Heating/cooling system for a battery of a motor vehicle, and operating method for the same

Abstract

A motor vehicle and a method for operating the same. The motor vehicle includes a first heating/cooling circuit with a heat source/sink arranged therein and a first pump, and a second heating/cooling circuit with a battery to be heated/cooled arranged therein and a second pump. The heating/cooling circuits can be selectively operatively and/or fluidically connected by way of at least one valve such that the same liquid heat carrier flows through both heating/cooling circuits.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A motor vehicle comprising:
 a first heating/cooling circuit with a heat source/sink arranged therein and a first pump;   a second heating/cooling circuit with a battery arranged therein and a second pump; and   a valve configured to selectively fluidically connect the first heating/cooling unit and the second heating/cooling circuit to each other such that a same fluid flows through the first heating/cooling unit and the second heating/cooling circuit in order to heat/cool the battery.   
     
     
         2 . The motor vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the valve comprises a mixing valve; and   heat exchange between the first heating/cooling unit and the second heating/cooling circuit is selectively adjustable by way of the mixing valve.   
     
     
         3 . The motor vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the valve comprises a cyclically operated switching valve; and   heat exchange between the first heating/cooling unit and the second heating/cooling circuit is selectively adjustable by way of the cyclically operated switching valve.   
     
     
         4 . The motor vehicle of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one of a heat exchanger, a reservoir, a fluid turbulence generator, and a fluid line provided in the second heating/cooling circuit between the valve and the battery.   
     
     
         5 . The motor vehicle of  claim 1 , further comprising a heat exchanger, a reservoir, a fluid turbulence generator, and a fluid line provided in the second heating/cooling circuit between the valve and the battery. 
     
     
         6 . The motor vehicle of  claim 5 , wherein the heat exchanger comprises a passive water/air heat exchanger. 
     
     
         7 . The motor vehicle of  claim 5 , further comprising a third cooling/heating circuit fluidically connected to the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         8 . The motor vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the heat source/sink comprises a fuel-operated heater. 
     
     
         9 . The motor vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the heat source/sink comprises the internal combustion engine of the motor vehicle. 
     
     
         10 . The motor vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the heat source/sink comprises at least one of an electric motor, a generator, and an inverter. 
     
     
         11 . The motor vehicle of  claim 1 , further comprising a charging unit for the battery, the charging unit being arranged in the second heating/cooling circuit between the valve and the battery. 
     
     
         12 . The motor vehicle of  claim 11 , further comprising a bypass fluid line which is situated parallel to the charging unit and by at least one second valve which is provided for conducting the heat carrier selectively via the charging unit or via the bypass fluid line. 
     
     
         13 . The motor vehicle of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the first heating/cooling circuit is configured to heat/cool; and   the third cooling/heating circuit is configured to cool/heat a passenger compartment of the motor vehicle.   
     
     
         14 . The motor vehicle of  claim 13 , further comprising a heat exchanger for heating/cooling the passenger compartment, wherein the valve is provided in the first heating/cooling circuit between the heat exchanger and the heat source. 
     
     
         15 . A method of operating a motor vehicle comprising:
 providing the motor vehicle with a first heating/cooling circuit with a heat source/sink arranged therein, a second heating/cooling circuit with a battery arranged therein, and a valve configured to fluidically connect the first heating/cooling unit and the second heating/cooling circuit; and   selectively switching the valve between an opened position and a closed position such that the battery is heated/cooled via the fluid through the first heating/cooling unit and the second heating/cooling circuit.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein:
 in a first operating state, the first heating/cooling circuit and the second heating/cooling circuit are fluidically connected by way of the valve; and   in a second operating state, the fluidic connection between the first heating/cooling circuit and the second heating/cooling circuit is disconnected by way of the valve.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 providing a heat exchanger provided in the second heating/cooling circuit; and   providing a third cooling/heating circuit fluidically connected to the heat exchanger.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein:
 in the first operating state, the heat exchanger is deactivated; and   in the second operating state, the heat exchanger is activated.   
     
     
         19 . A motor vehicle comprising:
 a first heating/cooling circuit through which a fluid flows;   a heat source/sink provided in the first heating/cooling circuit;   a second heating/cooling circuit through which the fluid flows;   a battery provided in the second heating/cooling circuit; and   a valve configured to fluidically connect the first heating/cooling unit and the second heating/cooling circuit such that fluid flows through the first heating/cooling unit and the second heating/cooling circuit such that the battery is heated/cooled via the fluid.