US 12,220,971 B2
Thermal management system for vehicle
Jong Won Kim, Cheonan-si (KR)
Assigned to HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, Seoul (KR); and KIA CORPORATION, Seoul (KR)
Filed by Hyundai Motor Company, Seoul (KR); and Kia Corporation, Seoul (KR)
Filed on Dec. 19, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/068,015.
Claims priority of application No. 10-2022-0094307 (KR), filed on Jul. 29, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0034127 A1, Feb. 1, 2024
Int. Cl. B60H 1/32 (2006.01); B60H 1/00 (2006.01)
CPC B60H 1/3228 (2019.05) [B60H 1/00885 (2013.01); B60H 1/3205 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A thermal management system for a vehicle, the thermal management system comprising:
an accumulator at which vapor-liquid separation of a refrigerant is performed;
a compressor configured to compress the refrigerant;
an inner condenser at which heat exchange is performed between the refrigerant and a heating air;
an outer condenser at which heat exchange is performed between the refrigerant and external air;
a first expansion valve configured to expand the refrigerant;
an evaporator at which heat exchange is performed between the refrigerant and the heating air;
a refrigerant recirculation line diverging from a refrigerant line between the compressor and the inner condenser, connected to the accumulator, and provided to selectively recirculate the refrigerant compressed by the compressor to the accumulator, wherein the refrigerant recirculation line includes:
a first diverging pipe provided to selectively pass the refrigerant compressed by the compressor; and
a second diverging pipe diverging from a refrigerant line between the outer condenser and the first expansion valve, connected to the accumulator, and connected with the first diverging pipe such that the refrigerant that has passed through the first diverging pipe can flow to the accumulator;
a discharge valve installed in the refrigerant recirculation line and provided to be able to selectively discharge the refrigerant, which has passed through the refrigerant recirculation line, into the accumulator;
a first valve that is an electronic 3-way valve installed at a diverging point, at which the first diverging pipe diverges, in the refrigerant line between the compressor and the inner condenser;
a second valve that is an electronic 3-way valve installed at a diverging point, at which the second diverging pipe diverges, in the refrigerant line between the outer condenser and the first expansion valve; and
a controller configured to control an opening state of the first valve and the second valve such that a flow state of the refrigerant passing through the first valve and the second valve can be controlled.