System and method for refrigerant management in an electric vehicle
US11479082B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 21, 2019 |
| Grant date | Oct 25, 2022 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 5, 2039 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB60H2001/3263
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A refrigerant management system in a heat flux management system for an electric vehicle and a method of refrigerant management is provided. The system includes a vehicle air conditioning circuit including a heat pump circuit and a refrigeration cycle refrigerant circuit, the air conditioning circuit including a heat pump condenser in thermal communication with a heat source, a refrigerant evaporator in thermal communication with the heat source, an evaporator associated with an expansion valve, and a refrigerant compressor where the components are fluidly connected to one another by a refrigerant line. An accumulator is fluidly coupled in the refrigerant line downstream of the heat pump condenser, the refrigerant evaporator and evaporator and upstream of the refrigerant compressor, and the air conditioning circuit is switchable between a heating mode and a cooling mode in which the refrigerant circuit is in fluid communication with the compressor by actuation of at least one valve.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.