Heat pump systems having deicing features

A method comprising:

• identifying, as an airflow is in a forward direction across an air-side heat exchanger, a formation of ice on the air-side heat exchanger;
• selecting, from a plurality of heat sources, a first heat source to supply heat to elevate a temperature of a first thermal fluid to supply a heated first thermal fluid to the air-side heat exchanger;
• operating, using the heated first thermal fluid, the air-side heat exchanger as a heat rejecting heat exchanger to deice the air-side heat exchanger;
• directing, by operation of a reversible impeller, the airflow in a reverse direction as the air-side heat exchanger is operated as the heat rejecting heat exchanger, the reverse direction being opposite of the forward direction;
• operating, as the air-side heat exchanger is operated as the heat rejecting heat exchanger, another air-side heat exchanger as a heat absorbing heat exchanger to recover at least a portion of a heat rejected by the operation of the air-side heat exchanger as the heat rejecting heat exchanger;
• and
• heating a second thermal fluid that flows within the other air-side heat exchanger as the other air-side heat exchanger is operated as the heat absorbing heat exchanger to provide a heated second thermal fluid, wherein one of the first thermal fluid and the second thermal fluid is a coolant, and wherein the other of the first thermal fluid or the second thermal fluid is a refrigerant,
• wherein the other air-side heat exchanger is, relative to a direction of the airflow, upstream of the air-side heat exchanger when the airflow is in the forward direction and downstream of the air-side heat exchanger when the airflow is in the reverse direction.

A method comprising:

• identifying, as an airflow is in a forward direction across an air-side heat exchanger, a formation of ice on the air-side heat exchanger;
• selecting, from a plurality of heat sources, a first heat source to supply heat to elevate a temperature of a first thermal fluid to supply a heated first thermal fluid to the air-side heat exchanger;
• operating, using the heated first thermal fluid, the air-side heat exchanger as a heat rejecting heat exchanger to deice the air-side heat exchanger;
• directing, by operation of a reversible impeller, the airflow in a reverse direction as the air-side heat exchanger is operated as the heat rejecting heat exchanger, the reverse direction being opposite of the forward direction;
• operating, as the air-side heat exchanger is operated as the heat rejecting heat exchanger, another air-side heat exchanger as a heat absorbing heat exchanger to recover at least a portion of a heat rejected by the operation of the air-side heat exchanger as the heat rejecting heat exchanger;
• adjusting, based at least on the selected first heat source, a configuration of a first multi-mode valve to facilitate a delivery of the heated first thermal fluid to the air-side heat exchanger;
• and
• adjusting a configuration of a second multi-mode valve to facilitate a delivery of a heat from a second thermal fluid outputted from the other air-side heat exchanger to an HVAC system of a vehicle,
• wherein the other air-side heat exchanger is, relative to a direction of the airflow, upstream of the air-side heat exchanger when the airflow is in the forward direction and downstream of the air-side heat exchanger when the airflow is in the reverse direction.

A thermal management system for at least heating, via use of an HVAC system, a cabin of a vehicle that utilizes a battery to provide electrical power for the vehicle, the thermal management system comprising:

• at least two air-side heat exchangers;
• a reversible impeller configured to adjust an airflow about the at least two air-side heat exchangers between a forward direction and a reverse direction, a first heat exchanger of the at least two air-side heat exchangers being, relative to a direction of the airflow, (1) downstream of a second heat exchanger of the at least two air-side heat exchangers when the airflow is in the forward direction, and (2) upstream of the second heat exchanger when the airflow is in the reverse direction;
• and
• a memory device coupled to at least one processor, the memory device including instructions that when executed by the at least one processor cause the at least one processor to:
• identify, as the airflow is in the forward direction across the first heat exchanger, a formation of ice on the first heat exchanger;
• select, from a plurality of heat sources, a first heat source to supply heat to elevate a temperature of a first thermal fluid to supply a heated first thermal fluid to the first heat exchanger;
• generate one or more signals to operate, using the heated first thermal fluid, the first exchanger as a heat rejecting heat exchanger to deice the first heat exchanger;
• generate one or more signals to facilitate the reversible impeller being operated to direct the airflow in the reverse direction as the first heat exchanger is operated as the heat rejecting heat exchanger;
• and
• generate one or more signals to operate, as the first heat exchanger is operated as the heat rejecting heat exchanger, the second heat exchanger as a heat absorbing heat exchanger to recover at least a portion of a heat rejected by the operation of the first heat exchanger as the heat rejecting heat exchanger.