Technical analysis: What are the differences between the air conditioning systems of new energy vehicles and traditional fuel-powered vehicles?

The working principle of the new energy vehicle system is the same as that of the traditional fuel vehicle air conditioning system, except that the driving method of the air conditioning and the method of generating warm air are different. New energy vehicles use high-voltage electric air conditioning compressors driven by power batteries. Warm air is usually heated in two ways: one is by heating and circulating to provide heat to the warm water tank, and the other is by directly heating the air passing through the evaporator to achieve warm air.

The electric compressor of the air conditioning system for new energy vehicles is driven by high-voltage electricity. The electric air conditioning compressor compresses low-pressure, low-temperature steam from the evaporator and pressurizes it into high-pressure, high-temperature steam for the condenser, circulating the refrigerant around the system.

Pure electric vehicles do not have traditional car engines or heat sources, so they rely on PTC's thermal energy for heating. PTC stands for Positive Temperature Coefficient.

The PTC heater adopts PTCR thermosensitive ceramic elements, which are composed of several single pieces combined with corrugated heat dissipating aluminum strips and bonded by high-temperature adhesive. It has significant advantages of low thermal resistance and high heat transfer efficiency.

Installation position of heating system components.

The function of an electric heating device is essentially the same as that of a straight through heater. An independent heating circuit can be established through a switching valve, and the circulation of the circuit is maintained by an electric coolant pump.

When the coolant temperature is low, such as shortly after departure or in pure electric driving mode, the electric switching valve is controlled through the junction box electronic device. The electric switching valve prevents the inflow of engine coolant circulation. Now, the electric coolant pump draws coolant into the electric heating device and heats it, and delivers the coolant to the warm air heat exchanger as needed through a dual water valve.

When the coolant temperature is high, the coolant heated by the engine flows through the conversion valve, electric heating device, and dual water valve that are not powered and open, and reaches the warm air heat exchanger. The coolant here discharges a portion of the heat to the air flowing through the warm air heat exchanger, and finally flows back into the generator coolant circulation. The electric heating device is currently turned off, but the electric coolant pump is activated.