the evaporator in the
dehumidifying mode; and a second valve disposed in the connection
pipe.
9. The system of claim 8, wherein the second valve is a check valve
that prevents the refrigerant in the connection pipe from flowing
back into the chiller from the evaporator.
10. The system of claim 8, wherein the first valve is a 3-Way
valve.
11. The system of claim 8, wherein the third refrigerant pipe
includes an orifice between the outdoor condenser and the indoor
condenser and the connection pipe is connected with the third
refrigerant pipe between the orifice and the outdoor condenser.
12. The system of claim 8, wherein; in the heating mode, the
refrigerant from the outdoor condenser is sent not into the
expansion valve and the evaporator, but into the chiller by an
operation of the first valve, and is then sent, with the
temperature increased, into the compressor, and when the
dehumidifying mode is required during the heating mode, some of the
refrigerant flowing into the chiller is sent into the evaporator
through the connection pipe by opening the second valve, with the
heating mode keeping operated.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The present application claims priority of Korean Patent
Application Number 10-2013-0148737 filed on Dec. 2, 2013, the
entire contents of which application are incorporated herein for
all purposes by this reference.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a heat pump system for a
vehicle. More particularly, the present invention relates to a heat
pump system for a vehicle which increases the travel distance of a
vehicle by reducing the use of a PTC heater and of which the entire
efficiency is improved, by being able to continuously run a
dehumidifying mode with a heating mode for heating the vehicle, if
necessary, when working in the heating mode in winter.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] In general, automotive air-conditioning systems include an
air-conditioning module for heating/cooling the interior of
vehicles.
[0006] Such air-conditioning modules are designed to cool the
interior of vehicles, using a heat exchange medium, which is
discharged from a compressor and exchanges heat through an
evaporator while circulating through a condenser, a receiver drier,
an expansion valve, the evaporator, and the compressor, or they
heat the interior of vehicles, using cooling water that exchanges
heat through a heater.
[0007] Recently, there is a need of developing an
environmentally-friendly vehicle that can substantially replace the
ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) vehicles, with an increasing
concern on energy efficiency and the problem with environmental
pollution and the environmentally-friendly vehicle generally falls
into an electric vehicle driven by a fuel cell or electricity,
which is the power source, and a hybrid vehicle driven by an engine
and an electric battery.
[0008] In those environmentally-friendly vehicles, the electric
vehicles are not equipped with a specific heater, unlike the
air-conditioning systems of common vehicles, and the
air-conditioning systems used for the electric vehicles are usually
called heat pump systems.
[0009] In the heat pump systems, the way of decreasing the
temperature and humidity of the interior of vehicles in a cooling
mode in summer by condensing high-temperature and high-pressure
gaseous refrigerant, which has been compressed by a compressor,
through a condenser and evaporating it through a receiver drier and
an expansion valve, is the same as the way of common
air-conditioning system; however, the high-temperature and
high-pressure gaseous refrigerant is used as a heating medium in a
heating mode in winter.
[0010] That is, in the heating mode of electric vehicles, the
high-temperature and high-pressure gaseous refrigerant flows into
not the outdoor condenser, but the indoor condenser through a valve
and exchanges heat with external air sucked therein and the
external air with heat exchanged flows into the interior of the
vehicles through a PCT (Positive Temperature Coefficient) heater,
such that the temperature of the interior of the vehicles
increases.
[0011] The high-temperature and high-pressure gaseous refrigerant
flowing in the indoor condenser is discharged as a liquid
refrigerant after condensing by exchanging with the external air
therein.
[0012] However, the heat pump systems of the related art described
above have to stop operating in the heating mode, change into a
heating mode using the PTC heater, and then change into the cooling
mode, when dehumidification is required while they operate in the
heating mode in winter, such that noise is generated and durability
is reduced by frequent changes between the heating mode and the
cooling mode and the performance of the entire heat pump systems is
deteriorated.
[0013] Further, when the dehumidifying mode is frequently operated,
the power consumption increases due to expansion of the use range
of the PTC heater, so the whole travel distance by the same power
reduces.
[0014] 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
[0015] Various aspects of the present invention are directed to
providing a heat pump system for a vehicle having advantages of
being able to prevent noise and a decrease in durability due to
frequent changes between a heating mode and a cooling mode in the
related art, and improve the efficiency of the entire system by
increasing the travel distance of a vehicle with reduction of the
use of a PTC, by performing a heating mode and a dehumidifying mode
even without changing into a cooling mode, when interior
dehumidification is required during the heating mode in winter.
