阅读说明：本技术 温度控制系统，设置有其的车辆及用于控制其操作的方法 (Temperature control system, vehicle provided therewith and method for controlling operation thereof ) 是由 M·莫林 O·哈尔 于 2019-09-30 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种用于车辆的温度控制系统,包括主回路(1),该主回路包括管道(2),在该管道中设置有冷却剂,主回路泵(3),该主回路泵配置成将所述冷却剂沿第一方向泵送通过主回路(1)的管道(2)。与主回路并联的是用于冷却或加热与之连接的部件的第一和第二子回路。在各子回路(7,12)中设置有第一和第二泵(17,18),它们将冷却剂通过所述子回路从第一端(10,15)泵到第二端(11,16),相应的子回路(7,12)在该第二端处连接到主回路(1)。沿第一回路(1)的第一方向所见,第一端(10,15)在第二端(11,16)的下游。(A temperature control system for a vehicle comprises a main circuit (1) comprising a conduit (2) in which a coolant is arranged, a main circuit pump (3) configured to pump said coolant through the conduit (2) of the main circuit (1) in a first direction. Parallel to the main circuit are a first and a second sub-circuit for cooling or heating the components connected thereto. In each sub-circuit (7, 12) there is arranged a first and a second pump (17, 18) which pump coolant through the sub-circuit from a first end (10, 15) to a second end (11, 16) where the respective sub-circuit (7, 12) is connected to the main circuit (1). The first end (10, 15) is downstream of the second end (11, 16) as seen in a first direction of the first circuit (1).)

1. A temperature control system for a vehicle, comprising:

-a main circuit (1) comprising a conduit (2) in which a coolant is arranged, a main circuit pump (3) configured to pump said coolant in a first direction through the conduit (2) of the main circuit (1), and at least one unit (4, 5, 6) for cooling or heating the coolant in the main circuit (1),

-a first sub-circuit (7) for cooling or heating a first component (8), the first sub-circuit (7) comprising a duct (9) having a first end (10) and a second end (11) connected to respective openings in the duct (2) of the main circuit (1) at locations spaced apart from each other as seen in a longitudinal direction of the duct (2) of the main circuit (1), wherein the first end (10) is connected to the duct (2) of the main circuit (1) at a location downstream of the location where the second end (11) is connected to the duct (2) of the main circuit (1) as seen in the first direction, and

-at least one second sub-circuit (12) for cooling or heating a second component (13), the second sub-circuit (12) comprising a duct (14) having a first end (15) and a second end (16) connected to respective openings in the duct (2) of the main circuit (1) at locations spaced apart from each other as seen in a longitudinal direction of the duct (2) of the main circuit (1), wherein the first end (15) is connected to the duct (2) of the main circuit (1) at a location downstream of the location where the second end (16) is connected to the duct (2) of the main circuit (1) as seen in the first direction,

wherein the content of the first and second substances,

-the first sub-circuit (7) comprises a first pump (17) configured to pump coolant in a direction from a first end (10) of a pipe (9) of the first sub-circuit (7) to a second end (11) thereof, and

-the second sub-circuit (12) comprises a second pump (18) configured to pump coolant in a direction from a first end (15) of a pipe (14) of the second sub-circuit (12) to a second end (16) thereof,

the temperature control system further comprises:

-a first sensor (19) configured to measure a temperature t reflecting the first component (8)₁Is determined by the parameters of (a) and (b),

-a second sensor (20) configured to measure a temperature t reflecting the second component (13)₂Of and a parameter of

-a control unit (21) connected to the first sensor (19) and the second sensor (20) and configured to control the operation of the first pump (17) based on input received from the first sensor (19) and to control the operation of the second pump (18) based on input received from the second sensor (20), and the temperature control system is characterized in that the control unit (21) is connected to the pump of the main circuit (1) and to the at least one unit (4, 5, 6) for cooling or heating the coolant in the main circuit (1) and is configured to control the operation of the pump (3) of the main circuit (1) and the unit (4, 5, 6) for cooling or heating the coolant in the main circuit (1) based on input received from the first sensor (19) and the second sensor (20).

2. Temperature control system according to claim 1, characterized in that the control unit (21) is configured to activate the pump (3) of the main circuit (1) and/or said unit (4, 5, 6) for cooling or heating the coolant in the main circuit (1) as a response to an input received from said first or second sensor (19, 20) or from the sensor (25) measuring the coolant temperature in the first sub-circuit (7) and the second sub-circuit (12) indicating that sufficient heating or cooling of the first component (8) or the second component (13) cannot be achieved by controlling the first and second pump (17, 18).

