EV multi-mode thermal management system

摘要

A multi-mode vehicle thermal management system is provided that allows efficient thermal communication between a refrigerant-based thermal control loop and three non-refrigerant-based thermal control loops, where one of the non-refrigerant-based loops provides temperature control over the vehicle's passenger cabin, a second of the non-refrigerant-based control loops is thermally coupled to the vehicle's battery system and the third of the non-refrigerant-based control circuits is thermally coupled to the vehicle's drive train. The refrigerant-based control loop may be operated either in a heating mode or a cooling mode and is coupled to the vehicle's HVAC system using a refrigerant-air heat exchanger, and to one or more of the non-refrigerant-based control loops using refrigerant-fluid heat exchangers. Valve assemblies are used to couple and/or decouple the three non-refrigerant-based thermal control loops, thereby allowing the thermal control loops to operate either in parallel or in series.

主权项

1. A multi-mode vehicle thermal management system, comprising:
a passenger cabin thermal control loop comprising a first circulation pump, wherein said first circulation pump circulates a heat transfer fluid within said passenger cabin thermal control loop, and wherein said passenger cabin thermal control loop provides temperature control of a vehicle passenger cabin; a battery thermal control loop comprising a second circulation pump, wherein said second circulation pump circulates said heat transfer fluid within said battery thermal control loop, and wherein said battery thermal control loop is thermally coupled to a vehicle battery pack; a drive train control loop comprising a third circulation pump, wherein said third circulation pump circulates said heat transfer fluid within said drive train control loop, and wherein said drive train control loop is thermally coupled to at least one drive train component; a first valve assembly, wherein said passenger cabin thermal control loop operates in parallel with and independent of said battery thermal control loop when said first valve assembly is configured in a first valve assembly first mode, and wherein said passenger cabin thermal control loop is serially coupled to said battery thermal control loop when said first valve assembly is configured in a first valve assembly second mode; a second valve assembly, wherein said battery thermal control loop operates in parallel with and independent of said drive train thermal control loop when said second valve assembly is configured in a second valve assembly first mode, and wherein said battery thermal control loop is serially coupled to said drive train thermal control loop when said second valve assembly is configured in a second valve assembly second mode; a radiator coupled to said drive train thermal control loop; and a diverter valve, wherein said diverter valve in a first position couples said radiator to said drive train thermal control loop and allows at least a portion of said heat transfer fluid to flow through said radiator, and wherein said diverter valve in a second position decouples said radiator from said drive train thermal control loop and allows said heat transfer fluid within said drive train thermal control loop to by-pass said radiator.