System and method for recovering refrigerant from a heat exchanger of a thermal system for an electric vehicle

A thermal system for an electric vehicle, the thermal system comprising:

• a first heat exchanger;
• a first valve operable to regulate refrigerant flow through the first heat exchanger;
• a compressor operable to circulate refrigerant through the first heat exchanger;
• a refrigerant recovery module configured to:
• generate a refrigerant recovery signal to initiate a recovery of refrigerant from the first heat exchanger;
• and
• stop the refrigerant recovery based on a temperature of refrigerant circulating through the first heat exchanger;
• and
• a valve control module configured to open the first valve to allow refrigerant to flow through the first heat exchanger in response to the refrigerant recovery signal.

A method comprising:

• generating a refrigerant recovery signal to initiate a recovery of refrigerant from a first heat exchanger of a thermal system for an electric vehicle;
• stopping the refrigerant recovery based on a temperature of refrigerant circulating through the first heat exchanger;
• and
• opening a first valve to allow refrigerant to flow through the first heat exchanger in response to the refrigerant recovery signal.