# US 10,245,918 B2 · Heating system for a vehicle and method for air-conditioning a vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,245,918 B2 - Document ID: US10245918B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/806,486 - Filed: 2017-11-08 - Published: 2018-03-08 - Granted: 2019-04-02 - Earliest claimed: 2015-07-08 - Assignees: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft - Applicants: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft - Inventors: Christian Allgaeuer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10245918B2 ## CPC - B60H 1/00385: {for vehicles having an electrical drive, e.g. hybrid or fuel cell} - B60H 1/00899: {Controlling the flow of liquid in a heat pump system (controlling the properties of the refrigerant liquid, e.g. pressure or temperature, B60H1/3204)} - B60H 1/143: {the heat being derived from cooling an electric component, e.g. electric motors, electric circuits, fuel cells or batteries} - B60H 1/32284: {comprising two or more secondary circuits, e.g. at evaporator and condenser side} - B60H 2001/00307: {Component temperature regulation using a liquid flow} - B60H 2001/00928: {comprising a secondary circuit} - B60H 2001/00949: {comprising additional heating/cooling sources, e.g. second evaporator} - B60H: ARRANGEMENTS OF HEATING, COOLING, VENTILATING OR OTHER AIR-TREATING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PASSENGER OR GOODS SPACES OF VEHICLES ## Abstract A heating system for a vehicle includes a low-temperature circuit and a high-temperature circuit which can be operated independently of each other and in which a low-temperature cooler or a high-temperature cooler is arranged. The two cooling circuits are coupled to each other via two coupling points for the exchange of coolant, and have a common conduit section, which extends between the two coupling points and on which a heat exchanger is arranged for heating the passenger compartment. A respective heat exchanger is arranged in the two cooling circuits, namely a low-temperature heat exchanger or a high-temperature heat exchanger for receiving waste heat from a respective vehicle component. The cooling circuits can be switched between a cooling operation and a heating operation. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A heat system for a vehicle, comprising: a refrigeration circuit; and two cooling circuits which are an LT circuit and an HT circuit which are operable independently of each other and in which there is arranged in each case a cooler, which are an LT cooler and an HT cooler, respectively, wherein the two cooling circuits are coupled to each other via two coupling points for the purpose of exchanging a coolant and have a common line section which extends between the two coupling points and on which, for the purpose of heating an interior compartment, a heating heat exchanger is arranged, in the two cooling circuits, there is arranged in each case a heat exchanger, which are an LT heat exchanger and an HT heat exchanger, respectively, for absorbing a waste heat of a respective vehicle component, and the two cooling circuits are in each case, independently of each other, switchable over between a cooling mode for releasing the waste heat of the respective vehicle component via the respective cooler and a heating mode for releasing the waste heat of the respective vehicle component via the heating heat exchanger. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The heat system according to claim 1, wherein in the LT circuit, the LT cooler and the heating heat exchanger are connected in parallel with each other and an LT valve for switching over between the heating mode and the cooling mode of the LT circuit is arranged. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The heat system according to claim 1, wherein in the HT circuit, the HT cooler and the heating heat exchanger are connected in parallel with each other and an HT valve for switching over between the heating mode and the cooling mode of the HT circuit is arranged. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The heat system according to claim 3, wherein the HT valve is in the form of a mixing valve with a first inlet which is connected to the HT cooler, with a second inlet which is connected to the heating heat exchanger, and with an outlet which is connected to the HT heat exchanger. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The heat system according to claim 4, wherein the HT valve includes a third inlet which is connected to the HT heat exchanger, whereby a preheating loop is formed, which loop is connected in parallel with the heating heat exchanger and with the HT cooler. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The heat system according to claim 1, wherein the HT heat exchanger is thermally connected to an internal combustion engine serving as a vehicle component. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The heat system according to claim 5, wherein the HT heat exchanger is thermally connected to an internal combustion engine serving as a vehicle component. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The heat system according to claim 1, wherein a condenser is connected to the refrigeration circuit, the condenser being thermally coupled as a vehicle component to the LT heat exchanger for the purpose of transferring heat from the refrigeration circuit into the LT circuit. