Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Nathan J English

Lawrence P Ziehr

Cameron P Smith

Satish P Ketkar

Michael H Carlson

Kyle Holihan

Anthony James Donatelli

Tanay Kalpej Patel

Benjamin C Groen

Devin C Richardson

A vapor injection refrigerant system includes a compressor, a condenser coupled to the compressor, an evaporator coupled to the condenser, and a chiller coupled to the condenser. The compressor includes at least a first stage and a second stage and is configured to output refrigerant in vapor form. The chiller is configured to inject refrigerant in vapor form into the second stage of the compressor. Additionally, the system may include a three-way valve having a first outlet coupled to the second stage of the compressor and a second outlet coupled to an outlet of the evaporator, and a control module configured to control the three-way valve to inject refrigerant in vapor form into the second stage of the compressor at a pressure greater than a pressure of the first stage of the compressor. Other example vapor injection refrigerant systems are also disclosed.

Vapor injection refrigerant systems

Thermal management in a vehicle involves a compressor to output a refrigerant in vapor form for circulation in a refrigerant loop. A thermal management system includes a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system in the refrigerant loop including an evaporator and an HVAC condenser, and an exterior condenser in the refrigerant loop configured to vent heat to an exterior of the vehicle. A first variable refrigerant flow valve controls a flow rate of the refrigerant output by the compressor into the HVAC condenser, and a second refrigerant flow valve controls a flow rate of the refrigerant output by the compressor into the exterior condenser. A controller controls the first refrigerant flow valve and the second refrigerant flow valve based on a target output temperature for the HVAC condenser.

Vehicle thermal management at condensers of the refrigerant loop

Presented are joint active thermal management (JATM) systems with heat exchanger storage of surplus refrigerant, methods for making/operating such systems, and vehicles equipped with such systems. A JATM system includes a coolant loop that fluidly connects to a vehicle battery system for pumping thereto coolant, an oil loop thermally coupled to the coolant loop and fluidly connected to a vehicle powertrain system for pumping thereto oil, and a refrigerant loop thermally coupled to the coolant loop and operable to circulate refrigerant for heating/cooling a passenger compartment. An electronic controller determines if a current amount of refrigerant in the refrigerant loop exceeds a calibrated threshold for the current operating mode of the JATM system. If so, the controller determines if one of the refrigerant loop's heat exchangers is available to store excess refrigerant. If the heat exchanger is available, the refrigerant loop stores excess refrigerant in the available refrigerant heat exchanger.

Active thermal management systems and control logic for heat exchanger storage of refrigerant

A thermal management method and system in a vehicle include a chiller to cause heat transfer between a coolant loop that defines a path in which a coolant circulates and a refrigerant loop that defines a path in which a refrigerant circulates. The system includes an electronic expansion valve (EXV) in the refrigerant loop to control a flow of the refrigerant into a first part of the chiller, and a coolant pump in the coolant loop to control a flow of the coolant into a second part of the chiller. A controller controls the EXV and the coolant pump based on a target amount for the heat transfer.

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Auburn Hills, MI, United States of America

Nathan J English