Refrigerant module and integrated thermal management module for vehicle including the same

1 . An integrated thermal management module comprising:

a compressor configured to discharge a refrigerant after compressing the refrigerant;

a condensation core configured to discharge the refrigerant discharged from the compressor after the refrigerant exchanges heat with a coolant;

an evaporation core configured to discharge the refrigerant discharged from an expansion valve after the refrigerant exchanges heat with the coolant;

a refrigerant multi-channel plate formed to have a plate shape, the refrigerant multi-channel plate comprising:

a first inner refrigerant channel configured to provide a path guiding the refrigerant discharged from the condensation core to the expansion valve; and

a second inner refrigerant channel configured to provide a path guiding the refrigerant discharged from the evaporation core to the compressor;

a coolant multi-channel plate comprising:

a first coolant multi-channel plate having a first inner coolant channel configured to guide the coolant cooled through heat exchange in the evaporation core to flow through the first inner coolant channel;

a second coolant multi-channel plate having a second inner coolant channel configured to guide the coolant heated through heat exchange in the condensation core to flow through the second inner coolant channel, the second inner coolant channel being independent from the first inner coolant channel, wherein the first coolant multi-channel plate and the second coolant multi-channel plate are disposed such that a first surface of the first coolant multi-channel plate and a first surface of the second coolant multi-channel plate are spaced apart from each other by a first predetermined distance while facing each other, wherein the coolant in the first coolant multi-channel plate exchanges heat with the refrigerant flowing in the evaporation core, and wherein the coolant in the second coolant multi-channel plate exchanges heat with the refrigerant flowing in the condensation core; and

a heat exchange pipe formed to have a double pipe structure having an inner pipe and an outer pipe, wherein the inner pipe is connected at a first end to the second inner refrigerant channel while being connected at a second end to the compressor such that the refrigerant discharged from the evaporation core flows through the inner pipe of the heat exchange pipe to the compressor, wherein the outer pipe is connected to the first inner refrigerant channel such that the refrigerant discharged from the condensation core flows through the outer pipe to the expansion valve, wherein the refrigerant flowing through the inner pipe is heated by the refrigerant flowing through the outer pipe before being introduced into the compressor, and wherein the refrigerant flowing through the outer pipe is cooled by the refrigerant flowing through the inner pipe before being introduced into the expansion valve;

wherein the compressor and the expansion valve are disposed on a first side of the refrigerant multi-channel plate and the condensation core and the evaporation core are disposed on a second side of the refrigerant multi-channel plate;

wherein the compressor and the condensation core are directly interconnected through the refrigerant multi-channel plate;

wherein the condensation core and the expansion valve are mounted to the refrigerant multi-channel plate and interconnected by the first inner refrigerant channel and the outer pipe of the heat exchange pipe;

wherein the expansion valve and the evaporation core are directly interconnected through the refrigerant multi-channel plate;

wherein the evaporation core and the compressor are mounted to the refrigerant multi-channel plate and interconnected by the second inner refrigerant channel and the inner pipe of the heat exchange pipe; and

wherein the compressor and the inner pipe of the heat exchange pipe are directly interconnected through the refrigerant multi-channel plate.

2 . The integrated thermal management module according to claim 1 , wherein:

the refrigerant multi-channel plate is formed with a compressor inlet and a compressor outlet coupled to the compressor, a condensation core inlet and a condensation core outlet coupled to the condensation core, an expansion valve inlet and an expansion valve outlet coupled to the expansion valve, and an evaporation core inlet and an evaporation core outlet coupled to the evaporation core;

the compressor outlet and the condensation core inlet are formed on opposite surfaces of the refrigerant multi-channel plate to directly interconnect the compressor and the condensation core;

the condensation core outlet and the expansion valve inlet are interconnected by the first inner refrigerant channel and the outer pipe of the heat exchange pipe;

the expansion valve outlet and the evaporation core inlet are formed on the opposite surfaces of the refrigerant multi-channel plate to directly interconnect the expansion valve and the evaporation core;

the evaporation core outlet is connected to the inner pipe of the heat exchange pipe via the second inner refrigerant channel; and

the compressor inlet and the inner pipe of the heat exchange pipe are disposed on the opposite surfaces of the refrigerant multi-channel plate to directly interconnect the compressor and the inner pipe of the heat exchange pipe.

