US 2014/0196485 A1 · METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A THERMAL STORAGE HEAT PUMP SYSTEM

Abstract

A thermal storage heat pump system transfers heat to a passenger compartment of a vehicle from at least one of a thermal storage device and ambient air. Heat from the thermal storage device is absorbed by a first coolant flowing through it, and is transferred to a refrigerant via a first heat exchanger. The heat is then transferred from the refrigerant to a second coolant via a second heat exchanger, and then from the second coolant to air flowing into the passenger compartment via a heater core. Heat from ambient air is absorbed by the refrigerant via a third heat exchanger. The heat source is determined by at least one of the thermal storage device temperature, ambient air temperature, and ambient air humidity. At start-up of the vehicle, heat transfer to the refrigerant and to the second coolant is controlled based on low-side and high-side pressure measurements of the refrigerant.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method for operating a thermal storage heat pump system of a vehicle having a passenger compartment, during start-up of the vehicle, the thermal storage heat pump system having a compressor, a first coolant pump, and a second coolant pump, the compressor having an inlet and an outlet and being configured to compress a refrigerant, the method comprising:

receiving, by at least one controller, a low-side pressure measurement of the refrigerant at the inlet of the compressor;
receiving, by the at least one controller, a high-side pressure measurement of the refrigerant at the outlet of the compressor;
comparing, by the at least one controller, the low-side pressure measurement to a minimum low-side pressure value, and the high-side pressure measurement to a maximum high-side pressure value to obtain at least one condition;
operating at least one of the compressor, the first coolant pump, and the second coolant pump based upon the at least one condition;
wherein the minimum low-side pressure value and the maximum high-side pressure value are stored in the at least one controller.

2 more elements

A thermal storage heat pump system of a vehicle having a passenger compartment, the system comprising:

a first coolant circuit having a first coolant pump configured to circulate a first coolant;
a second coolant circuit having a second coolant pump configured to circulate a second coolant;
a refrigeration circuit configured to circulate a refrigerant, the refrigeration circuit being in thermal communication with the first coolant circuit and the second coolant circuit via a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger, respectively;
a thermal storage device located in the first coolant circuit, the thermal storage device being configured to store thermal energy;
a heater core located on the second coolant circuit, the heater core being configured to transfer heat from the second coolant to air flowing across the heater core to warm up the passenger compartment;
a compressor having an inlet and an outlet, the compressor being located on the refrigeration circuit and being configured to compress the refrigerant from a low-side pressure to a high-side pressure;
a third heat exchanger configured to transfer thermal energy from ambient air to the refrigerant;
a plurality of flow control valves in the refrigeration circuit, the flow control valves being configured to control the flow of refrigerant in the refrigeration circuit;
and
at least one controller configured to control the operation of at least one of the first coolant pump, the second coolant pump, the compressor, and the plurality of flow control valves based on at least one parameter.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method for controlling a thermal storage heat pump system

Life of this patent

Method for controlling a thermal storage heat pump system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20