Description and Operation

Heat Pump Configuration and Operation

The heat pump is configured to circulate refrigerant flow for cooling and heating functions. This process minimizes battery consumption by the heater, which increases the driving range of the electric vehicle.

[Heating]

1. 1
   External condenser - Evaporates liquid refrigerant and forms a low-temperature, low-pressure gaseous substance.
2. 2
   3-way solenoid valve No. 2 - Redirects the refrigerant flow toward the chiller when the heat pump operates.
3. 3
   Chiller - Uses waste engine heat and performs secondary heat exchange on low-temperature, low-pressure gas.
4. 4
   Accumulator - Separates gas and liquid so that only gaseous refrigerant can enter the compressor.
5. 5
   Electric compressor - The compressor is driven by an electric motor. Converts low-temperature, low-pressure gaseous refrigerant into high-temperature, high-pressure gas and sends it to the internal condenser.
6. 6
   Internal condenser - Condenses high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant and converts it into high-temperature, high-pressure liquid refrigerant.
7. 7
   2-way solenoid valve No. 1 - Instantly expands the refrigerant to create low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant.
8. 8
   2-way solenoid valve No. 2 - Supplies refrigerant to the evaporator when the DEFROST mode is used during heating.
9. 9
   3-way solenoid valve No. 1 - Bypasses refrigerant to the chiller when refrigerant accumulation is detected in the external condenser.

[Cooling]

1. 1
   External condenser - Condenses high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant and converts it into high-temperature, high-pressure liquid refrigerant.
2. 2
   3-way valve No. 2 - Directs refrigerant flow to the expansion valve when the air conditioner operates.
3. 3
   Expansion valve - Instantly expands the refrigerant to create low-temperature, low-pressure gas.
4. 4
   Evaporator - The fan operates to cool the air passing through the evaporator fins, while the refrigerant in a mist state turns into gas (the surrounding air is cooled).
5. 5
   Accumulator - Separates gas and liquid so that only gaseous refrigerant can enter the compressor.
6. 6
   Electric compressor - The compressor is driven by an electric motor. Converts low-temperature, low-pressure gaseous refrigerant into high-temperature, high-pressure gas and sends it to the internal condenser.
7. 7
   Internal condenser - Condenses high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant and converts it into high-temperature, high-pressure liquid refrigerant.
8. 8
   2-way solenoid valve No. 1 - Does not expand; circulates refrigerant when the air conditioner operates.
9. 9
   2-way solenoid valve No. 2 - Prevents refrigerant from entering the evaporator.
10. 10
    3-way solenoid valve No. 1 - Circulates refrigerant to the external condenser.