3. Temperature control system according to any of claims 1-2, characterized in that the maximum output in litres per minute of the pump (3) of the main circuit (1) is lower than the sum of the maximum outputs of the first and second pumps (17, 18).

4. Temperature control system according to any of claims 1-3, characterized in that the part (22, 32, 42, 52) of the pipe (2) of the main circuit (1) presenting the opening to which the first and second ends (10, 11, 15, 16) of the first and second sub-circuits (7, 12) are connected is separable from an upstream part of the pipe (2) and a downstream part of the pipe by means of pipe connections (23, 24) via which the parts are connected to the upstream and downstream parts, respectively.

5. Temperature control system according to any of claims 1-4, characterized in that the first (8) and second (13) components are components of a vehicle.

6. Temperature control system according to claim 5, characterized in that at least one of the first component (8) and the second component (13) is a battery for accumulating electrical energy.

7. Temperature control system according to any of claims 1-6, characterized in that the first component (8) has a preferred operating temperature range a-b, the second component (13) has a preferred operating temperature range c-d, and a-b overlaps c-d.

8. A vehicle comprising a first component (8) having a preferred operating temperature range a-b and at least one second component (13) having a preferred operating temperature range c-d, characterized in that it comprises a temperature control system according to any of claims 1-7, wherein the first component (8) is arranged to be connected to the first sub-circuit (7) and configured to be heated or cooled by heat exchange with a coolant flowing through the first sub-circuit (7), and the second component (13) is arranged to be connected to the second sub-circuit (12) and configured to be heated or cooled by heat exchange with a coolant flowing through the second sub-circuit (12).

9. Vehicle according to claim 8, characterized in that the first (8) and second (13) parts are any of the following:

-a battery for accumulating electrical energy,

-a compressor for compressing the refrigerant,

-an electric heater device for heating the liquid,

-a condenser for condensing the liquid in the condenser,

-a power electronic device.

10. A vehicle according to claim 9, characterized in that at least one of the first and second components (8, 13) is a battery for accumulating electrical energy.

11. A method of controlling the operation of a temperature control system according to any of claims 1-7, comprising the steps of:

-measuring a temperature t reflecting the first component (8)₁Is determined by the parameters of (a) and (b),

-comparing the measured parameter with a preferred operating temperature range a-b of the first component (8),

-controlling the output of the first pump in dependence on said comparison such that a<t₁<b，

-measuring the temperature t reflecting the second component (13)₂Is determined by the parameters of (a) and (b),

-comparing the measured parameter with a preferred operating temperature range c-d of the second component (13),

-controlling the output of the second pump in dependence on said comparison such that c<t₂<d, repeating the steps continuously, and

if a is<t₁<b or c<t₂<d cannot be achieved by means of controlling the output of the first or second pump, the operation of the pump of the main circuit (1) and the operation of the unit for cooling or heating the coolant in the main circuit (1) are controlled in addition to the output of the first and second pump, such that a<t₁<b and c<t₂<d。

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a temperature control system for a vehicle, comprising:

a main circuit comprising a conduit in which a coolant is arranged, a main circuit pump configured to pump said coolant in a first direction through the conduit of the main circuit, and at least one unit for cooling or heating the coolant in the main circuit,

-a first sub-circuit for cooling or heating a first component, said first sub-circuit comprising a tube having a first end and a second end which are connected to respective openings in the tube of the main circuit at locations spaced apart from each other as seen in a longitudinal direction of the tube of the main circuit, wherein the first end is connected to the tube of the main circuit at a location downstream of the locations where the second end is connected to the tube of the main circuit as seen in said first direction, and

-at least one second sub-circuit for cooling or heating a second component, said second sub-circuit comprising a pipe having a first end and a second end which are connected to respective openings in the pipe of the main circuit at locations spaced apart from each other as seen in the longitudinal direction of the pipe of the main circuit, wherein the first end is connected to the pipe of the main circuit at a location downstream of the location where the second end is connected to the pipe of the main circuit as seen in said first direction.

The invention also relates to a vehicle provided with a temperature control system as defined in the present application.

The invention also relates to a method of controlling the operation of a temperature control system according to the invention.

The term "conduit" as used in this disclosure is to be considered broadly and may include various structural elements that define a channel through which coolant may flow. The conduit used in the present disclosure may also include a plurality of structural elements that collectively define the conduit, which do not necessarily have the traditional geometric tubular shape of the conduit.

