Multi-Function Automotive Radiator and Condenser Airflow System

Abstract

A vehicle thermal management system is provided that includes two or more heat exchangers configured in a non-stacked arrangement, where separate air inlets corresponding to each of the heat exchangers allow a direct intake of ambient air. Corresponding to each heat exchanger is a set of adjustable louvers that control ambient air flowing directly into the heat exchanger. The adjustable louvers may be adjustable between two positions; fully opened or fully closed. Alternately, the adjustable louvers may be adjustable over a range between fully opened and fully closed. Alternately, each set of adjustable louvers may be comprised of multiple groups of independently controllable louvers. Air ducts may be used to couple the output from one heat exchanger to the input of a different heat exchanger.

1 . A vehicle thermal management system, comprising:
 at least a first heat exchanger and second heat exchanger, wherein said first and second heat exchangers are configured in a non-stacked arrangement, and wherein said first heat exchanger is in thermal communication with a first vehicle cooling subsystem and said second heat exchanger is in thermal communication with a second vehicle cooling subsystem;   a first air inlet, wherein air flowing through said first air inlet flows directly into said first heat exchanger without first passing through said second heat exchanger;   a second air inlet, wherein air flowing through said second air inlet flows directly into said second heat exchanger without first passing through said first heat exchanger; and   a first set of adjustable louvers that controls air flowing directly through said first air inlet into said first heat exchanger that does not first pass through said second heat exchanger.   
     
     
         2 . The vehicle thermal management system of  claim 1 , further comprising a fan adjacent to an airflow exit surface of said second heat exchanger. 
     
     
         3 . The vehicle thermal management system of  claim 1 , further comprising an air duct that couples an airflow exit surface of at least a portion of said first heat exchanger to an airflow entrance surface of said second heat exchanger. 
     
     
         4 . The vehicle thermal management system of  claim 3 , wherein said first set of adjustable louvers is located between said airflow entrance surface of said second heat exchanger and an ambient environment. 
     
     
         5 . The vehicle thermal management system of  claim 3 , wherein said first set of adjustable louvers is located within said air duct and between said airflow exit surface of said first heat exchanger and said airflow entrance surface of said second heat exchanger. 
     
     
         6 . The vehicle thermal management system of  claim 5 , further comprising a second set of adjustable louvers that controls air flowing directly through said second air inlet into said second heat exchanger that does not first pass through said first heat exchanger. 
     
     
         7 . The vehicle thermal management system of  claim 6 , wherein said second set of adjustable louvers is located between said airflow entrance surface of said second heat exchanger and an ambient environment. 
     
     
         8 . The vehicle thermal management system of  claim 6 , wherein said first set of adjustable louvers has a first position and a second position, wherein said first position of said first set of adjustable louvers is fully opened and said second position of said first set of adjustable louvers is fully closed, and wherein said second set of adjustable louvers has a first position and a second position, wherein said first position of said second set of adjustable louvers is fully opened and said second position of said second set of adjustable louvers is fully closed. 
     
     
         9 . The vehicle thermal management system of  claim 6 , wherein said first set of adjustable louvers is adjustable over a range of positions between fully opened and fully closed, and wherein said second set of adjustable louvers is adjustable over a range of positions between fully opened and fully closed. 
     
     
         10 . The vehicle thermal management system of  claim 6 , wherein said first set of adjustable louvers is comprised of at least a first group of adjustable louvers and a second group of adjustable louvers, wherein said first and second groups of adjustable louvers are independently operable from one another, wherein said second set of adjustable louvers is comprised of at least a third group of adjustable louvers and a fourth group of adjustable louvers, and wherein said third and fourth groups of adjustable louvers are independently operable from one another. 
     
     
         11 . The vehicle thermal management system of  claim 6 , further comprising a fan adjacent to an airflow exit surface of said second heat exchanger. 
     
     
         12 . The vehicle thermal management system of  claim 1 , further comprising a second set of adjustable louvers that controls air flowing directly through said second air inlet into said second heat exchanger that does not first pass through said first heat exchanger. 
     
     
         13 . The vehicle thermal management system of  claim 12 , wherein said second set of adjustable louvers is located between an airflow entrance surface of said second heat exchanger and an ambient environment. 
     
     
         14 . The vehicle thermal management system of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a third heat exchanger, wherein said third heat exchanger is configured in said non-stacked arrangement with said first and second heat exchangers, and wherein said third heat exchanger is in thermal communication with a third vehicle cooling subsystem;   a third air inlet, wherein air flowing through said third air inlet flows directly into said third heat exchanger without first passing through said first or second heat exchangers; and   a third set of adjustable louvers that controls air flowing directly through said third air inlet into said third heat exchanger that does not first pass through said first or second heat exchangers.   
     
