Electric vehicle thermal management system
AssigneeTesla Motors, Inc.
InventorPeng Zhou
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An efficient thermal management system (100) that utilizes a single heat exchanger (133) is provided. A refrigeration subsystem (103) cools the heat exchanger (133). A first coolant loop (139) in thermal communication with the heat exchanger (133) is used to cool the energy storage system (137). A second coolant loop (151) corresponding to the HVAC subsystem (107) is also in thermal communication with the heat exchanger (133). Preferably a third coolant loop (109) corresponding to the drive motor cooling subsystem (101) is coupleable to the HVAC coolant loop (151), thus providing an efficient means of providing heat to the HVAC subsystem (107).
Claims11
An electric vehicle thermal management system comprising:
- a refrigeration subsystem comprising a refrigerant and a heat exchanger;
- a first coolant loop in thermal communication with an energy storage system and in thermal communication with said heat exchanger;
- a heating, ventilation and cooling (HVAC) subsystem comprising a second coolant loop in thermal communication with said heat exchanger;
- a power train cooling subsystem, said power train cooling subsystem comprising a third coolant loop in thermal communication with a vehicle drive motor and in thermal communication with a radiator;
- and
- means for controllably and fluidly coupling said second coolant loop to said third coolant loop, wherein said means for controllably and fluidly coupling provides a means for allowing and preventing coolant fluid exchange between said second and third coolant loops.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.