# US 12,215,907 B2 · Dual loop blended cooling > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,215,907 B2 - Document ID: US12215907B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/048,318 - Filed: 2022-10-20 - Published: 2023-06-01 - Granted: 2025-02-04 - Earliest claimed: 2021-11-30 - Assignees: Hanon Systems - Applicants: Hanon Systems - Inventors: Daniel A. Lumley; Evangelos S Papoulis; David Diebel; Reid Sturos - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12215907B2 ## CPC - F25B 5/02: arranged in parallel - F25B 25/005: {using primary and secondary systems} - B60H 1/00278: {for the battery} - 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 1/32284: {comprising two or more secondary circuits, e.g. at evaporator and condenser side} - F25B 41/20: Disposition of valves, e.g. of on-off valves or flow control valves (expansion valves F25B41/31) - B60H 2001/00307: {Component temperature regulation using a liquid flow} - B60H 2001/00928: {comprising a secondary circuit} - F25B 2339/047: Water-cooled condensers - F25B: REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS - B60H: ARRANGEMENTS OF HEATING, COOLING, VENTILATING OR OTHER AIR-TREATING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PASSENGER OR GOODS SPACES OF VEHICLES ## Abstract A thermal management system includes a refrigerant loop including a compressor, a condenser, an expansion element, and a chiller. A first coolant loop of the thermal management system includes the chiller, a first cooling heat exchanger disposed downstream of the chiller, and a distribution valve disposed downstream of the first cooling heat exchanger. A coolant flow path branches from the first coolant loop with the coolant flow path extending from the distribution valve to a re-entry point where the coolant flow path rejoins the first coolant loop at a position downstream of the distribution valve. The coolant flow path includes an electric component, and the distribution valve is configured to control a distribution of the first coolant flowing towards the electric component and the re-entry point. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A thermal management system comprising: a first coolant loop including a chiller, a first cooling heat exchanger disposed downstream of the chiller, and a distribution valve disposed downstream of the first cooling heat exchanger, wherein a first coolant flows through the first coolant loop; a coolant flow path branching from the first coolant loop, the coolant flow path extending from the distribution valve to a first re-entry point where the coolant flow path rejoins the first coolant loop at a position along the first coolant loop disposed downstream of the distribution valve with respect to the flow of the first coolant through the first coolant loop, the coolant flow path including an electric component in heat exchange communication with the first coolant, wherein the distribution valve is configured to control a distribution of the first coolant branching from the first coolant loop and flowing towards the electric component along the coolant flow path; and a refrigerant loop including a compressor, a condenser, an expansion element, and the chiller of the first coolant loop acting as an evaporator of the refrigerant loop, wherein a refrigerant flows through the refrigerant loop, wherein the chiller provides heat exchange communication between the refrigerant of the refrigerant loop and the first coolant of the first coolant loop, wherein heat is transferred from the first coolant to the refrigerant through the chiller to lower a temperature of the first coolant prior to entry into the first cooling heat exchanger, and wherein the first cooling heat exchanger is configured to transfer heat from air to be delivered to a passenger cabin of a vehicle to the first coolant. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The thermal management system of claim 1, wherein the condenser of the refrigerant loop is in heat exchange communication with a second coolant loop having a radiator, and wherein the radiator of the second coolant loop and the first cooling heat exchanger of the first coolant loop are each disposed within an HVAC casing configured to deliver the air to the passenger cabin of the vehicle. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The thermal management system of claim 1, wherein a coolant recirculation path branching from the coolant flow path extends from a branch point disposed along the coolant flow path to a second re-entry point disposed along the coolant flow path, wherein the first coolant flows along the coolant recirculation path in a direction from the branch point towards the second re-entry point. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The thermal management system of claim 3, wherein the branch point is disposed downstream of the electric component with respect to the flow of the first coolant along the coolant flow path, and wherein the second re-entry point is disposed upstream of the electric component with respect to the flow of the first coolant along the coolant flow path. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The thermal management system of claim 4, wherein a first pump is disposed along the first coolant loop and a second pump is disposed along the coolant flow path. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The thermal management system of claim 5, wherein the first pump is disposed downstream of the first re-entry point and upstream of the distribution valve along the first coolant loop, and wherein the second pump is disposed downstream of the second re-entry point and upstream of the branch point along the coolant flow path. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The thermal management system of claim 5, wherein a mass flow rate of the first coolant through the first pump and a mass flow rate of the first coolant through the second pump are controlled independently of each other. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The thermal management system of claim 4, wherein a first segment of the coolant flow path extending from the second re-entry point to the branch point cooperates with the coolant recirculation path to form an electric component coolant loop in fluid communication with the first coolant loop. