Thermal management for an electric or hybrid vehicle and a method for air-conditioning the interior of such a motor vehicle

US10589596B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• GENTHERM INCORPORATED · US
• Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft · DE
• TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITÄT MÜNCHEN · DE

Inventors

• Stefan Riederer · Riedering, DE
• Leonhard Hoerth · Munich, DE
• Heinrich Birndorfer · Trier, DE
• Marco Ranalli · Augsburg, DE
• Martin Adldinger · Holzheim, DE
• Manuel Lorenz · Rotthalmünster, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 20, 2016
• Grant date: Mar 17, 2020
• Expiry date: Jan 11, 2037

Classification

• Technology area (CPC F): Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
• CPC primary: F25B2700/21153
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

An energy-efficient thermal management system for an electric or hybrid vehicle is provided. The system has a first coolant circuit for controlling the temperature of electric components of an electric powertrain, an air-conditioning unit being provided for air-conditioning an interior. A second coolant circuit air-conditions the interior and is operable independently of the first coolant circuit. Each coolant circuit comprises a pump and a respective ambient heat exchanger. In order to control the temperature of the interior, a temperature control device which can be designed as a Peltier module is integrated into the second coolant circuit, said temperature control device operating in the manner of a heat pump for heating purposes. The two coolant circuits can be coupled to each other in order to exchange heat. An additional temperature control device can be integrated in order to air-condition an interior component in a decentralized manner, in particular a seat.