Background

When designing any coolant system involving multiple components, it is always difficult to ensure adequate flow and coolant temperature for all components. The components are connected in series so that all components can achieve the same coolant flow. However, as the coolant temperature of each component gets higher, it will cool the subsequent components less and less. If, as an alternative, the components are connected in parallel, the coolant temperature will be the same. However, the flow rate depends on the pressure drop of the components and the length and diameter of the hose/pipe. The object was therefore to find a device which makes it possible to achieve the desired coolant flow and coolant temperature for all components, the temperature of which is controlled by means of heat exchange with the coolant.

In contemporary vehicle coolant systems, most coolant systems utilize a single pump and attempt to balance the characteristics of all components until they find a workable setting and require as little oversizing of the pump as possible. Using a larger pump to increase the coolant flow rate or using a larger radiator to achieve more powerful cooling of the coolant is always a solution, but also causes additional cost and additional space.

For battery installations, such as those provided in vehicles as a power source for the vehicle, it is important to ensure equal cooling of all the batteries. For this reason, the batteries may require the same coolant temperature and the same coolant flow rate. This can be solved by placing the batteries close to each other, sizing the coolant pump for a given number of batteries, and arranging the conduits in a parallel circuit. However, this requires the batteries to be close to each other and whenever more batteries are added to the device, the existing pump, if not oversized, would need to be replaced with a more powerful pump. Thus, prior art solutions are not easily adaptable to changing the settings of components that need to be cooled or heated by the coolant in the temperature control system.

Occasionally, it may be desirable to provide different degrees of cooling to different components in the temperature cooling system. In systems with a single pump and a plurality of parallel cooling circuits into which coolant is pumped by the pump, this differential cooling is then solved by means of flow regulating valves provided in the respective circuits.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the present invention is to propose a temperature control system which reduces the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art and which proposes an alternative to the existing solutions.

The object of the invention is achieved by a temperature control system as defined herein and in the preamble of claim 1, which system is characterized in that the control unit is connected to the pump of the main circuit and to at least one unit for cooling or heating the coolant in the main circuit and is configured to control the operation of the pump of the main circuit and said unit for cooling or heating the coolant in the main circuit in dependence on inputs received from the first sensor and the second sensor.

For each added component to be cooled, a sub-loop as defined above may be added. In order to accommodate the system with such added components, it may not be necessary to replace the pump of the main circuit. Different coolant flow rates for different sub-circuits can be easily achieved by individual control of the pumps of each sub-circuit. The idea of pumping coolant back from an inlet at a relatively downstream position of the sub-circuit (noting the position of the first and second ends of the sub-circuit and the relation of the coolant flow direction in the sub-circuit to the coolant flow direction of the main circuit) to an outlet at a relatively upstream position reduces the pump load of the pump of the main circuit and enables the pump of the main circuit and the unit for cooling or heating the coolant in the main circuit to be activated only if sufficient cooling or heating of components in any one of the sub-circuits cannot be achieved solely by the action of the pump of the sub-circuit. This avoids excessive flow of coolant through the main circuit. The coolant of the first and second sub-circuits will flow in said first direction in the portion of the tubes of the main circuit shared by the main and sub-circuits. Regardless of the position of the pump in the main circuit, the inlet of the sub-circuit is positioned at a location where the pressure in the main circuit is lower than the pressure at the outlet of the sub-circuit, as long as the pump in the main circuit is operating and producing flow in the main circuit. Between the outlet and the inlet there is a mixing zone shared between the main circuit and the sub-circuit. According to one embodiment, said pump of the main circuit and the unit for cooling or heating the coolant in the main circuit are outside said mixing zone.

The parameter reflecting the temperature may be the temperature itself (direct measurement) or may be any other parameter, such as a property of the component reflecting its temperature, e.g. the current flowing through the component (indirect measurement). The control unit may be configured to make a temperature prediction based on repeated measurements of each sensor, thereby controlling the respective pump not only based on the instantaneous temperature indication, but also based on the temperature trend.

According to one embodiment, the control unit is configured to activate the pump of the main circuit and/or said unit for cooling or heating the coolant in the main circuit as a response to an input received from said first or second sensor or from a sensor measuring the temperature of the coolant in the first and second sub-circuits indicating that sufficient heating or cooling of the first or second component cannot be achieved by controlling the first and second pumps.

According to one embodiment, the maximum output of the pump of the main circuit, measured in litres per minute, is lower than the sum of the maximum outputs of the first and second pumps.

