US 12,285,995 B2
Method for initiating a defrosting process of a heat exhanger of a heat pump of a motor vehicle and a corresponding motor vehicle
Jochen Westhäuser, Braunschweig (DE); Jan-Christoph Albrecht, Wolfsburg (DE); and Sven Twenhövel, Sassenburg (DE)
Assigned to VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT, Wolfsburg (DE)
Filed by Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft, Wolfsburg (DE)
Filed on Feb. 14, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/671,154.
Claims priority of application No. 10 2021 201 380.5 (DE), filed on Feb. 15, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0258567 A1, Aug. 18, 2022
Int. Cl. B60H 1/00 (2006.01)
CPC B60H 1/00878 (2013.01) [B60H 1/00385 (2013.01); B60H 1/00735 (2013.01); B60H 1/00764 (2013.01); B60H 1/00771 (2013.01); B60H 1/00807 (2013.01); B60H 1/00899 (2013.01); B60H 2001/00961 (2019.05)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for initiating a defrosting process of a heat exchanger of a heat pump of a motor vehicle, wherein the heat exchanger and a coolant heat exchanger of a cooling circuit of the motor vehicle are arranged in a common air path, comprising:
determining a coolant outlet temperature of a coolant from the coolant heat exchanger of the cooling circuit,
increasing or decreasing the coolant temperature when the coolant temperature corresponds substantially to an ambient temperature
determining a state of icing of the heat exchanger of the heat pump using the coolant outlet temperature, and
initiating a defrosting process of the heat exchanger of the heat pump if icing of the heat exchanger is determined.
 
17. A motor vehicle, comprising:
a device for defrosting a heat exchanger of a heat pump of the motor vehicle, wherein the heat exchanger and a coolant heat exchanger of a cooling circuit of the motor vehicle are arranged in a common air path,
wherein the device has a computing unit that is configured to carry out a method comprising:
increasing or decreasing the coolant temperature when the coolant temperature corresponds substantially to an ambient temperature
determining a coolant outlet temperature of a coolant from the coolant heat exchanger of the cooling circuit,
determining a state of icing of the heat exchanger of the heat pump using the coolant outlet temperature, and
initiating a defrosting process of the heat exchanger of the heat pump if icing of the heat exchanger is determined.