Integrated air-conditioning system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12319124-B2
Application number	US-202218063033-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 7, 2022
Priority date	Aug 1, 2022
Publication date	Jun 3, 2025
Grant date	Jun 3, 2025

Abstract

In an embodiment a system includes a compressor, an indoor heat exchanger, an outdoor heat exchanger, a switch vale, an integrated heat exchanger a first expander and a second expander connected to the refrigerant line, wherein the switch valve is configured to selectively circulate a refrigerant from the compressor either first to the indoor heat exchanger or first to the outdoor heat exchanger, wherein the integrated heat exchanger is configured to receive the refrigerant from the indoor heat exchanger or the outdoor heat exchanger, wherein the integrated heat exchanger is configured to act as a heat pump exchanging heat between the refrigerant and a heat exchange medium, wherein the first expander is configured to selectively expand the refrigerant related to the indoor heat exchanger, wherein the second expander is configured to selectively expand the refrigerant related to the integrated heat exchanger, and a controller configured to control refrigerant circulation directions through the switching valve according to a cooling mode, a heating mode, or a dehumidification mode such that the indoor heat exchanger is able to generate air-conditioning air based on each mode.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
a compressor connected to a refrigerant line, the compressor configured to compress a refrigerant;
an indoor heat exchanger and an outdoor heat exchanger connected to the refrigerant line;
a switching valve connected to the refrigerant line, the switching valve arranged between the compressor and the indoor heat exchanger and between the indoor heat exchanger and the outdoor heat exchanger and configured to selectively circulate the refrigerant from the compressor either first to the indoor heat exchanger or first to the outdoor heat exchanger;
an integrated heat exchanger connected to the refrigerant line, the integrated heat exchanger configured to receive the refrigerant from the indoor heat exchanger or the outdoor heat exchanger, wherein the integrated heat exchanger is configured to act as a heat pump exchanging heat between the refrigerant and a heat exchange medium;
a first expander connected to the refrigerant line, the first expander configured to selectively expand the refrigerant related to the indoor heat exchanger;
a second expander connected to the refrigerant line, the second expander configured to selectively expand the refrigerant related to the integrated heat exchanger; and
a controller configured to control refrigerant circulation directions through the switching valve according to a cooling mode, a heating mode, or a dehumidification mode such that the indoor heat exchanger is able to provide air-conditioning air based on each mode.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system is configured to discharge outer air when in the dehumidification mode and when the compressor is not driven.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured, when in the cooling mode, to:
control the switching valve such that the refrigerant discharged from the compressor is first circulated to the outdoor heat exchanger;
control the first expander to expand the refrigerant so that the indoor heat exchanger is able to provide cooled air; and
control the second expander so that the integrated heat exchanger is able to exchange heat between the refrigerant and the heat exchange medium.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to:
determine whether a time since powering off after cooling air exceeds a predetermined time; and
maintain the heating mode for a preset drying time when the predetermined time is exceeded.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a first cooling-water line connected to a first water pump, a part of electronic equipment (PE) part, a first radiator, a first valve, a reservoir, and the integrated heat exchanger, wherein the integrated heat exchanger is configured to exchange heat between a cooling water and the refrigerant, and wherein the first valve is configured to let the cooling water selectively circulate to the first radiator or the integrated heat exchanger.

6. The system of claim 5 , further comprising a second cooling-water line connected to a second water pump, a battery, a second radiator, a second valve, the reservoir and the integrated heat exchanger, wherein the integrated heat exchanger is configured to exchange heat between the cooling water and the refrigerant, and wherein the second valve is configured to let the cooling water selectively circulate to the second radiator or the integrated heat exchanger.

7. The system of claim 5 , further comprising a second cooling-water line connected to a second water pump, a battery, a second radiator, a second valve and the integrated heat exchanger, wherein the integrated heat exchanger is configured to exchange heat between a cooling water and the refrigerant, and wherein the second valve is configured to let the cooling water selectively circulate to the second radiator or the integrated heat exchanger.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured, when in the heating mode, to:
control the switching valve such that refrigerant discharged from the compressor is circulated first to the indoor heat exchanger so that the indoor heat exchanger is able to provide heated air;
control the first expander to expand the refrigerant; and
control the second expander so that the integrated heat exchanger is able to exchange heat between the refrigerant and the heat exchange medium.

9. The system of claim 8 , further comprising:
a heater configured to provide heated air,
wherein the controller is configured to operate the heater solely by heating air provided in the indoor heat exchanger.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the system is configured, when turning on the dehumidification mode during the heating mode, to discharge outer air when an outer air temperature is below a setup temperature.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the controller is configured, when turning on the dehumidification mode during the heating mode, to:
stop driving the compressor when an outer air temperature is equal to or higher than a setup temperature, and
control the heater in order to adjust a temperature of the heated air.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to control the cooling mode when a refrigerant pressure is equal to or lower than a first reference refrigerant pressure after stopping driving the compressor.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the controller is configured to:
stop driving the compressor when the dehumidification mode is set; and
control the heating mode when the refrigerant pressure is equal to or lower than a second reference refrigerant pressure after stopping driving the compressor.

14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to:
pre-store a first setup time at which a refrigerant pressure reaches a reference refrigerant pressure after stopping driving the compressor; and
control the cooling mode when a time exceeds the first setup time.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the controller is configured to:
stop driving the compressor when the dehumidification mode is set; and
control the heating mode when a time exceeds a second setup time.

16. A system comprising:
a switching valve;
a compressor connected to the switching valve via a first refrigerant line loop;
an indoor heat exchanger and an outdoor heat exchanger connected to the switching valve via a second refrigerant line loop,
wherein the switching valve is located between the compressor and the indoor heat exchanger and between the indoor heat exchanger and the outdoor heat exchange and is configured to selectively circulate a refrigerant from the compressor either first to the indoor heat exchanger or first to the outdoor heat exchanger;
an integrated heat exchanger connected to the first refrigerant line loop and the second refrigerant line loop, wherein the integrated heat exchanger is configured to receive the refrigerant from the indoor heat exchanger or the outdoor heat exchanger;
a first expander connected to the second refrigerant line loop, the first expander configured to selectively expand the refrigerant related to the indoor heat exchanger;
a second expander connected to the integrated heat exchanger, the second expander configured to selectively expand the refrigerant related to the integrated heat exchanger; and
a controller configured to control refrigerant circulation directions through the switching valve according to a cooling mode, a heating mode, or a dehumidification mode such that the indoor heat exchanger is able to provide air-conditioning air based on each mode.

17. The system of claim 16 , further comprising:
a firs

Assignees

• Kia Corp
• Hyundai Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kim Ki Mok
• Lee Sang Shin
• Oh Man Ju

Classifications

• B60H1/00278 Primary

  for the battery · CPC title

• B60H2001/00307

  Component temperature regulation using a liquid flow · CPC title

• B60H2001/00928

  comprising a secondary circuit · CPC title

• B60Y2304/01

  Minimizing space with more compact designs or arrangements · CPC title

• B60Y2200/91

  Electric vehicles · CPC title