3 . The integrated thermal management module according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a receiver dryer on the first side of the refrigerant multi-channel plate, wherein the receiver dryer is configured to separate the refrigerant discharged from the condensation core into a first liquid-phase refrigerant and a first gas-phase refrigerant and to discharge the first liquid-phase refrigerant into the expansion valve; and

an accumulator on the first side of the refrigerant multi-channel plate, wherein the accumulator is configured to separate the refrigerant discharged from the evaporation core into a second liquid-phase refrigerant and a second gas-phase refrigerant and to discharge the second gas-phase refrigerant into the compressor;

wherein the first inner refrigerant channel of the refrigerant multi-channel plate is divided into a 1-1-th inner refrigerant channel configured to provide a path guiding the refrigerant discharged from the condensation core to the receiver dryer and a 1-2-th inner refrigerant channel configured to provide a path guiding the first liquid-phase refrigerant discharged from the receiver dryer to the expansion valve;

wherein an inlet connection pipe connected to a first side of the outer pipe of the heat exchange pipe and an outlet connection pipe connected to a second side of the outer pipe of the heat exchange pipe are connected to an intermediate portion of the 1-2-th inner refrigerant channel; and

wherein the second inner refrigerant channel of the refrigerant multi-channel plate is a 2-1-th inner refrigerant channel configured to provide a path guiding the refrigerant discharged from the evaporation core to the accumulator, and provides a path guiding the refrigerant discharged from the accumulator to the compressor via the inner pipe of the heat exchange pipe.

4 . The integrated thermal management module according to claim 1 , wherein each of the first coolant multi-channel plate and the second coolant multi-channel plate is formed to have a plate shape.

5 . The integrated thermal management module according to claim 4 , wherein the refrigerant multi-channel plate is disposed to be spaced apart from a second surface of the second coolant multi-channel plate by a second predetermined distance while facing the second surface of the second coolant multi-channel plate.

6 . The integrated thermal management module according to claim 5 , wherein the condensation core and the evaporation core are disposed between the refrigerant multi-channel plate and the second coolant multi-channel plate.

7 . The integrated thermal management module according to claim 1 , wherein:

the first coolant multi-channel plate comprises at least one first coolant inlet connector connected to the first inner coolant channel;

the second coolant multi-channel plate comprises at least one second coolant outlet connector connected to the second inner coolant channel; and

the coolant circulates between the first coolant multi-channel plate and the second coolant multi-channel plate through interconnection of the first coolant inlet connector and the second coolant outlet connector.

8 . The integrated thermal management module according to claim 7 , wherein:

the first coolant inlet connector protrudes from the first surface of the first coolant multi-channel plate;

the second coolant outlet connector protrudes from the first surface of the second coolant multi-channel plate; and

the first coolant inlet connector and the second coolant outlet connector are interconnected while directly contacting each other.

9 . An integrated thermal management module comprising:

a refrigerant module configured to force a refrigerant to circulate through a compressor, a condensation core, an expansion valve, and an evaporation core, the refrigerant module comprising a refrigerant multi-channel plate, wherein the compressor and the expansion valve are disposed on a first side of the refrigerant multi-channel plate, wherein the condensation core and the evaporation core are disposed on a second side of the refrigerant multi-channel plate, wherein the refrigerant multi-channel plate comprises:

a first inner refrigerant channel configured to provide a path guiding the refrigerant discharged from the condensation core to the expansion valve, and

a second inner refrigerant channel configured to provide a path guiding the refrigerant discharged from the evaporation core to the compressor;