     
         15 . The vehicle thermal management system of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a first air duct that couples a first portion of an airflow exit surface of said first heat exchanger to an airflow entrance surface of said second heat exchanger; and   a second air duct that couples a second portion of said airflow exit surface of said first heat exchanger to an airflow entrance surface of said third heat exchanger.   
     
     
         16 . The vehicle thermal management system of  claim 15 , wherein said first set of adjustable louvers is comprised of at least a first group of adjustable louvers and a second group of adjustable louvers, said first group of adjustable louvers located within said first air duct and between said first portion of said airflow exit surface of said first heat exchanger and said airflow entrance surface of said second heat exchanger, and said second group of adjustable louvers located within said first air duct and between said second portion of said airflow exit surface of said first heat exchanger and said airflow entrance surface of said third heat exchanger. 
     
     
         17 . The vehicle thermal management system of  claim 16 , wherein said second set of adjustable louvers is located between said airflow entrance surface of said second heat exchanger and an ambient environment, and wherein said third set of adjustable louvers is located between said airflow entrance surface of said third heat exchanger and said ambient environment. 
     
     
         18 . The vehicle thermal management system of  claim 15 , further comprising a first fan adjacent to an airflow exit surface of said second heat exchanger and a second fan adjacent to an airflow exit surface of said third heat exchanger. 
     
     
         19 . The vehicle thermal management system of  claim 14 , wherein said first set of adjustable louvers has a first position and a second position, wherein said first position of said first set of adjustable louvers is fully opened and said second position of said first set of adjustable louvers is fully closed, wherein said second set of adjustable louvers has a first position and a second position, wherein said first position of said second set of adjustable louvers is fully opened and said second position of said second set of adjustable louvers is fully closed, wherein said third set of adjustable louvers has a first position and a second position, and wherein said first position of said third set of adjustable louvers is fully opened and said second position of said third set of adjustable louvers is fully closed. 
     
     
         20 . The vehicle thermal management system of  claim 14 , wherein said first set of adjustable louvers is adjustable over a range of positions between fully opened and fully closed, wherein said second set of adjustable louvers is adjustable over a range of positions between fully opened and fully closed, and wherein said third set of adjustable louvers is adjustable over a range of positions between fully opened and fully closed. 
     
     
         21 . The vehicle thermal management system of  claim 14 , wherein said first set of adjustable louvers is comprised of at least a first group of adjustable louvers and a second group of adjustable louvers, wherein said first and second groups of adjustable louvers are independently operable from one another, wherein said second set of adjustable louvers is comprised of at least a third group of adjustable louvers and a fourth group of adjustable louvers, wherein said third and fourth groups of adjustable louvers are independently operable from one another, wherein said third set of adjustable louvers is comprised of at least a fifth group of adjustable louvers and a sixth group of adjustable louvers, and wherein said fifth and sixth groups of adjustable louvers are independently operable from one another. 
     
     
         22 . The vehicle thermal management system of  claim 14 , wherein said first, second and third vehicle cooling subsystems are selected from the group consisting of battery cooling subsystems, refrigeration subsystems, passenger cabin HVAC subsystems, power electronics cooling subsystems, motor cooling subsystems, transmission cooling subsystems, and charging system cooling subsystems. 
     
     
         23 . The vehicle thermal management system of  claim 14 , wherein said second and third vehicle cooling subsystems are the same vehicle cooling subsystem. 
     
     
         24 . The vehicle thermal management system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a third heat exchanger, wherein said third heat exchanger is configured in said non-stacked arrangement with said first and second heat exchangers, and wherein said third heat exchanger is in thermal communication with a third vehicle cooling subsystem;   a third air inlet, wherein air flowing through said third air inlet flows directly into said third heat exchanger without first passing through said first or second heat exchangers;   a first air duct that couples a first portion of an airflow exit surface of said first heat exchanger to an airflow entrance surface of said second heat exchanger;   a second air duct that couples a second portion of said airflow exit surface of said first heat exchanger to an airflow entrance surface of said third heat exchanger; and   a second set of adjustable louvers that controls air flowing directly through said third air inlet into said third heat exchanger that does not first pass through said first or second heat exchangers, wherein said first set of adjustable louvers is located between said airflow entrance surface of said second heat exchanger and an ambient environment, and wherein said second set of adjustable louvers is located between said airflow entrance surface of said third heat exchanger and said ambient environment.