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

A thermal management system for an electric or hybrid vehicle, the system comprising:

• a first coolant circuit for a liquid first coolant for controlling a temperature of electrical components of an electric powertrain;
• an air-conditioning unit for air-conditioning an interior of the vehicle, said air-conditioning unit comprising a first cooling fan, a heater core and a temperature control device, wherein, during operation, an air stream to be air-conditioned is guided through the air-conditioning unit via the first cooling fan and is released into the interior;
• a second coolant circuit for a liquid second coolant for air-conditioning the interior, which is designed for a lower operating temperature than the first coolant circuit, wherein the second coolant circuit is operable independently of the first coolant circuit and each of the coolant circuits have a pump whereby, in the second coolant circuit, there are no electrical components of said electric powertrain;
• said temperature control device as part of the air-conditioning unit is integrated in the second coolant circuit for controlling the temperature of the interior and for temperature control operates in the manner of a heat pump, the temperature control device comprising a thermomagnetic or a thermoelectric module, whereby the temperature control device is disposed within said air stream which is guided through the air-conditioning unit and is released into the interior, the first and the second coolant circuits being coupled to one another;
• and
• said heater core disposed in the air-conditioning unit, which is selectively connected for a first heating mode by being selectively connected to the first coolant circuit via a first switching valve so that both coolant circuits are coupled to one another such that the first and second coolant intermix with one another and heat is transferred from the first coolant circuit to the second coolant circuit,
• wherein, in a cooling mode, both coolant circuits are decoupled and respectively emit heat into the environment, and
• wherein, in the cooling mode, heat of the temperature control device is absorbed by the second coolant and released via an ambient temperature heat exchanger to the environment and heat of said electrical components is absorbed by the first coolant and released to the environment.