Thermal management system for vehicle, and method

A thermal management method for a vehicle, applied to a thermal management system comprising an air conditioning device and a heat exchange device, the air conditioning device comprising a heating-ventilation and air conditioning host, a compressor, and a condenser connected in sequence, an end of the heat exchange device being connected to a refrigerant input end of the compressor, and another end of the heat exchange device being connected between the condenser and the heating-ventilation and air conditioning host, when the condenser operates, the heating-ventilation and air conditioning host, the compressor, and the condenser forming a refrigeration circuit, when the condenser does not operate, the heating-ventilation and air conditioning host, the compressor, the condenser, and the heat exchange device forming a waste heat recovery circuit and refrigerant being caused to flow through the heating-ventilation and air conditioning host to release heat, then flow into the heat exchange device before returning to the compressor, the method comprising:

• acquiring a waste heat recovery control signal when the refrigeration circuit of the vehicle is closed and a circuit control signal indicates that a cabin of the vehicle is in an unoccupied state;
• according to the waste heat recovery control signal and the circuit control signal, controlling a condenser in the thermal management system to stop, controlling a first solenoid valve and a second solenoid valve in the thermal management system to close, controlling a third electronic expansion valve to throttle, controlling a first electronic expansion valve to fully open, and controlling a second electronic expansion valve to throttle, to form a waste heat recovery circuit;
• monitoring temperature data of a to-be-cooled device, determining whether the temperature data of the to-be-cooled device exceeds a preset requirement,
• in response to the temperature data of the to-be-cooled device exceeding the preset requirement, controlling the refrigerant in the waste heat recovery circuit to pass through the second electronic expansion valve throttling, causing the refrigerant flowing through the heat exchange device to absorb heat from a cooling device of the to-be-cooled device, and causing the refrigerant to return to the compressor;
• and
• in response to the temperature data of the to-be-cooled device not exceeding the preset requirement, controlling the refrigerant to return directly to the compressor after passing through the second electronic expansion valve throttling.