[0016] In an aspect of the present invention, a heat pump system
for an electric vehicle which controls cooling/heating of an
interior of the electric vehicle by circulating a refrigerant in
accordance a heating mode and a cooling mode, may include an
outdoor condenser that condenses the refrigerant, an expansion
valve that is fluidly-connected to the outdoor condenser and
expands the refrigerant condensing through the outdoor condenser,
an evaporator that is fluidly-connected to the expansion valve and
evaporates the refrigerant expanding through the expansion valve, a
compressor that is fluidly-connected to the evaporator and
compresses the refrigerant evaporating through the evaporator, an
indoor condenser that primarily condenses the refrigerant
compressed through the compressor, wherein the indoor condenser is
connected with the outdoor condenser, the expansion valve, the
evaporator, the compressor, and the indoor condenser through
refrigerant pipes, a first valve disposed in a first refrigerant
pipe of the refrigerant pipes between the outdoor condenser and the
expansion valve, a chiller connected with the first valve through a
second refrigerant pipe, between the evaporator and the compressor,
and controls a temperature of the refrigerant by exchanging heat, a
connection pipe selectively allowing some of the refrigerant
flowing into the chiller in a dehumidifying mode, and a second
valve disposed in the connection pipe.
[0017] The connection pipe connects the second refrigerant pipe
disposed between the first valve and the chiller with a third
refrigerant pipe disposed between the expansion valve and the
evaporator.
[0018] The chiller is connected with an accumulator disposed
between the evaporator and the compressor, through the third
refrigerant pipe, wherein the third refrigerant pipe connects the
evaporator, the accumulator, the compressor, and the indoor
condenser.
[0019] The second valve is a check valve that prevents the
refrigerant from flowing back into the chiller from the evaporator
through the connection pipe.
[0020] The first valve is a 3-Way valve.
[0021] A fourth refrigerant pipe of the refrigerant pipes may
further have an orifice between the outdoor condenser and the
indoor condenser, wherein the fourth refrigerant pipe connects the
outdoor condenser and the indoor condenser.
[0022] In the heating mode, the refrigerant from the outdoor
condenser is sent not into the expansion valve and the evaporator,
but into the chiller by an operation of the first valve, and is
then sent, with the temperature increased, into the compressor, and
when the dehumidifying mode is required during the heating mode,
some of the refrigerant flowing into the chiller is sent into the
evaporator through the connection pipe by opening the second valve,
with the heating mode keeping operated.
[0023] In another aspect of the present invention, a heat pump
system for an electric vehicle which controls cooling/heating of an
interior of the electric vehicle in accordance with a heating mode
and a cooling mode, may include an outdoor condenser that condenses
a refrigerant, an expansion valve that is fluidly connected to the
outdoor condenser and expands the refrigerant condensing through
the outdoor condenser, an evaporator that is fluidly connected to
the expansion valve and evaporates the refrigerant expanding
through the expansion valve, a compressor that that is fluidly
connected to the evaporator and compresses the refrigerant
evaporating through the evaporator, an indoor condenser that
primarily condenses the refrigerant compressed through the
compressor, wherein the indoor condenser is connected with the
outdoor condenser, the expansion valve, the evaporator, the
compressor, and the indoor condenser, through refrigerant pipes, a
first valve disposed in a first refrigerant pipe of the refrigerant
pipes between the outdoor condenser and the expansion valve, a
chiller connected with an accumulator between the evaporator and
the compressor, disposed between the first valve and the
accumulator, and controlling a temperature of the refrigerant by
exchanging heat, a connection pipe connected to a second
refrigerant pipe of the refrigerant pipes disposed between the
expansion valve and the evaporator, to a third refrigerant pipe of
the refrigerant pipes disposed between the outdoor condenser and
the indoor condenser to selectively send some of the refrigerant
flowing into the outdoor condenser to the evaporator in the
dehumidifying mode, and a second valve disposed in the connection
pipe.
[0024] The second valve is a check valve that prevents the
refrigerant in the connection pipe from flowing back into the
chiller from the evaporator.
[0025] The first valve is a 3-Way valve.
