Vehicle HVAC system

A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system for a vehicle, the system comprising:

• a compressor;
• an interior condenser disposed on a downstream side of the compressor;
• a water-cooled heat exchanger disposed on a downstream side of the interior condenser and configured to transfer heat between a refrigerant and a coolant circulating in a coolant system;
• a refrigerant heat exchanger disposed on an upstream side of the compressor and configured to transfer heat between a refrigerant discharged from the water-cooled heat exchanger and a refrigerant discharged from the interior condenser, the refrigerant heat exchanger comprising:
• a first passage through which the refrigerant discharged from the water-cooled heat exchanger passes;
• and
• a second passage through which the refrigerant discharged from the interior condenser passes;
• and
• a first control valve disposed between the water-cooled heat exchanger and the interior condenser and configured to control a flow of the refrigerant between the interior condenser, the water-cooled heat exchanger, and the refrigerant heat exchanger,
• wherein the first control valve comprises:
• an inlet port in communication with the interior condenser,
• a first outlet port in communication with the water-cooled heat exchanger, and
• a second outlet port in communication with the second passage of the refrigerant heat exchanger;
• an exterior heat exchanger disposed on a downstream side of the water-cooled heat exchanger;
• a second control valve disposed between the water-cooled heat exchanger and the exterior heat exchanger, wherein the second control valve is configured to control the flow of the refrigerant between the water-cooled heat exchanger, the exterior heat exchanger, and the first passage of the refrigerant heat exchanger;
• and
• a first bypass line extending from the second outlet port to a downstream side of the second passage of the refrigerant heat exchanger, wherein the first bypass line is directly connected to the second outlet port.

A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system for a vehicle, the system comprising:

• a compressor;
• an interior condenser disposed on a downstream side of the compressor;
• a water-cooled heat exchanger disposed on a downstream side of the interior condenser and configured to transfer heat between a refrigerant and a coolant circulating in a coolant system;
• a refrigerant heat exchanger disposed on an upstream side of the compressor and configured to transfer heat between a refrigerant discharged from the water-cooled heat exchanger and a refrigerant discharged from the interior condenser, the refrigerant heat exchanger comprising:
• a first passage through which the refrigerant discharged from the water-cooled heat exchanger passes;
• and
• a second passage through which the refrigerant discharged from the interior condenser passes;
• and
• a first control valve disposed between the water-cooled heat exchanger and the interior condenser and configured to control a flow of the refrigerant between the interior condenser, the water-cooled heat exchanger, and the refrigerant heat exchanger;
• an exterior heat exchanger disposed on a downstream side of the water-cooled heat exchanger;
• a second control valve disposed between the water-cooled heat exchanger and the exterior heat exchanger, wherein the second control valve is configured to control the flow of the refrigerant between the water-cooled heat exchanger, the exterior heat exchanger, and the first passage of the refrigerant heat exchanger;
• a cooling-side expansion valve disposed on a downstream side of the exterior heat exchanger;
• an evaporator disposed on a downstream side of the cooling-side expansion valve;
• a distribution line extending from a point between an outlet of the exterior heat exchanger and an inlet of the cooling-side expansion valve to a point between an outlet of the evaporator and an inlet of the compressor;
• a battery chiller fluidly connected to the distribution line;
• and
• a third control valve disposed between the second passage of the refrigerant heat exchanger, the inlet of the cooling-side expansion valve, and the distribution line,
• wherein the third control valve is configured to control the flow of the refrigerant between the second passage of the refrigerant heat exchanger, the cooling-side expansion valve, and the battery chiller.