VEHICLE HEAT PUMP SYSTEM AND METHOD UTILIZING INTERMEDIATE GAS RECOMPRESSION

摘要

A vehicular heat pump system utilizing intermediate gas recompression is provided. The heat pump system is for use in a vehicle having a battery and a passenger compartment. The heat pump system may include a heating circuit and a cooling circuit each including a compressor having a first inlet and a second inlet and a vapour-liquid separator configured to separate intermediate pressure refrigerant supplied by a first expansion device into refrigerant in a gaseous state flowing therethrough and refrigerant in a liquid state flowing therethrough. The vapor-liquid separator may be configured to selectively inject refrigerant in a gaseous state into the compressor at the second inlet to increase the mass flow rate of the refrigerant. This allows the heat pump system to operate effectively in cold ambient temperatures. A method of operating a heat pump system utilizing intermediate gas recompression is also provided.

主权项

1. A heat pump system for use in a vehicle having a battery and a passenger compartment, the heat pump system comprising:
a heating circuit configured to circulate refrigerant in a first operating mode, to heat the passenger compartment and cool the battery; a cooling circuit configured to circulate refrigerant in a second operating mode, to condition air received by the passenger compartment and cool the battery; a compressor having a first inlet and a second inlet, incorporated into each of the heating circuit and the cooling circuit, the compressor configured to compress refrigerant; a vapor-liquid separator within each of the cooling circuit and the heating circuit configured to separate refrigerant in a gaseous state flowing therethrough from refrigerant in a liquid state flowing therethrough; a first expansion device within each of the heating circuit and cooling circuit upstream of the vapor-liquid separator configured to supply the vapor-liquid separator with refrigerant in a gaseous state and refrigerant in a liquid state; and wherein the vapor-liquid separator is configured to transmit and inject refrigerant in a gaseous state into the compressor at the second inlet to increase the mass flow rate of the refrigerant entering the compressor.