[0026] The third refrigerant pipe may include an orifice between
the outdoor condenser and the indoor condenser and the connection
pipe is connected with the third refrigerant pipe between the
orifice and the outdoor condenser.
[0027] In the heating mode, the refrigerant from the outdoor
condenser is sent not into the expansion valve and the evaporator,
but into the chiller by an operation of the first valve, and is
then sent, with the temperature increased, into the compressor, and
when the dehumidifying mode is required during the heating mode,
some of the refrigerant flowing into the chiller is sent into the
evaporator through the connection pipe by opening the second valve,
with the heating mode keeping operated.
[0028] As described above, according to a heat pump system for a
vehicle of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, it is
possible to prevent noise and a decrease in durability due to
frequent changes between a heating mode and a cooling mode in the
related art, and improve the efficiency of the entire system by
increasing the travel distance of a vehicle with reduction of the
use of a PTC, by performing a heating mode and a dehumidifying mode
even without changing into a cooling mode, when interior
dehumidification is required during the heating mode in winter.
[0029] Further, in the dehumidifying mode, it is possible to reduce
the manufacturing cost by decreasing the lengths of the connection
pipes for supplying a refrigerant to the evaporator to simplify the
layout inside a small engine room, such that it is possible to
improve spatial usability and reduce a loss of internal pressure by
simplifying the package.
[0030] Further, since it is possible to prevent unnecessary power
consumption by reducing the use of a PTC heater and improving the
efficiency of the entire system, it is possible to increase the
travel distance with the same amount of power.
[0031] 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
[0032] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of
a heat pump system for a vehicle according to an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention.
[0033] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a dehumidifying mode in a
heating mode of the heat pump system for a vehicle according to an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0034] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of
a heat pump system for a vehicle according to another exemplary
embodiment of the present invention.
[0035] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a dehumidifying mode in a
heating mode of the heat pump system for a vehicle according to
another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0036] 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.
[0037] In the figures, reference numbers refer to the same or
equivalent parts of the present invention throughout the several
figures of the drawing.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS
[0038] 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.
[0039] An exemplary embodiment of the present invention will
hereinafter be described in detail with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
[0040] First of all, the exemplary embodiments described herein and
the configurations shown in the drawings are the most preferable
exemplary embodiments of the present invention and do not fully
cover the spirit of the present invention, therefore, it should be
understood that there may be various equivalents and modifications
that can replace them at the time of the application.
[0041] Throughout the specification, unless explicitly described to
the contrary, the word "comprise" and variations such as
"comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the
inclusion of stated elements but not the exclusion of any other
elements.
[0042] Further, the terms, ". . . unit", ". . . mechanism", ". . .
portion", ". . . member" etc. used herein mean the units of
inclusive components performing at least one or more functions or
operations.
[0043] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of
a heat pump system for a vehicle according to an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention and FIG. 2 is a diagram
illustrating a dehumidifying mode in a heating mode of the heat
pump system for a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of
the present invention.
[0044] Referring to the figures, a heat pump system 10 for a
vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention, which is used in electric vehicles, can prevent noise
and a decrease in durability due to frequent changes between a
heating mode and a cooling mode in the related art, and improve the
efficiency of the entire system by increasing the travel distance
of a vehicle with reduction of the use of a PTC, by performing a
heating mode and a dehumidifying mode even without changing into a
cooling mode, when interior dehumidification is required during the
heating mode in winter.
[0045] To this end, the heat pump system 10 for a vehicle according
to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, as shown in
FIG. 1, includes an outdoor condenser 13, an expansion valve 15, an
evaporator 17, a compressor 19, and an indoor condenser 21 that are
connected through refrigerant pipes 11 to control heating/cooling
of the interior of a vehicle, using circulation of a refrigerant,
depending on a heating mode and a cooling mode in an electric
vehicle.
[0046] The outdoor condenser 13 is disposed ahead of a radiator
ahead of an engine room, and condenses a refrigerant, using heat
exchange with external air, and the expansion valve 15 expands the
refrigerant condensing through the indoor condenser 13.
[0047] The evaporator 17 evaporates the refrigerant expanding
through the expansion valve 15, the compressor 19 compresses the
refrigerant evaporating through the evaporator 17, and the indoor
condenser 21 is connected with the outdoor condenser 13 and
primarily condenses the refrigerant compressed through the
compressor 19.
