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Experimental Study on R290 Performance of an Integrated Thermal Management System for Electric Vehicle

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  • Zihao Luo

    (College of Energy Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310012, China
    Provincial Key Laboratory of New Energy Vehicles Thermal Management, Longquan 323700, China)

  • Shusheng Xiong

    (College of Energy Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310012, China
    Provincial Key Laboratory of New Energy Vehicles Thermal Management, Longquan 323700, China
    Longquan Industrial Innovation Research Institute, Longquan 323700, China)

  • Min Wen

    (College of Energy Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310012, China
    Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Group Corp, Ltd., Hefei 230041, China)

  • Jiahao Zhao

    (College of Energy Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310012, China)

  • Yifei Zhang

    (Polytechnic Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310015, China)

Abstract

Integrated thermal management system (ITMS) technology for electric vehicles (EV) has become a major industry research direction. However, R290 refrigerants are still not applied on a large scale in EVs. Therefore, we developed a suitable thermal management system for R290 in this study. This architecture adapts an unusual indirect design, which can coordinate the heat between the air conditioner, battery pack, and electric motor. We focused on heat pump air conditioning systems for EV thermal management; thus, we carried out the performance analysis of R290 under the cooling and heating conditions of our ITMS through an experimental approach. The current study explores various aspects affecting the performance of heat-pump air conditioners: refrigerant charge, electronic expansion valve (EXV) opening, compressor speed, and performance between R290 and R134a under different external temperatures. We aim to improve cooling and heating efficiencies. Among these parameters, the EXV opening and compressor speed have the greatest impact on the performance of the ITMS, as evidenced by the optimal EXV opening and lower compressor speed to maximize the coefficient of performance (COP) and increase the heat transfer rate. In addition, this study has shown that, compared to an ITMS equipped with R134a, R290 has a smaller refrigerant charge, better heat transfer rate and COP under heating conditions, and similar performance under cooling conditions.

Suggested Citation

  • Zihao Luo & Shusheng Xiong & Min Wen & Jiahao Zhao & Yifei Zhang, 2025. "Experimental Study on R290 Performance of an Integrated Thermal Management System for Electric Vehicle," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-21, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:4:p:802-:d:1587040
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Zhang, Nan & Lu, Yiji & Ouderji, Zahra Hajabdollahi & Yu, Zhibin, 2023. "Review of heat pump integrated energy systems for future zero-emission vehicles," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 273(C).
    2. Hongzeng Ji & Jinchen Pei & Jingyang Cai & Chen Ding & Fen Guo & Yichun Wang, 2023. "Review of Recent Advances in Transcritical CO 2 Heat Pump and Refrigeration Cycles and Their Development in the Vehicle Field," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-21, May.
    3. Ahn, Jae Hwan & Lee, Joo Seong & Baek, Changhyun & Kim, Yongchan, 2016. "Performance improvement of a dehumidifying heat pump using an additional waste heat source in electric vehicles with low occupancy," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 115(P1), pages 67-75.
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