IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,496,874
Granted Patent B2
US 12,496,874 · App. 18/330,619 · Granted Dec 16, 2025

Heat pump system for vehicle

Inventors: Yong Woong Cha (Yongin-si, KR); Wan Je Cho (Hwaseong-si, KR); Jungha Park (Gunpo-si, KR); Eon Soo Yun (Hwaseong-si, KR); ByeongGu Kang (Hwaseong-si, KR); Seongjae Lee (Suncheon-si, KR); Jong Il Park (Hwaseong-si, KR); Jai Young An (Suwon-si, KR); Seong-Bin Jeong (Hwaseong-si, KR)
Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY; KIA CORPORATION
B60H1/00899B60H1/3213
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,496,874
App. No.
18/330,619
Granted
Dec 16, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

An embodiment heat pump system of a vehicle includes a valve controlling a flow of a coolant, a first line having ends connected to the valve, a radiator and an electrical component on the first line, a second line having ends connected to the valve, a battery module on the second line, a first connection line including a first end connected to the valve, a chiller on the first connection line, a second connection line including ends connected to the second and first connection lines, and a third connection line including a first end connected to a second end of the first connection line and a second end connected to the first line between the radiator and the electrical component, wherein the valve operates such that the first, second, or first connection line is connected to another line or to itself depending on the selected mode.

Claims (84)

1 . A heat pump system of a vehicle, the system comprising:

a valve configured to control a flow of a coolant that is interiorly introduced according to a mode selected from a plurality of modes for temperature adjustment of a vehicle interior and temperature adjustment of a battery module;

a first cooling apparatus comprising at least one first line comprising a first end and a second end directly connected to the valve to allow circulation of the coolant;

a radiator on the first line;

an electrical component on the first line;

a second cooling apparatus comprising at least one second line comprising a first end and a second end directly connected to the valve to allow circulation of the coolant, wherein the battery module is on the second line;

a first connection line comprising a first end connected to the valve to allow circulation of the coolant;

a chiller on the first connection line;

a second connection line comprising a first end connected to the second line and a second end connected to the first connection line; and

a third connection line comprising a first end connected to a second end of the first connection line and a second end connected to the first line between the radiator and the electrical component; and

wherein the valve is configured to operate such that the first line, the second line, or the first connection line is connected to another line or to itself depending on the selected mode.

2 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a first water pump on the first line between the valve and the electrical component; and

a second water pump on the second line between the valve and the battery module.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein:

the third connection line maintains an opened state in the selected mode; and

the coolant is configured to selectively flow depending on a connection structure of the first line, the second line, or the first connection line.

4 . A heat pump system of a vehicle, the system comprising:

a valve configured to control a flow of a coolant that is interiorly introduced according to a mode selected from a plurality of modes for temperature adjustment of a vehicle interior and temperature adjustment of a battery module;

a first cooling apparatus comprising at least one first line comprising a first end and a second end directly connected to the valve to allow circulation of the coolant;

a radiator on the first line;

an electrical component on the first line;

a second cooling apparatus comprising at least one second line comprising a first end and a second end directly connected to the valve to allow circulation of the coolant, wherein the battery module is on the second line;

a first connection line comprising a first end connected to the valve to allow circulation of the coolant;

an air conditioner unit;

a refrigerant connection line;

a chiller on the first connection line, wherein the chiller is connected to the air conditioner unit through the refrigerant connection line;

a second connection line comprising a first end connected to the second line and a second end connected to the first connection line; and

a third connection line comprising a first end connected to a second end of the first connection line and a second end connected to the first line between the radiator and the electrical component; and

wherein the valve is configured to operate such that the first line, the second line, or the first connection line is connected to another line or to itself depending on the selected mode.

5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the chiller comprises a water-cooled heat-exchanger configured to heat-exchange the coolant with a refrigerant supplied from the air conditioner unit.

6 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a coolant heater on the second line.

7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein, in order to increase a temperature of the battery module, the coolant heater is configured to be operated such that the coolant supplied to the battery module along the second line is heated.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the valve comprises a 5-way valve.