[0048] The heat pump system 10 for a vehicle according to an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention further includes a
first valve 27, a chiller 29, connection pipe 31, and a second
valve 33.
[0049] The first valve 27 is disposed in the refrigerant pipe 11
between the outdoor condenser 13 and the expansion valve 15.
[0050] The chiller 29, which is a water-cooled using cooling water
as a cooling medium, is connected with the first valve 27 through
the refrigerant pipe 11, between the evaporator 17 and the
compressor 19 and controls the temperature of the refrigerant by
exchanging heat with the cooling water with the temperature
increased by cooling electric devices.
[0051] The second valve 27 may be a 3-way valve, and accordingly,
it passes the refrigerant, which has condensed through the outdoor
condenser 13, into the chiller 29, or into the expansion valve 15,
not through the chiller 29.
[0052] Further, the chiller 29 may be disposed between the
evaporator 17 and the compressor 19 and connected with an
accumulator 23, which supplies only a gaseous refrigerant to the
compressor 19, through the refrigerant pipe 11.
[0053] Accordingly, the accumulator 23 separates a liquid
refrigerant in the refrigerant passing through the chiller 29 and
in the gaseous refrigerant flowing into the compressor 19 through
the evaporator 17, supplies the gaseous refrigerant to the
compressor 19, and keeps the liquid refrigerant and then vaporizes
and supplies it back to the compressor 19, such that it supplies
only a gaseous refrigerant to the compressor 19. Therefore,
breakdown and malfunction of the compressor 19 are prevented and
efficiency and durability are improved.
[0054] In the present exemplary embodiment, the refrigerant pipe 11
may further include an orifice 25 between the outdoor condenser 13
and the indoor condenser 21.
[0055] In the present exemplary embodiment, the connection pipe 31
selectively allows some of the refrigerant, which flows into the
chiller 29 by the operation of the first valve 27, into the
evaporator 17 in a dehumidifying mode, and the second valve 33 is
disposed in the connection pipe 31.
[0056] The connection pipe 31 connects the refrigerant pipe 11
between the first valve 27 and the chiller 29 with the refrigerant
pipe 11 between the expansion valve 15 and the evaporator 17.
[0057] The second valve 33 may be a check valve that prevents
backflow of fluid for preventing the refrigerant from flowing back
into the chiller 29 from the evaporator 17 through the connection
pipe 31.
[0058] The operation and effect of the dehumidifying mode when the
heat pump system 100 for a vehicle which has the configuration
described above, according to an exemplary embodiment of the
present invention, are described in detail hereafter.
[0059] First, in the heating mode for winter in an electric vehicle
equipped with the heat pump system 10 having the configuration
described above, as shown in FIG. 2, cooling water with the
temperature increased due to waste heat sources by cooling electric
devices flows into the chiller 29 and is then cooled by exchanging
heat with external air through a radiator and supplied back to the
electric devices, thereby circulating.
[0060] In this process, the first valve 27 keeps opening the
refrigerant pipe 11 connected with the chiller 29 so that the
low-temperature condensed refrigerant from the outdoor condenser 13
is supplied to the chiller 29, and keeps closing the refrigerant
pipe 11 connected with the expansion valve 15.
[0061] Accordingly, the refrigerant is condensed at lower
temperature and low pressure by exchanging heat with the external
air through the outdoor condenser 13 and then flows into the
chiller 29 through the refrigerant pipe 11 connected with the
chiller 29.
[0062] The refrigerant flowing in the chiller 29 flows, with the
temperature increased by exchanging heat with the cooling water of
which the temperature increased, into the compressor 19 through the
accumulator 23, and the compressor 19 compresses the refrigerant
with the temperature increased into a high-temperature and
high-pressure gaseous refrigerant and supplies it to the indoor
condenser 21.
[0063] The indoor condenser 21 is disposed in an HVAC (Heating,
Ventilation and Air Conditioning) module and the external air is
increased in temperature through the indoor condenser 21, such that
warm external air is supplied to the interior of a vehicle by
selective operation of the PTC heater, and thus, heating is
made.
[0064] Thereafter, the refrigerant, which discharged heat by
exchanging heat with the external air flowing into the interior
while passing through the indoor condenser 21, changes into a
low-temperature and low-pressure refrigerant through the orifice
25, and then it is condensed by exchanging heat with external air
through the outdoor condenser 13 and supplied back to the chiller
29. Accordingly, the vehicle is heated by repeating the processes
described above.