a coolant module comprising a coolant multi-channel plate formed with an inner coolant channel, wherein the condensation core and the evaporation core of the refrigerant module, an air conditioning core of an indoor air conditioner, an electrical part, a radiator, and a battery are interconnected via the inner coolant channel while being connected to the coolant multi-channel plate via a plurality of separate coolant connection lines connected to the coolant multi-channel plate, and wherein the coolant multi-channel plate comprises:

a first coolant multi-channel plate having a first inner coolant channel guiding a coolant cooled through heat exchange in the evaporation core to flow through the first inner coolant channel,

a second coolant multi-channel plate having a second inner coolant channel guiding the coolant heated through heat exchange in the condensation core to flow through the second inner coolant channel, the second inner coolant channel being independent from the first inner coolant channel, wherein the first coolant multi-channel plate and the second coolant multi-channel plate are disposed such that a first surface of the first coolant multi-channel plate and a first surface of the second coolant multi-channel plate are spaced apart from each other by a first predetermined distance while facing each other, wherein the coolant circulating in the first coolant multi-channel plate exchanges heat with the refrigerant flowing in the evaporation core of the refrigerant module, and wherein the coolant circulating in the second coolant multi-channel plate exchanges heat with the refrigerant flowing in the condensation core of the refrigerant module; and

a heat exchange pipe formed to have a double pipe structure having an inner pipe and an outer pipe, wherein the inner pipe is connected at a first end to the second inner refrigerant channel while being connected at a second end to the compressor such that the refrigerant discharged from the evaporation core flows through the inner pipe of the heat exchange pipe to the compressor, wherein the outer pipe is connected to the first inner refrigerant channel such that the refrigerant discharged from the condensation core flows through the outer pipe to the expansion valve, wherein the refrigerant flowing through the inner pipe is heated by the refrigerant flowing through the outer pipe before being introduced into the compressor, and wherein the refrigerant flowing through the outer pipe is cooled by the refrigerant flowing through the inner pipe before being introduced into the expansion valve.

10 . The integrated thermal management module according to claim 9 , wherein:

the refrigerant multi-channel plate is formed with a compressor inlet and a compressor outlet coupled to the compressor, a condensation core inlet and a condensation core outlet coupled to the condensation core, an expansion valve inlet and an expansion valve outlet coupled to the expansion valve, and an evaporation core inlet and an evaporation core outlet coupled to the evaporation core.

11 . The integrated thermal management module according to claim 10 , wherein:

the compressor outlet and the condensation core inlet are formed at opposite surfaces of the refrigerant multi-channel plate to directly interconnect the compressor and the condensation core via the refrigerant multi-channel plate; and

the expansion valve outlet and the evaporation core inlet are formed at the opposite surfaces of the refrigerant multi-channel plate to directly interconnect the expansion valve and the evaporation core via the refrigerant multi-channel plate.

12 . The integrated thermal management module according to claim 9 , wherein:

the refrigerant multi-channel plate is formed with a compressor inlet and a compressor outlet coupled to the compressor, a condensation core inlet and a condensation core outlet coupled to the condensation core, an expansion valve inlet and an expansion valve outlet coupled to the expansion valve, and an evaporation core inlet and an evaporation core outlet coupled to the evaporation core;

the compressor outlet and the condensation core inlet are formed at opposite surfaces of the refrigerant multi-channel plate to directly interconnect the compressor and the condensation core;

the condensation core outlet and the expansion valve inlet are interconnected by the first inner refrigerant channel and the outer pipe of the heat exchange pipe;

the expansion valve outlet and the evaporation core inlet are formed at the opposite surfaces of the refrigerant multi-channel plate to directly interconnect the expansion valve and the evaporation core;

the evaporation core outlet is connected to the inner pipe of the heat exchange pipe via the second inner refrigerant channel; and

the compressor inlet and the inner pipe of the heat exchange pipe are disposed at the opposite surfaces of the refrigerant multi-channel plate to directly interconnect the compressor and the inner pipe of the heat exchange pipe.

13 . The integrated thermal management module according to claim 9 , wherein

each of the first coolant multi-channel plate and the second coolant multi-channel plate is formed to have a plate shape.