According to one embodiment, the portion of the pipe of the main circuit presenting the openings to which the first and second ends of the first and second sub-circuits are connected is separable from an upstream portion of said pipe and a downstream portion of said pipe by means of pipe connections via which the portions are connected to said upstream and downstream portions, respectively. Said part may thus be provided as an additional component that may be added to an already existing system, which may then be provided with a sub-loop according to the teachings of the present invention. Depending on the number of components to be cooled or heated by the temperature control system, different such additional parts provided with different numbers of openings may be provided.

According to one embodiment, the first component and the second component are components of a vehicle.

According to one embodiment, at least one of the first and second components is a battery for accumulating electrical energy.

According to one embodiment, the first component has a preferred operating temperature range a-b, the second component has a preferred operating temperature range c-d, and a-b overlaps c-d.

The invention also relates to a vehicle comprising a first component having a preferred operating temperature range a-b and at least one second component having a preferred operating temperature range c-d, said vehicle being characterized in that it comprises a temperature control system according to the invention. Wherein the first component is configured to be connected to the first sub-circuit and configured to be heated or cooled by heat exchange with a coolant flowing through the first sub-circuit, and the second component is configured to be connected to the second sub-circuit and configured to be heated or cooled by heat exchange with a coolant flowing through the second sub-circuit.

According to one embodiment, the first and second components are any one of:

-a battery for accumulating electrical energy,

-a compressor for compressing the refrigerant,

-an electric heater device for heating the liquid,

-a condenser for condensing the liquid in the condenser,

-power electronics.

According to one embodiment, at least one of the first and second components is a battery for accumulating electrical energy.

The present invention also relates to a method of controlling the operation of a temperature control system as defined herein or hereinafter, comprising the steps of:

-measuring the temperature t reflecting the first component₁Is determined by the parameters of (a) and (b),

-comparing the measured parameter with a preferred operating temperature range a-b of the first component,

-controlling the output of the first pump based on said comparison such that a<t₁<b，

Measuring the temperature t reflecting the second component₂Is determined by the parameters of (a) and (b),

-comparing the measured parameter with a preferred operating temperature range c-d of the second component,

-controlling the output of the second pump based on the comparison such that c<t₂<d, and

the above steps are repeated continuously, and

if a is<t₁<b or c<t₂<d cannot be achieved by means of controlling the output of the first or second pump, the operation of the pump of the main circuit and the operation of the unit for cooling or heating the coolant in the main circuit are controlled in addition to the output of the first and second pump, such that a<t₁<b and c<t₂<d。

The method is preferably implemented by using a control unit provided with a computer program comprising computer program code for causing a computer to carry out the method as disclosed herein or below. The control unit preferably defines a computer program product comprising a storage medium readable by a computer and on which the program code is stored.

Further features and advantages of the present invention are described in the detailed description of the embodiments that follow.

Drawings

Embodiments of the invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a temperature control system according to the invention,

figure 2 is a flow chart illustrating the basic steps of an embodiment of the method according to the invention,

figure 3 is an alternative embodiment of the control system shown in figure 1,

FIG. 4 is another alternative embodiment of the control system shown in FIG. 1, and

FIG. 5 is yet another alternative embodiment of the control system shown in FIG. 1.

Detailed Description

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a temperature control system according to the present invention. The temperature control system is preferably arranged in a vehicle, such as a bus or a truck, for heating or cooling components, including a large amount of gas and/or a large amount of liquid. According to one embodiment, the temperature control system is configured to cool a plurality of batteries configured to operate as an accumulator of electrical energy and to function as an energy storage for powering one or more electric motors/generators configured for propelling the vehicle.

The temperature control system comprises a main circuit 1 comprising a pipe 2 in which a coolant is arranged. The system further comprises a main circuit pump 3 configured to pump said coolant through the tubes 2 of the main circuit 1 in a first direction, shown by arrows in fig. 1. The temperature control system further comprises at least one unit 4, 5, 6 for cooling or heating the coolant in the main circuit 1. The unit may comprise a fan-cooled radiator 4, a heater 5 and/or a cooler 6. The cooler 6 may comprise an evaporator via which the coolant exchanges heat with a refrigerant of a cooling system provided with a compressor, a condenser and said evaporator. In the illustrated embodiment, the radiator 4 is connected in parallel with the heater 5 and the cooler 6. A pilot valve 26 is provided for controlling the flow of coolant to the radiator 4 and the heater 5 and cooler 6. Of course, other arrangements and arrangements are conceivable. For example, the means for heating or cooling may comprise at least one further circuit from which coolant of a predetermined temperature is introduced into the main circuit. Such a further circuit then becomes, by definition, part of the main circuit disclosed in this application.

