IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,746,795
Granted Patent B2
US 12,746,795 · App. 18/325,247 · Granted Sep 29, 2026

Heat pump system for vehicle

Inventors: Seong-Bin Jeong (Hwaseong-si, KR); Jae-Eun Jeong (Hwaseong-si, KR); Yong Woong Cha (Yongin-si, KR); Wan Je Cho (Hwaseong-si, KR)
Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company; Kia Corporation
B60H1/00278B60H1/00385B60H1/00914B60H1/143B60H2001/00307B60H2001/00928B60H2001/00935
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,746,795
App. No.
18/325,247
Granted
Sep 29, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An embodiment heat pump system for a vehicle includes a valve module for controlling a flow of a coolant according to a selected mode for temperature adjustment of a vehicle interior and temperature adjustment of a battery module, a first line connected to the valve module, an electrical component on the first line, a second line connected to the first line and the valve module, a radiator on the second line, a third line connected to the valve module, wherein the battery module is on the third line, a fourth line connected to the valve module and the third line, a fifth line connected to the valve module, a chiller on the fifth line, a sixth line connected to the first line and the fifth line, and a seventh line connected to the third line and the fifth line.

Claims (80)

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

a valve module configured to control a flow of a coolant, 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 line connected to the valve module to selectively flow the coolant;

an electrical component on the first line;

a second line comprising a first end connected to the first line and a second end connected to the valve module to selectively flow the coolant;

a radiator on the second line;

a third line connected to the valve module to selectively flow the coolant, wherein the battery module is on the third line;

a fourth line comprising a first end connected to the valve module to selectively flow the coolant and a second end connected to the third line;

a fifth line comprising a first end connected to the valve module to selectively flow the coolant;

a chiller on the fifth line;

a sixth line comprising a first end connected to the first line and a second end connected to the fifth line to selectively flow the coolant; and

a seventh line comprising a first end connected to the third line and a second end connected to the fifth line to selectively flow the coolant.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the valve module comprises:

a valve configured to control the flow of the coolant; and

a water pump.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the valve module comprises:

a valve configured to control the flow of the coolant;

a first water pump mounted on the valve corresponding to the first line; and

a second water pump mounted on the valve corresponding to the third line.

4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the first water pump and the second water pump are disposed at positions facing each other with reference to the valve.

5 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the valve is configured to selectively discharge the coolant selectively introduced from the second line, the fourth line, or the fifth line through the first line or the third line depending on the mode.

6 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the valve module further comprises a reservoir tank connected to the second line.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the chiller is connected to an air conditioner unit through a refrigerant connection line.

8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the chiller comprises a water-cooled heat-exchanger configured to heat-exchange the coolant with a refrigerant supplied from the air conditioner unit.

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

a valve module configured to control a flow of a coolant 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 and the battery module by using the coolant cooled at a radiator;

a second mode for heating the vehicle interior and recollecting waste heat of the battery module; and

a third mode for heating the vehicle interior and recollecting waste heat of the electrical component;

a first line connected to the valve module to selectively flow the coolant, wherein the electrical component is on the first line;

a second line comprising a first end connected to the first line and a second end connected to the valve module to selectively flow the coolant, wherein the radiator is on the second line;

a third line connected to the valve module to selectively flow the coolant, wherein the battery module is on the third line;

a fourth line comprising a first end connected to the valve module to selectively flow the coolant and a second end connected to the third line;

a fifth line comprising a first end connected to the valve module to selectively flow the coolant;

a chiller on the fifth line;

a sixth line comprising a first end connected to the first line and a second end connected to the fifth line to selectively flow the coolant; and

a seventh line comprising a first end connected to the third line and a second end connected to the fifth line to selectively flow the coolant.

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

the second line is connected to the third line by an operation of the valve module such that the coolant cooled at the radiator is supplied to the electrical component and the battery module;

the fourth line is connected to the first line by the operation of the valve module;

the first line, the second line, the third line, and the fourth line are interconnected by the operation of the valve module such that the coolant may circulate along the first line, the second line, the third line, and the fourth line;

the fifth line is closed by the operation of the valve module; and

the sixth line and the seventh line are closed by the closed fifth line.

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

the second line is connected to the first line by an operation of the valve module such that the coolant cooled at the radiator is supplied to the electrical component;

the fifth line is connected to the third line by the operation of the valve module;

the seventh line is opened to be connected to the third line and the fifth line;

the fourth line and the sixth line are closed by the operation of the valve module;

the first line and the second line define an independent closed circuit by the operation of the valve module;

the third line, the fifth line, and the seventh line define an independent closed circuit by the operation of the valve module; and

the chiller is configured to recollect the waste heat of the battery module from the coolant heated by cooling the battery module.

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

the second line is closed by an operation of the valve module such that the coolant having passed through the electrical component is not supplied to the radiator;

the fifth line is connected to the first line by the operation of the valve module;

the sixth line is opened to be connected to the first line and the fifth line;

the fourth line is connected to the third line by the operation of the valve module;

the seventh line is closed by the operation of the valve module;

the first line, the fifth line, and the sixth line define an independent closed circuit by the operation of the valve module;

the third line and the fourth line define an independent closed circuit by the operation of the valve module; and

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

13 . The system of claim 9 , wherein, in the third mode, the battery module is selectively heated.

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

15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the chiller comprises a water-cooled heat-exchanger configured to heat-exchange the coolant with a refrigerant supplied from the air conditioner unit.

16 . A heat pump system for a vehicle, the system comprising:

a valve module configured to control a flow of a coolant 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 line connected to the valve module to selectively flow the coolant;

an electrical component on the first line;

a second line comprising a first end connected to the first line and a second end connected to the valve module to selectively flow the coolant;

a radiator on the second line;

a third line connected to the valve module to selectively flow the coolant, wherein the battery module is on the third line;

a coolant heater on the third line;

a fourth line comprising a first end connected to the valve module to selectively flow the coolant and a second end connected to the third line;

a fifth line comprising a first end connected to the valve module to selectively flow the coolant;

a chiller on the fifth line;

a sixth line comprising a first end connected to the first line and a second end connected to the fifth line to selectively flow the coolant; and

a seventh line comprising a first end connected to the coolant heater and a second end connected to the fifth line to selectively flow the coolant.

17 . The system of claim 16 , 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 third line is heated.

18 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the fourth line and the seventh line are connected to the third line through the coolant heater.

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

20 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the chiller comprises a water-cooled heat-exchanger configured to heat-exchange the coolant with a refrigerant supplied from the air conditioner unit.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 30, 2023
From: JEONG, SEONG-BIN; JEONG, JAE-EUN; CHA, YONG WOONG; CHO, WAN JE
To: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY; KIA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 063791/0899 →
Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2022-0172991 · Dec 12, 2022 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240190202A1 · Jun 13, 2024
References Cited (3)
US 20210379960A1 · Kim · 2021 [cited by examiner]
KR 20210047733A · 2021 [cited by examiner]
Lee et al., Integrated Thermal Management Circuit for Vehicle, Apr. 30, 2021, KR 20210047733 A, Whole Document (Year: 2021). [cited by examiner]