Heat distribution in a motor vehicle

Abstract

A device and method for heat distribution in a hybrid motor vehicle are provided. The device includes an engine cooling circuit; and a refrigerant circuit for a combined operation in a refrigeration heat pump mode and a reheating mode, includes an evaporator, a compressor, a heat exchanger to supply heat from the refrigerant to air being conditioned for a passenger compartment; and a heat exchanger to transfer heat between a refrigerant of the refrigerant circuit and coolant of the engine cooling circuit, wherein the heat exchanger operates as an evaporator for the heat transfer, and as a condenser for the heat transfer from the condensing refrigerant to the coolant.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A device for heat distribution in a hybrid motor vehicle, comprising:
 an engine cooling circuit; and   a refrigerant circuit for a combined operation in a refrigeration heat pump mode and a reheating mode, comprising:
 an evaporator, 
 a compressor, 
 a heat exchanger to supply heat from the refrigerant to air being conditioned for a passenger compartment; and 
 a heat exchanger to transfer heat between a refrigerant of the refrigerant circuit and coolant of the engine cooling circuit, 
   wherein the heat exchanger operates as an evaporator for the heat transfer, and as a condenser for the heat transfer from the condensing refrigerant to the coolant.   
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein a first motor and a second motor are arranged inside the engine cooling circuit, and
 the first motor is an internal combustion engine and the second motor is an electric motor.   
     
     
         3 . The device for heat distribution in a hybrid motor vehicle, comprising:
 an engine cooling circuit;   a refrigerant circuit comprising an evaporator;   a compressor;   a heat exchanger to supply heat from refrigerant to the air being conditioned for a passenger compartment;   a heat exchanger to transfer heat between the refrigerant of the refrigerant circuit and the coolant of the engine cooling circuit,   wherein the engine cooling circuit includes a first motor and a second motor, the first motor being an internal combustion engine, and   the second motor being an electric motor.   
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 2 , wherein the first motor and the second motor are integrated in the engine cooling circuit and the engine cooling circuit is configured such that a mass flow of coolant conducts through the first motor for heat transfer and through the second motor for heat transfer. 
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a heat exchanger to surrender heat from the coolant to the air going to the passenger compartment, and   a heat exchanger to transfer heat between the coolant and the ambient air.   
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 3 , wherein the engine cooling circuit is subdivided into a high-temperature cooling circuit for conditioning of the first motor and a low-temperature cooling circuit for conditioning of the second motor, the heat exchanger being able to operate in either the high-temperature coolant circuit or the low-temperature coolant circuit. 
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 6 , wherein in the case the high-temperature cooling circuit comprises the heat exchanger, the heat exchanger transfers heat between the coolant and the ambient air. 
     
     
         8 . The device according to  claim 6 , wherein in the case the low-temperature cooling circuit comprises the heat exchanger, the heat exchanger transfers heat between the coolant and the ambient air. 
     
     
         9 . A method for heat distribution in a hybrid motor vehicle, comprising:
 condensing for heat transfer from a condensing refrigerant of a refrigerant circuit to coolant in the engine cooling circuit when operating in a refrigeration system mode or in a reheating mode; and   evaporating for the heat transfer from the coolant to the refrigerant being evaporated in the refrigerant circuit in a heat pump mode.   
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein based on the operating mode of the refrigerant circuit, a first motor and a second motor are exposed to coolant flow of the engine cooling circuit, and
 the ambient air being provided as a heat source and/or heat sink.   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein in response to the refrigerant circuit operating in the refrigeration system mode, and the second motor operating at a same time,
 the coolant of the engine cooling circuit is heated upon flowing through the heat exchanger to operate as a condenser and through the second motor;   transferring heat to the first motor to warm up the first motor prior to operation of the hybrid motor vehicle,   utilizing the heat transfer as an additional heat sink to the engine cooling circuit ( 3 ).