9 . A heat pump system of a vehicle, the system comprising:

a valve configured to control a flow of a coolant that is interiorly introduced according to a mode selected from a plurality of modes for temperature adjustment of a vehicle interior and temperature adjustment of a battery module, the plurality of modes comprising:

a first mode for cooling an electrical component by using the coolant cooled at a radiator and for increasing a temperature of the battery module;

a second mode for cooling the electrical component and the battery module by using the coolant cooled at the radiator;

a third mode for heating the vehicle interior and for increasing the temperature of the battery module while recollecting waste heat of the electrical component; and

a fourth mode for heating the vehicle interior and for recollecting the waste heat of the electrical component and the battery module;

a first cooling apparatus comprising at least one first line comprising a first end and a second end directly connected to the valve to allow circulation of the coolant, wherein the radiator and the electrical component are on the at least one first line;

a second cooling apparatus comprising at least one second line comprising a first end and a second end directly connected to the valve to allow circulation of the coolant, wherein the battery module is on the at least one second line;

a first connection line comprising a first end connected to the valve to allow circulation of the coolant;

a chiller on the first connection line;

a second connection line comprising a first end connected to the second line and a second end connected to the first connection line; and

a third connection line comprising a first end connected to a second end of the first connection line and a second end connected to the first line between the radiator and the electrical component; and

wherein the valve is configured to operate such that the first line, the second line, or the first connection line is connected to another line or to itself depending on the selected mode.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein, in the first mode:

the first end of the at least one first line is connected to the second end of the at least one first line by an operation of the valve such that the at least one first line defines an independent closed circuit in order to supply the coolant cooled at the radiator to the electrical component;

the first end of the at least one second line is connected to the second end of the at least one second line by the operation of the valve such that the second line defines an independent closed circuit;

the first connection line is closed by the operation of the valve;

the second connection line is closed by the closed first connection line; and

the coolant does not flow through the third connection line.

11 . The system of claim 9 , wherein, in the second mode:

the second end of the at least one first line is connected to the first end of the at least one second line by an operation of the valve;

a portion of the at least one second line connecting the valve and a downstream side of the battery module, with reference to a flow direction of the coolant, is closed;

the first end of the first connection line is connected to a first end of the at least one first line by the operation of the valve; and

the second connection line is opened such that the at least one second line is connected to the first connection line.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the third connection line is configured to allow flow of the coolant therethrough.

13 . The system of claim 9 , wherein, in the third mode:

a portion of the at least one first line connecting the radiator and a downstream side of the electrical component, with reference to a flow direction of the coolant, and connecting the radiator and the valve is closed by an operation of the valve;

the first end of the first connection line is connected to the first end of the at least one first line by the operation of the valve;

the at least one first line is connected to the first connection line by the third connection line at the downstream side of the electrical component;

the first end of the at least one second line is connected to the second end of the at least one second line by the operation of the valve such that the at least one second line defines an independent closed circuit;

the second connection line is closed; and

the chiller is configured to recollect the waste heat of the electrical component from the coolant heated while cooling the electrical component.

14 . The system of claim 9 , wherein, in the fourth mode:

with reference to a flow direction of the coolant, a portion of the at least one first line connecting the radiator and a downstream side of the electrical component and connecting the radiator and the valve is closed by an operation of the valve;

the second end of the at least one second line is connected to an opened portion of the at least one first line by the operation of the valve;

the first end of the first connection line is connected to the first end of the at least one second line by the operation of the valve;

the second connection line is opened to connect the at least one second line and the first connection line;

the at least one first line is connected to the first connection line by the third connection line at the downstream side of the electrical component;

the coolant having passed through the electrical component flows into the first connection line along the third connection line connected to the at least one first line;

a portion of the coolant having passed through the battery module along the at least one second line flows into the valve along the at least one second line;

a remaining portion of the coolant having passed through the battery module along the at least one second line flows into the first connection line along the opened second connection line; and

the chiller is configured to recollect the waste heat of the electrical component and the battery module from the coolant heated while cooling the electrical component and the battery module, respectively.

15 . The system of claim 9 , further comprising:

a first water pump on the at least one first line between the valve and the electrical component; and

a second water pump on the at least one second line between the valve and the battery module.

16 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the chiller is connected to an air conditioner unit through a refrigerant connection line.

17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the chiller comprises a water-cooled heat-exchanger configured to heat-exchange the coolant with a refrigerant supplied from the air conditioner unit.

18 . The system of claim 9 , further comprising a coolant heater on the at least one second line.

19 . The system of claim 18 , wherein, in order to increase a temperature of the battery module, the coolant heater is configured to be operated such that the coolant supplied to the battery module along the at least one second line is heated.

20 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the valve comprises a 5-way valve.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 7, 2023
From: CHA, YONG WOONG; CHO, WAN JE; PARK, JUNGHA; YUN, EON SOO; KANG, BYEONGGU; LEE, SEONGJAE; PARK, JONG IL; AN, JAI YOUNG; JEONG, SEONG-BIN
To: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY; KIA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 063880/0699 →
Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2022-0172989 · Dec 12, 2022 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240190211A1 · Jun 13, 2024
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