In addition to the main circuit 1, the temperature control system comprises a first sub-circuit 7 for cooling or heating a first component 8, said first sub-circuit comprising a pipe 9 having a first end 10 and a second end 11, which are connected to respective openings in the pipe 2 of the main circuit at positions spaced from each other as seen in the longitudinal direction of the pipe of the main circuit. The first end 10 is connected to the pipe 2 of the main circuit 1 at a position downstream of the position where the second end 11 is connected to the pipe 2 of the main circuit 1 as seen in said first direction.

The temperature control system further comprises a second sub-circuit 12 for cooling or heating a second component 13, said second sub-circuit 12 comprising a pipe 14 having a first end 15 and a second end 16 connected to respective openings in the pipe 2 of the main circuit 1 at positions spaced from each other as seen in the longitudinal direction of the pipe of the main circuit 1. The first end 15 is connected to the pipe 2 of the main circuit 1 at a position downstream of the position where the second end 16 is connected to the pipe 2 of the main circuit 1 as seen in said first direction.

Seen in a first direction, in this particular case from the pump 3 of the main circuit, the first ends 10, 15 are positioned downstream of the second ends 11, 16. In the first loop 1, a mixing zone shared by the main loop 1 and the first and second sub-loops is present between the first ends 10, 15 and the second ends 11, 16. The volume of the mixing zone should be above a predetermined threshold in order to mix the coolant flowing through the sub-circuits in said zone. According to one embodiment, the first component 8 has a preferred operating temperature range a-b and the second component 13 has a preferred operating temperature range c-d, where a-b overlaps c-d.

A sensor 25 is also provided for sensing the temperature of the coolant downstream of the second ends 11, 16 of the first and second sub-circuits 7, 13 as seen in said first direction and upstream of the respective first and second components 8, 13. Alternatively, the sensor 25 is supplemented or replaced by a corresponding sensor arranged for measuring the coolant temperature in the first and second sub-circuits 7, 13 downstream of the first ends 10, 15 of the first and second sub-circuits 7, 13 but upstream of the first and second components 8, 13, seen in the flow direction generated in the first and second sub-circuits 7, 12.

On the basis of the above-mentioned features, the first sub-circuit 7 comprises a first pump 17 configured to pump coolant in a direction from said first end 10 of the pipe 9 of the first sub-circuit 7 to the second end 11 of the first sub-circuit 7. The coolant pumped through the first sub-circuit is a coolant shared with the main circuit.

The second sub-circuit 12 comprises a second pump 18 configured to pump coolant in a direction from said first end 15 of the pipe 14 of the second sub-circuit 12 to the second end 16 of the second sub-circuit 12.

The temperature control system further comprises a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature t reflecting the temperature of the first component 8₁And a first sensor 19 configured to measure a parameter reflecting the temperature t of said second component 13₂Second sensing of the parameter ofAnd (3) a device (20). A control unit 21 is also provided, connected to the first and second sensors 19, 20 and configured to control the operation of the first pump 17 based on input received from the first sensor 19 and to control the operation of the second pump 18 based on input received from the second sensor 20.

The control unit 21 is connected to the pump 3 of the main circuit 1 and to at least one unit 4, 5, 6 for cooling or heating the coolant in the main circuit 1 and is configured to control the operation of the pump 3 of the main circuit 1 and said unit 4, 5, 6 for cooling or heating the coolant in the main circuit 1 based on inputs received from the first sensor 19 and the second sensor 20. The control unit is also connected to and configured to control the pilot valve 26.

The control unit 21 is configured to activate the pump 3 of the main circuit 1 and/or said unit 4, 5, 6 for cooling or heating the coolant in the main circuit 1 as a response to an input received from said first or second sensor 19, 20 indicating that sufficient heating or cooling of the first component 8 or the second component 13 cannot be achieved by controlling the first and second pump 17, 18.

The portion 22 of the pipe 2 of the main circuit 1, which exhibits the openings to which the first and second ends 10, 11, 15, 16 of the first and second sub-circuits 8, 12 are connected, is separated from the upstream portion of said pipe and the downstream portion of said pipe by means of pipe connections 23, 24, via which the portions are connected to said upstream portion and said downstream portion, respectively. The portion 22 carrying the opening thus forms an easily replaceable unit, which can be replaced, depending on the need, with another corresponding unit provided with an opening.