14 . The integrated thermal management module according to claim 9 , wherein:

the first coolant multi-channel plate is formed with at least one first coolant inlet connector connected to the first inner coolant channel;

the second coolant multi-channel plate is formed with at least one second coolant outlet connector connected to the second inner coolant channel; and

a coolant circulates between the first coolant multi-channel plate and the second coolant multi-channel plate through interconnection of the first coolant inlet connector and the second coolant outlet connector.

15 . The integrated thermal management module according to claim 14 , wherein:

the first coolant inlet connector protrudes from the first surface of the first coolant multi-channel plate;

the second coolant outlet connector protrudes from the first surface of the second coolant multi-channel plate; and

the first coolant inlet connector and the second coolant outlet connector are interconnected while directly contacting each other.

16 . The integrated thermal management module according to claim 9 , wherein a plurality of pumps and a plurality of valves are provided at the first inner coolant channel of the first coolant multi-channel plate and the second inner coolant channel of the second coolant multi-channel plate.

17 . The integrated thermal management module according to claim 16 , wherein the plurality of pumps and the plurality of valves are installed at a second surface of the first coolant multi-channel plate and a second surface of the second coolant multi-channel plate.

18 . The integrated thermal management module according to claim 17 , wherein a plurality of pump installation grooves and a plurality of valve installation grooves are formed on the second surface of the first coolant multi-channel plate and the second surface of the second coolant multi-channel plate, and wherein the plurality of pump installation grooves and the plurality of valve installation grooves have a concave shape while communicating with the first inner coolant channel and the second inner coolant channel, such that each pump and each valve are installed in corresponding ones of the pump installation grooves and the valve installation grooves, respectively, in such a manner that portions of the pump and the valve are inserted into the corresponding pump installation groove and the corresponding valve installation groove, respectively.

19 . The integrated thermal management module according to claim 9 , wherein:

a first insulator is disposed between the first surface of the first coolant multi-channel plate and the first surface of the second coolant multi-channel plate; and

a second insulator is disposed between a second surface of the first coolant multi-channel plate and a second surface of the second coolant multi-channel plate.

20 . The integrated thermal management module according to claim 9 , wherein:

the radiator comprises a first radiator connected to the battery and a second radiator connected to the air conditioning core of the indoor air conditioner and the electrical part;

the air conditioning core of the indoor air conditioner comprises a cold core; and

the first coolant multi-channel plate is formed with a first radiator inlet and a first radiator outlet connected to the first radiator, a second radiator inlet and a second radiator outlet connected to the second radiator, an electrical part inlet and an electrical part outlet connected to the electrical part, an evaporation core coolant inlet and an evaporation core coolant outlet connected to the evaporation core of the refrigerant module, and a cold core inlet and a cold core outlet connected to the cold core.

21 . The integrated thermal management module according to claim 9 , wherein:

the radiator comprises a third radiator connected to the air conditioning core of the indoor air conditioner and the battery;

the air conditioning core of the indoor air conditioner comprises a water heater and a hot core; and

the second coolant multi-channel plate is formed with a third radiator inlet and a third radiator outlet connected to the third radiator, a condensation core coolant inlet and a condensation core coolant outlet connected to the condensation core of the refrigerant module, a water heater inlet and a water heater outlet connected to the water heater, a hot core inlet and a hot core outlet connected to the hot core, and a battery inlet and a battery outlet connected to the battery.

22 . The integrated thermal management module according to claim 9 , wherein:

the refrigerant multi-channel plate is formed to have a plate shape;

the refrigerant multi-channel plate is disposed to be spaced apart from a second surface of the second coolant multi-channel plate by a second predetermined distance while facing the second surface of the second coolant multi-channel plate; and

the condensation core and the evaporation core are disposed between the refrigerant multi-channel plate and the second coolant multi-channel plate.

