US 12,291,080 B2
Method for maximizing a refrigerant in active system sections of a refrigeration system, refrigeration system, and motor vehicle comprising such a refrigeration system
Dirk Schroeder, Manching (DE); Christian Rebinger, Munich (DE); Thomas Haltmeier, Ingolstadt (DE); and Stephen Rost, Manching (DE)
Assigned to Audi AG, Ingolstadt (DE)
Appl. No. 18/005,233
Filed by AUDI AG, Ingolstadt (DE)
PCT Filed Aug. 27, 2021, PCT No. PCT/EP2021/073694
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jan. 12, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/083924, PCT Pub. Date Apr. 28, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 102020127905.1 (DE), filed on Oct. 23, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0264537 A1, Aug. 24, 2023
Int. Cl. B60H 1/32 (2006.01); B60H 1/00 (2006.01)
CPC B60H 1/00921 (2013.01) [B60H 1/00485 (2013.01); B60H 1/00571 (2013.01); B60H 2001/3248 (2013.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for operating a refrigeration system for a motor vehicle, wherein the refrigeration system comprises:
a refrigerant compressor, which is connectable or connected to a primary line and a secondary line;
a directly or indirectly acting external heat exchanger, which is arranged in the primary line;
an evaporator, which is arranged in the primary line;
at least one further heat exchanger which is arranged in the secondary line;
a primary line valve arranged between the refrigerant compressor and the external heat exchanger;
a secondary line valve arranged between the refrigerant compressor and the further heat exchanger;
at least one valve device, which is arranged between a high-pressure-side section of the primary line or of the secondary line and a low-pressure-side line section upstream of the refrigerant compressor,
the method comprises the following steps:
setting an operating mode of the refrigeration system having active primary line and inactive secondary line or having active secondary line and inactive primary line;
detecting the pressure in the inactive line, and comparing the pressure value in the inactive line with a value of static pressure resulting from an applied ambient temperature or from an applied coolant/fluid temperature;
determining that the pressure value in the inactive line is greater than or equal to the static pressure, and, upon such determination, triggering activation of an extraction of refrigerant from the inactive line into the active line by lowering the pressure in the active line to a value below the pressure in the inactive line and by opening the at least one valve device; and
after performing the extraction, determining that the pressure value in the inactive line is now less than the static pressure, and upon such determination, terminating the extraction.