[0065] When there is a need of a dehumidifying mode due to moisture
produced on the windows inside the vehicle during the heating mode,
some of the refrigerant to flow into the chiller 29 through the
connection pipe 31 is sent into the evaporator 17 by opening the
second valve 33, with the heating mode keeping operated.
[0066] Accordingly, the external air flowing in the HVAC module is
sent directly to the windows inside the vehicle, with the
temperature decreased through the evaporator 17 with the
low-temperature and low-pressure refrigerant therein, before it is
supplied to the chiller 29, such that it removes the moisture.
[0067] Accordingly, since the heat pump system 10 for a vehicle
according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention can
perform the dehumidifying mode during the heating mode, even
without changing into a cooling mode after stopping a heating mode,
as in the related art, when it is required to operate in the
dehumidifying mode during the heating mode in winter, it is
possible to prevent noise and reduction of the durability of the
entire system due to frequent changes between a heating mode and a
cooling mode.
[0068] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of
a heat pump system for a vehicle according to another exemplary
embodiment of the present invention and FIG. 4 is a diagram
illustrating a dehumidifying mode in a heating mode of the heat
pump system for a vehicle according to another exemplary embodiment
of the present invention.
[0069] Referring to FIG. 3, the heat pump system 100 for a vehicle
according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention,
as shown in FIG. 1, includes an outdoor condenser 113, an expansion
valve 115, an evaporator 117, a compressor 119, and an indoor
condenser 121 that are connected through refrigerant pipes 111 to
control heating/cooling of the interior of a vehicle, using
circulation of a refrigerant, depending on a heating mode and a
cooling mode in an electric vehicle.
[0070] The indoor condenser 113 is disposed ahead of a radiator
ahead of an engine room, and condenses a refrigerant, using heat
exchange with external air, and the expansion valve 115 expands the
refrigerant condensing through the indoor condenser 113.
[0071] The evaporator 117 evaporates the refrigerant expanding
through the expansion valve 115, the compressor 119 compresses the
refrigerant evaporating through the evaporator 117, and the indoor
condenser 121 is connected with the outdoor condenser 113 and
primarily condenses the refrigerant compressed through the
compressor 119.
[0072] The heat pump system 100 for a vehicle according to another
exemplary embodiment of the present invention further includes a
first valve 127, a chiller 129, connection pipe 131, and a second
valve 133.
[0073] The first valve 127 is disposed in the refrigerant pipe 111
between the outdoor condenser 113 and the expansion valve 115.
[0074] In the present exemplary embodiment, the chiller 29 is
connected with an accumulator 123 between the evaporator 117 and
the compressor 119, is disposed between the first valve 127 and the
accumulator 123, and controls the temperature of a refrigerant by
exchanging heat.
[0075] The second valve 127 may be a 3-way valve, and accordingly,
it passes the refrigerant, which has condensed through the outdoor
condenser 113, into the chiller 129, or into the expansion valve
115, not through the chiller 129.
[0076] The chiller 129, which is a water-cooled using cooling water
as a cooling medium, controls the temperature of a refrigerant by
exchanging heat with cooling water with the temperature increased
by cooling electric devices.
[0077] The accumulator 123 separates a liquid refrigerant in the
refrigerant passing through the chiller 129 and in the gaseous
refrigerant flowing into the compressor 119 through the evaporator
117, supplies the gaseous refrigerant to the compressor 119, and
keeps the liquid refrigerant and then vaporizes and supplies it
back to the compressor 119, such that it supplies only a gaseous
refrigerant to the compressor 119. Therefore, breakdown and
malfunction of the compressor 119 are prevented and efficiency and
durability are improved.
[0078] In the present exemplary embodiment, the connection pipe 131
is connected to the refrigerant pipe 111 between the expansion
valve 115 and the evaporator 117, between the outdoor condenser 113
and the indoor condenser 121 to selectively send some of the
refrigerant flowing into the outdoor condenser 113 to the
evaporator 117 in the dehumidifying mode.
[0079] The refrigerant pipe 111 further has an orifice 125 between
the outdoor condenser 113 and the indoor condenser 121 and the
connection pipe 133 can be connected with the refrigerant pipe 111
between the orifice 125 and the outdoor condenser 113.