23 . The integrated thermal management module according to claim 9 , further comprising:

a receiver dryer configured to separate the refrigerant discharged from the condensation core into a first liquid-phase refrigerant and a first gas-phase refrigerant and to discharge the first liquid-phase refrigerant into the expansion valve; and

an accumulator configured to separate the refrigerant discharged from the evaporation core into a second liquid-phase refrigerant and a second gas-phase refrigerant and to discharge the second gas-phase refrigerant into the compressor, wherein the receiver dryer and the accumulator are disposed at one side of the refrigerant multi-channel plate.

24 . The integrated thermal management module according to claim 9 , wherein the compressor and the condensation core are directly interconnected through the refrigerant multi-channel plate.

25 . The integrated thermal management module according to claim 9 , wherein the condensation core and the expansion valve are mounted to the refrigerant multi-channel plate and interconnected by the first inner refrigerant channel.

26 . An integrated thermal management module comprising:

a refrigerant module configured to force a refrigerant to circulate through a compressor, a condensation core, an expansion valve, and an evaporation core, the refrigerant module comprising a refrigerant multi-channel plate;

wherein the compressor and the expansion valve are disposed on a first side of the refrigerant multi-channel plate;

wherein the condensation core and the evaporation core are disposed on a second side of the refrigerant multi-channel plate;

wherein the refrigerant multi-channel plate comprises:

a first inner refrigerant channel configured to provide a path guiding the refrigerant discharged from the condensation core to the expansion valve; and

a second inner refrigerant channel configured to provide a path guiding the refrigerant discharged from the evaporation core to the compressor; and

wherein the refrigerant multi-channel plate is formed to have a plate shape;

a coolant module comprising a coolant multi-channel plate having an inner coolant channel;

wherein the condensation core and the evaporation core of the refrigerant module, an air conditioning core of an indoor air conditioner, an electrical part, a radiator, and a battery are interconnected via the inner coolant channel while being connected to the coolant multi-channel plate via a plurality of separate coolant connection lines connected to the coolant multi-channel plate;

wherein the coolant multi-channel plate comprises:

a first coolant multi-channel plate having a first inner coolant channel guiding a coolant cooled through heat exchange in the evaporation core to flow through the first inner coolant channel; and

a second coolant multi-channel plate having a second inner coolant channel guiding the coolant heated through heat exchange in the condensation core to flow through the second inner coolant channel, the second inner coolant channel being independent from the first inner coolant channel;

wherein each of the first coolant multi-channel plate and the second coolant multi-channel plate is formed to have a plate shape;

wherein the first coolant multi-channel plate and the second coolant multi-channel plate are disposed such that a first surface of the first coolant multi-channel plate and a first surface of the second coolant multi-channel plate are spaced apart from each other by a first predetermined distance while facing each other;

wherein the refrigerant multi-channel plate is disposed to be spaced apart from a second surface of the second coolant multi-channel plate by a second predetermined distance while facing the second surface of the second coolant multi-channel plate;

wherein the condensation core and the evaporation core are disposed between the refrigerant multi-channel plate and the second coolant multi-channel plate;

wherein the coolant circulating in the first coolant multi-channel plate exchanges heat with the refrigerant flowing in the evaporation core of the refrigerant module; and

wherein the coolant circulating in the second coolant multi-channel plate exchanges heat with the refrigerant flowing in the condensation core of the refrigerant module; and

a heat exchange pipe formed to have a double pipe structure having an inner pipe and an outer pipe;

wherein the inner pipe is connected at a first end to the second inner refrigerant channel while being connected at a second end to the compressor such that the refrigerant discharged from the evaporation core flows through the inner pipe of the heat exchange pipe to the compressor;

wherein the outer pipe is connected to the first inner refrigerant channel such that the refrigerant discharged from the condensation core flows through the outer pipe to the expansion valve;

wherein the refrigerant flowing through the inner pipe is heated by the refrigerant flowing through the outer pipe before being introduced into the compressor; and

wherein the refrigerant flowing through the outer pipe is cooled by the refrigerant flowing through the inner pipe before being introduced into the expansion valve.