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The heat system according to claim 2, wherein a condenser is connected to the refrigeration circuit, the condenser being thermally coupled as a vehicle component to the LT heat exchanger for the purpose of transferring heat from the refrigeration circuit into the LT circuit. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The heat system according to claim 8, wherein the condenser forms, together with an auxiliary evaporator, a heat pump, whereby, downstream of the LT cooler and/or a further LT heat exchanger, the auxiliary evaporator is thermally coupled to the LT circuit for the purpose of transferring heat from the LT circuit into the refrigeration circuit. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The heat system according to claim 9, wherein the condenser forms, together with an auxiliary evaporator, a heat pump, whereby, downstream of the LT cooler and/or a further LT heat exchanger, the auxiliary evaporator is thermally coupled to the LT circuit for the purpose of transferring heat from the LT circuit into the refrigeration circuit. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The heat system according to claim 1, wherein an air-conditioning evaporator is connected to the refrigeration circuit, whereby the air-conditioning evaporator forms, together with the heating heat exchanger, an air-conditioning system. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The heat system according to claim 11, wherein an air-conditioning evaporator is connected to the refrigeration circuit, whereby the air-conditioning evaporator forms, together with the heating heat exchanger, an air-conditioning system. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The heat system according to claim 1, wherein, upstream of the heating heat exchanger, a heating element is arranged on the common line section for the purpose of additional heat supply on a required basis. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The heat system according to claim 13, wherein, upstream of the heating heat exchanger, a heating element is arranged on the common line section for the purpose of additional heat supply on a required basis. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The heat system according to claim 1, further comprising: a control unit which is configured for switching over between multiple air-conditioning modes, wherein the multiple air-conditioning modes include a first air-conditioning mode in which the two cooling circuits are switched to the respective cooling mode, a second air-conditioning mode in which the LT circuit is switched to the cooling mode and the HT circuit is switched to the heating mode, a third air-conditioning mode in which the LT circuit is switched to the heating mode and the HT circuit is switched to the cooling mode, and a fourth air-conditioning mode in which the two cooling circuits are switched to the respective heating mode. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The heat system according to claim 15, further comprising: a control unit which is configured for switching over between multiple air-conditioning modes, wherein the multiple air-conditioning modes include a first air-conditioning mode in which the two cooling circuits are switched to the respective cooling mode, a second air-conditioning mode in which the LT circuit is switched to the cooling mode and the HT circuit is switched to the heating mode, a third air-conditioning mode in which the LT circuit is switched to the heating mode and the HT circuit is switched to the cooling mode, and a fourth air-conditioning mode in which the two cooling circuits are switched to the respective heating mode. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The heat system according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle is an electric or hybrid vehicle. ### Claim 19 A method for air-conditioning a vehicle via a heat system, the heat system comprising: a refrigeration circuit; and two cooling circuits which are an LT circuit and an HT circuit which are operable independently of each other and in which there is arranged in each case a cooler, which are an LT cooler and an HT cooler, respectively, wherein the two cooling circuits are coupled to each other via two coupling points for the purpose of exchanging a coolant and have a common line section which extends between the two coupling points and on which, for the purpose of heating an interior compartment, a heating heat exchanger is arranged, in the two cooling circuits, there is arranged in each case a heat exchanger, which are an LT heat exchanger and an HT heat exchanger, respectively, for absorbing a waste heat of a respective vehicle component, and the two cooling circuits are in each case, independently of each other, switchable over between a cooling mode for releasing the waste heat of the respective vehicle component via the respective cooler and a heating mode for releasing the waste heat of the respective vehicle component via the heating heat exchanger, the method comprising: heating a passenger compartment of the vehicle by way of the LT circuit and/or the HT circuit being switched over to the respective heating mode. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method according to claim 19, wherein the vehicle is an electric or hybrid vehicle.