Patent ID: 9731576
Date: 2017-08-15
CPC Classifications: B60H

Claim:
1. A multi-mode vehicle thermal management system, comprising: a passenger cabin thermal control loop comprising a first circulation pump and a liquid-air heat exchanger, wherein said first circulation pump circulates a first heat transfer fluid within said passenger cabin thermal control loop and through said liquid-air heat exchanger, and wherein said passenger cabin thermal control loop provides temperature control of a vehicle passenger cabin; a battery thermal control loop comprising a second circulation pump, wherein said second circulation pump circulates said first heat transfer fluid within said battery thermal control loop, and wherein said battery thermal control loop is thermally coupled to a vehicle battery pack; a drive train control loop comprising a third circulation pump, wherein said third circulation pump circulates a second heat transfer fluid within said drive train control loop, wherein said drive train control loop is thermally coupled to at least one drive train component, wherein said drive train thermal control loop operates in parallel with and independent of said passenger cabin thermal control loop, and wherein said drive train thermal control loop operates in parallel with and independent of said battery thermal control loop; a valve assembly, wherein said passenger cabin thermal control loop operates in parallel with and independent of said battery thermal control loop when said valve assembly is configured in a first mode, wherein said passenger cabin thermal control loop is serially coupled to said battery thermal control loop when said valve assembly is configured in a second mode; a refrigerant-based thermal control loop, wherein said refrigerant-based thermal control loop is comprised of a refrigerant, a compressor, and a condenser/evaporator; a refrigerant-air heat exchanger coupled to said refrigerant-based thermal control loop by a first expansion valve, wherein said refrigerant-air heat exchanger is thermally coupled to a vehicle HVAC system; a refrigerant valve operable in at least two modes; and a refrigerant-fluid heat exchanger coupled to said passenger cabin thermal control loop, wherein said refrigerant valve in a first mode directs said refrigerant through said refrigerant-air heat exchanger and said first expansion valve, wherein said refrigerant valve in a second mode directs said refrigerant through said refrigerant-fluid heat exchanger, and wherein said first heat transfer fluid within said passenger cabin thermal control loop is heated when said refrigerant is directed through said refrigerant-fluid heat exchanger.