A method of controlling a vehicular heat pump system having multiple heat exchangers within an HVAC module, the vehicular heat pump system including a connection line directly interconnecting a compressor and an outside heat exchanger, the method comprising:
- selecting a mode in which the vehicular heat pump system will operate, based on at least one control parameter;
- controlling the direction of refrigerant flow in a refrigeration circuit of the vehicular heat pump system, based on the mode of operation, wherein the mode of operation is a cooling mode when the at least one control parameter is within a first range of temperatures, and the mode of operation is a heating mode when the at least one control parameter is within a second range of temperatures;
- adjusting a first isolation valve and a second isolation valve of the vehicular heat pump system to isolate one of a first inside heat exchanger and a second inside heat exchanger of the vehicular heat pump system from the refrigeration circuit, based on the mode of operation while still allowing refrigerant flow through the outside heat exchanger disposed along the refrigeration circuit regardless of the mode of operation;
- adjusting a first metering device and a second metering device of the vehicular heat pump system to isolate one of the first inside heat exchanger and the second inside heat exchanger from the refrigeration circuit, and to control expansion of the refrigerant, based on the mode of operation while still allowing refrigerant flow through the outside heat exchanger regardless of the mode of operation;
- and
- wherein the first inside heat exchanger and the second inside heat exchanger are located within the HVAC module, and are configured to selectively operate both in parallel and in series;
- and
- wherein controlling the direction of refrigerant flow in the refrigeration circuit of the vehicular heat pump system, based on the mode of operation, includes:
- controlling the direction of refrigerant flow such that the refrigerant flows in a first direction when the vehicular heat pump system is operating in the cooling mode, wherein, when the refrigerant flows in the first direction and the vehicular heat pump system is operating in the cooling mode, the refrigerant exits the compressor, flows through the connection line, and then enters the outside heat exchanger;
- controlling the direction of refrigerant flow such that the refrigerant flows in a second direction when the vehicular heat pump system is operating in the heating mode, wherein the second direction is opposite to the first direction, and when the refrigerant flows in the second direction and the vehicular heat pump system is operating in the heating mode, the refrigerant exits the outside heat exchanger, flows through the connection line, and then enters the compressor;
- and
- controlling the direction of refrigerant flow such that the refrigerant flows in the second direction when the vehicular heat pump system is operating in a dehumidification mode, wherein when the refrigerant flows in the second direction and the vehicular heat pump system is operating in the dehumidification mode, the refrigerant exits the outside heat exchanger, flows through the connection line, and then enters the compressor.