Thermal Management System, Vehicle And Method For Operating Two Cooling Circuits Of A Thermal Management System

A thermal management system for a vehicle, comprising:

• a first cooling circuit for a battery;
• a second cooling circuit for an electric motor configured to drive the vehicle,
• a multi-way valve configured to connect the first cooling circuit and the second cooling circuit:
• in series in a first mode by a first valve position of the multi-way valve or
• in parallel in a second mode of the thermal management system and in a second valve position of the multi-way valve or
• in a third mode of the thermal management system and in a third valve position, the multi-way valve takes up an intermediate position in which coolant flows of the first and second cooling circuits are mixed with each other as needed,
• wherein the multi-way valve is a 5/3-way valve which is fluidically connected to a bypass path of the second cooling circuit for bypassing a radiator and to a radiator path parallel thereto with a radiator, wherein the bypass path and the radiator path originate from a junction downstream of the electric motor.

A vehicle comprising:

• a thermal management system, comprising:
• a first cooling circuit for a battery;
• a second cooling circuit for an electric motor configured to drive the vehicle,
• a multi-way valve configured to connect the first cooling circuit and the second cooling circuit:
• in series in a first mode by a first valve position of the multi-way valve or
• in parallel in a second mode of the thermal management system and in a second valve position of the multi-way valve or
• in a third mode of the thermal management system and in a third valve position, the multi-way valve takes up an intermediate position in which coolant flows of the first and second cooling circuits are mixed with each other as needed,
• wherein the multi-way valve is a 5/3-way valve which is fluidically connected to a bypass path of the second cooling circuit for bypassing a radiator and to a radiator path parallel thereto with a radiator, wherein the bypass path and the radiator path originate from a junction downstream of the electric motor.

A method for operating two cooling circuits of a thermal management system of a vehicle, wherein a first cooling circuit is provided for a battery and a second cooling circuit for an electric motor for driving the vehicle, comprising:

• connecting the two cooling circuits to each other in series by a multi-way valve in a first mode of the thermal management system and in a first valve position of the multi-way valve or
• connecting the two cooling circuits to each other in parallel in a second mode of the thermal management system and in a second valve position of the multi-way valve, or
• connecting the two cooling circuits to each other in in a third mode of the thermal management system and in a third valve position, the multi-way valve is switched into an intermediate position in which coolant flows of the first and second cooling circuits are mixed with each other as needed,
• wherein the multi-way valve is a 5/3-way valve, which is fluidically connected to a bypass path of the second cooling circuit for bypassing a radiator and to a radiator path parallel thereto with a radiator,
• wherein the bypass path and the radiator path originate from a junction downstream of the electric motor.

A computer program for carrying out a method for operating two cooling circuits of a thermal management system of a vehicle, wherein a first cooling circuit is provided for a battery and a second cooling circuit for an electric motor for driving the vehicle, comprising:

• connecting the two cooling circuits to each other in series by a multi-way valve in a first mode of the thermal management system and in a first valve position of the multi-way valve or
• connecting the two cooling circuits to each other in parallel in a second mode of the thermal management system and in a second valve position of the multi-way valve, or
• connecting the two cooling circuits to each other in in a third mode of the thermal management system and in a third valve position, the multi-way valve is switched into an intermediate position in which coolant flows of the two cooling circuits are mixed with each other as needed,
• wherein the multi-way valve is a 5/3-way valve, which is fluidically connected to a bypass path of the second cooling circuit for bypassing a radiator and to a radiator path parallel thereto with a radiator,
• wherein the bypass path and the radiator path originate from a junction downstream of the electric motor.

A computer program product, comprising program code, stored on a computer-readable data storage medium, in order to carry out a method when the program code is executed on a computer, for operating two cooling circuits of a thermal management system, wherein a first cooling circuit is provided for a battery and a second cooling circuit for an electric motor for driving a vehicle, comprising:

• connecting the two cooling circuits to each other in series by a multi-way valve in a first mode of the thermal management system and in a first valve position of the multi-way valve or
• connecting the two cooling circuits to each other in parallel in a second mode of the thermal management system and in a second valve position of the multi-way valve, or
• connecting the two cooling circuits to each other in in a third mode of the thermal management system and in a third valve position, the multi-way valve is switched into an intermediate position in which coolant flows of the two cooling circuits are mixed with each other as needed,
• wherein the multi-way valve is a 5/3-way valve, which is fluidically connected to a bypass path of the second cooling circuit for bypassing a radiator and to a radiator path parallel thereto with a radiator,
• wherein the bypass path and the radiator path originate from a junction downstream of the electric motor.