[0080] The second valve 133 is disposed in the connection pipe
131.
[0081] The second valve 133 may be a check valve for preventing the
refrigerant from flowing back into the chiller 129 from the
evaporator 117 through the connection pipe 131.
[0082] The operation and effect of the dehumidifying mode when the
heat pump system 100 for a vehicle which has the configuration
described above, according to another exemplary embodiment of the
present invention, are described in detail hereafter.
[0083] First, in the heating mode for winter in an electric vehicle
equipped with the heat pump system 100 having the configuration
described above, in accordance with another exemplary embodiment of
the present invention, as shown in FIG. 4, cooling water with the
temperature increased due to waste heat sources by cooling electric
devices flows into the chiller 129 and is then cooled by exchanging
heat with external air through a radiator and supplied back to the
electric devices, thereby circulating.
[0084] In this process, the first valve 127 keeps opening the
refrigerant pipe 111 connected with the chiller 129 so that the
low-temperature condensed refrigerant from the outdoor condenser
113 is supplied to the chiller 129, and keeps closing the
refrigerant pipe 111 connected with the expansion valve 115.
[0085] Accordingly, the refrigerant is condensed at lower
temperature and low pressure by exchanging heat with the external
air through the outdoor condenser 113 and then flows into the
chiller 129 through the refrigerant pipe 111 connected with the
chiller 129.
[0086] The refrigerant flowing in the chiller 129 flows, with the
temperature increased by exchanging heat with the cooling water of
which the temperature increased, into the compressor 119 through
the accumulator 123, and the compressor 119 compresses the
refrigerant with the temperature increased into a high-temperature
and high-pressure gaseous refrigerant and supplies it to the indoor
condenser 121.
[0087] The indoor condenser 121 is disposed in an HVAC (Heating,
Ventilation and Air Conditioning) module and the external air is
increased in temperature through the indoor condenser 121, such
that warm external air is supplied to the interior of a vehicle by
selective operation of the PTC heater, and thus, heating is
made.
[0088] Thereafter, the refrigerant, which discharged heat by
exchanging heat with the external air flowing into the interior
while passing through the indoor condenser 121, changes into a
low-temperature and low-pressure refrigerant through the orifice
125, and then it is condensed by exchanging heat with external air
through the outdoor condenser 113 and supplied back to the chiller
29. Accordingly, the vehicle is heated by repeating the processes
described above.
[0089] When there is a need of a dehumidifying mode due to moisture
produced on the windows inside the vehicle during the heating mode,
the second vale 133 is opened with the heating mode keeping
operated.
[0090] Accordingly, the refrigerant from the indoor condenser 121
passes through the orifice 125 and some of the refrigerant flowing
into the outdoor condenser 113 flows into the evaporator 117
through the connection pipe 131.
[0091] Further, the low-temperature and low-pressure refrigerant
that has been discharged from the indoor condenser 121 and has
passed the orifice 125 flows into the evaporator, such that the
external air flowing in the HVAC module decreases in temperature
through the evaporator with the refrigerant therein and flows
directly to the windows inside the vehicle, and accordingly, it
removes the moisture.
[0092] Therefore, by using the heat pump systems 1 and 100 for a
vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment and another exemplary
embodiment of the present invention, which is used in electric
vehicles, it is possible to prevent noise and a decrease in
durability due to frequent changes between a heating mode and a
cooling mode in the related art, and improve the efficiency of the
entire system by increasing the travel distance of a vehicle with
reduction of the use of a PTC, by performing a heating mode and a
dehumidifying mode even without changing into a cooling mode, when
interior dehumidification is required during the heating mode in
winter.
[0093] Further, in the dehumidifying mode, it is possible to reduce
the manufacturing cost by decreasing the lengths of the connection
pipes 31 and 131 for supplying a refrigerant to the evaporators 17
and 117 to simplify the layout inside a small engine room, such
that it is possible to improve spatial usability and reduce a loss
of internal pressure by simplifying the package.
[0094] Further, since it is possible to prevent unnecessary power
consumption by reducing the use of a PTC heater and improving the
efficiency of the entire system, it is possible to increase the
travel distance with the same amount of power.
[0095] 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.
[0096] 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. 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 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.
* * * * *