De-icing control in a vapor compression heat pump system

• Main Authors: Liu, Yu, Dunn, Brett Allen, Tsakiris, Anthony David
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 24.12.2019
• Subjects: ARRANGEMENTS OR ADAPTATIONS OF HEATING, COOLING, VENTILATING,OR OTHER AIR-TREATING DEVICES SPECIALLY FOR PASSENGER OR GOODSSPACES OF VEHICLES; BLASTING; COLD ROOMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT COVERED BY ANY OTHERSUBCLASS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; HEATING; ICE-BOXES; LIGHTING; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; REFRIGERATORS; TRANSPORTING; VEHICLES IN GENERAL; WEAPONS

A vapor compression heat pump (VCHP) system for an electrified vehicle and a method for de-icing the VCHP system is provided. The electrified vehicle may include a vehicle cabin, the VCHP system, and a controller. The VCHP system may be in thermal communication with the cabin and include an outside heat exchanger and a compressor. The controller may be configured to, in response to detection of a predefined ice condition associated with the outside heat exchanger, output commands to adjust a speed of the compressor to influence a temperature of refrigerant flowing through the compressor such that the refrigerant carries an amount of heat sufficient to eliminate the predefined ice condition within a preselected time period. The predefined ice condition may be a condition in which the heat exchanger has accumulated ice or is likely to accumulate ice.