US 12,441,161 B2
Heat pump system for vehicle and control method thereof
Wan Je Cho, Hwaseong-si (KR); Yeonho Kim, Seoul (KR); Jae Yeon Kim, Hwaseong-si (KR); and Namho Park, Suwon-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 Aug. 9, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/232,022.
Application 18/232,022 is a division of application No. 17/447,318, filed on Sep. 10, 2021, granted, now 11,760,161.
Claims priority of application No. 10-2021-0070633 (KR), filed on Jun. 1, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0382186 A1, Nov. 30, 2023
Int. Cl. B60H 1/00 (2006.01); B60H 1/14 (2006.01); B60H 1/22 (2006.01); B60H 1/32 (2006.01)
CPC B60H 1/00899 (2013.01) [B60H 1/00885 (2013.01); B60H 1/143 (2013.01); B60H 1/2221 (2013.01); B60H 2001/00928 (2013.01); B60H 2001/00949 (2013.01); B60H 2001/3255 (2013.01)] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A heat pump system for a vehicle comprising:
a cooling apparatus including a radiator and a water pump connected by a coolant line and circulating a coolant in the coolant line so as to cool at least one heating element provided on the coolant line;
a branched line including one end connected to a valve on the coolant line between the radiator and the heating element and the other end connected to the coolant line between the radiator and the water pump; and
an air conditioner device circulating a refrigerant along refrigerant line-so as to adjust an indoor temperature of the vehicle,
wherein a heat-exchanger provided on the air conditioner device is connected to the coolant line and evaporates the refrigerant through heat-exchange with the coolant supplied through the coolant line in a heating mode of the vehicle, and
the branched line is configured to be selectively opened or closed by the valve operated with at least one operation mode depending on a temperature of the heating element in the heating mode of the vehicle,
wherein the cooling apparatus, the air conditioner device, and the valve are electrically connected to a controller,
wherein the controller is configured to control the operation of the valve according to the indoor temperature of the vehicle predetermined by a user in the heating mode of the vehicle and an amount of heat generated by the heating element.