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The thermal management system of claim 1, wherein the electric component includes at least one of a battery and/or a heat generating electronic component. ### Claim 10 A thermal management system comprising: a first coolant loop including a chiller, a first cooling heat exchanger disposed downstream of the chiller, and a distribution valve disposed downstream of the first cooling heat exchanger, wherein a first coolant flows through the first coolant loop; and a coolant flow path branching from the first coolant loop, the coolant flow path extending from the distribution valve to a first re-entry point where the coolant flow path rejoins the first coolant loop at a position along the first coolant loop disposed downstream of the distribution valve with respect to the flow of the first coolant through the first coolant loop, the coolant flow path including an electric component in heat exchange communication with the first coolant, wherein the distribution valve is configured to control a distribution of the first coolant branching from the first coolant loop and flowing towards the electric component along the coolant flow path, wherein a coolant recirculation path branching from the coolant flow path extends from a branch point disposed along the coolant flow path to a second re-entry point disposed along the coolant flow path, wherein the first coolant flows along the coolant recirculation path in a direction from the branch point towards the second re-entry point, wherein the branch point is disposed downstream of the electric component with respect to the flow of the first coolant along the coolant flow path, and wherein the second re-entry point is disposed upstream of the electric component with respect to the flow of the first coolant along the coolant flow path, wherein a first segment of the coolant flow path extending from the second re-entry point to the branch point cooperates with the coolant recirculation path to form an electric component coolant loop in fluid communication with the first coolant loop, wherein a second segment of the coolant flow path extending from the distribution valve to the second re-entry point transfers the first coolant from the first coolant loop to the electric component coolant loop and a third segment of the coolant flow path extending from the branch point to the first re-entry point transfers the first coolant from the electric component coolant loop to the first coolant loop. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The thermal management system of claim 10, wherein a mass flow rate of the first coolant along the second segment of the coolant flow path is equal to a mass flow rate of the first coolant along the third segment of the coolant flow path. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The thermal management system of claim 11, wherein the mass flow rate of the first coolant along the second segment of the coolant flow path remains equal to the mass flow rate of the first coolant along the third segment of the coolant flow path regardless of the distribution of the first coolant delivered to the coolant flow path at the distribution valve. ### Claim 13 A thermal management system comprising: a first coolant loop including a first pump configured to cause a first coolant to flow in order through a chiller, a first cooling heat exchanger disposed downstream of the chiller, and a distribution valve disposed downstream of the first cooling heat exchanger; a coolant flow path branching from the first coolant loop, the coolant flow path extending from the distribution valve to a first re-entry point where the coolant flow path rejoins the first coolant loop at a position along the first coolant loop disposed downstream of the distribution valve with respect to the flow of the first coolant through the first coolant loop, the coolant flow path including a second pump configured to cause the first coolant to flow through the coolant flow path, the coolant flow path including an electric component in heat exchange communication with the first coolant; a coolant recirculation path branching from the coolant flow path, the coolant recirculation path extending from a branch point disposed along the coolant flow path to a second re-entry point disposed along the coolant flow path, wherein the first coolant flows along the coolant recirculation path in a direction from the branch point towards the second re-entry point, wherein the distribution valve is configured to control a distribution of the first coolant branching from the first coolant loop and flowing towards the electric component along the coolant flow path; and a refrigerant loop including a compressor, a condenser, an expansion element, and the chiller of the first coolant loop acting as an evaporator of the refrigerant loop, wherein a refrigerant flows through the refrigerant loop, wherein the chiller provides heat exchange communication between the refrigerant of the refrigerant loop and the first coolant of the first coolant loop, wherein heat is transferred from the first coolant to the refrigerant through the chiller to lower a temperature of the first coolant prior to entry into the first cooling heat exchanger, and wherein the first cooling heat exchanger is configured to transfer heat from air to be delivered to a passenger cabin of a vehicle to the first coolant. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The thermal management system of claim 13, wherein the branch point is disposed downstream of the electric component and the second pump with respect to the flow of the first coolant along the coolant flow path, and wherein the second re-entry point is disposed upstream of the electric component and the second pump with respect to the flow of the first coolant along the coolant flow path, and wherein the first pump is disposed downstream of the first re-entry point and upstream of the distribution valve with respect to the flow of the first coolant along the first coolant loop. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The thermal management system of claim 13, wherein the condenser of the refrigerant loop is in heat exchange communication with a second coolant loop having a radiator, and wherein the radiator of the second coolant loop and the first cooling heat exchanger of the first coolant loop are each disposed within an HVAC casing configured to deliver the air to the passenger cabin of the vehicle.