Fig. 3 shows an alternative embodiment comprising a piece of tubing 32 to which the first and second ends 10, 11, 15, 16 of the first and second sub-circuits 8, 12 are connected in the same way as the embodiment shown in fig. 1. However, the embodiment shown in fig. 3 differs from the embodiment shown in fig. 1 in that the upstream part of the pipe 2 of the main circuit 1 is connected to the piece of pipe 32 at a point between the first ends 10, 15 and the second ends 11, 16 of the sub-circuits 7, 12. There is still a mixing zone in which the coolant from the main circuit 1 and the sub-circuits 7, 12 is mixed.

Fig. 4 shows another embodiment comprising a piece of tubing 42 to which the first and second ends 10, 11, 15, 16 of the first and second sub-circuits 8, 12 are connected in the same way as the embodiment shown in fig. 1. However, the embodiment shown in fig. 4 differs from the embodiment shown in fig. 1 in that the downstream portion of the pipe 2 of the main circuit 1 is connected to the piece of pipe 42 at a point between the first ends 10, 15 and the second ends 11, 16 of the sub-circuits 7, 12. There is still a mixing zone in which the coolant from the main circuit 1 and the sub-circuits 7, 12 is mixed.

Fig. 5 shows another embodiment comprising a piece of tubing 52 to which the first and second ends 10, 11, 15, 16 of the first and second sub-circuits 8, 12 are connected in the same way as the embodiment shown in fig. 1. However, the embodiment shown in fig. 5 differs from the embodiment shown in fig. 1 in that both the upstream and downstream portions of the pipe 2 of the main circuit 1 are connected to the piece of pipe 52 at respective points between the first and second ends 10, 15, 11, 16 of the sub-circuits 7, 12. The upstream part of the pipe 2 of the main circuit 1 is connected closer to the second ends 11, 15 of the sub-circuits 7, 12 than the downstream part of the pipe 2 of the main circuit 1. Thus, there is still a mixing zone in which the coolant from the main circuit 1 and the sub-circuits 7, 12 is mixed.

Fig. 2 shows a flow chart presenting the steps of the method according to the invention. The method comprises the following steps:

the temperature t of the coolant downstream of the second ends 11, 16 of the first and second sub-circuits 7, 12 as seen in said first direction is measured by measuring in said mixing zone and/or by independently measuring the coolant temperature in the first and second sub-circuits 7, 12 downstream of the first ends 10, 15 of the first and second sub-circuits 7, 12 but upstream of the first and second components 8, 13, block S1.

The measured coolant temperature t is compared to the preferred operating temperature ranges a-b of the first component 8 and the preferred operating temperature ranges c-d of the second component 13, block S2.

If the measured coolant temperature t is outside the ranges a-b and/or c-d, the operation of the pump 3 of the main circuit 1 and said units 4, 5, 6 for cooling or heating the coolant in the main circuit 1 should be controlled such that the measured coolant temperature t becomes within said ranges a-b and c-d, block S3.

The measurement reflects the temperature t of the first component 8 in the first sub-circuit₁And measures a temperature t reflecting the temperature of the second component 13 in the second sub-loop₂Block S4.

Temperature t to be reflected by the first measured parameter₁Is compared to the preferred operating temperature range a-b of the first component 8 to determine a<t₁<b and the temperature t to be reflected by the second measured parameter₂Is compared with the preferred operating temperature range c-d of the second component 13 to determine c<t₂<d, block S5.

If a is not satisfied<t₁<b, the output of the first pump 17 of the first sub-circuit 7 is controlled based on said comparison to obtain a<t₁<b, and if c is not satisfied<t₂<d, the output of the second pump 18 is controlled based on the comparison to obtain c<t₂<d, block S6.

These steps are preferably performed by the control unit 21 interacting with the first and second sensors 19, 20, the sensor 25 measuring the temperature of the coolant, the pump 3 in the main circuit 1, the units 4, 5, 6 for cooling or heating the coolant in the main circuit 1, and the first and second pumps 17, 18.

It is noted that if the temperature t of the coolant is not within the ranges a-b and c-d, this will be interpreted by the control unit as indicating that sufficient heating or cooling of the first component 8 or the second component 13 cannot be achieved by controlling the first and second pumps 17, 18 only, but that the functions of the pump 3 in the main circuit 1 and the units 4, 5, 6 for cooling or heating the coolant in the main circuit 1 need to be added.

Although the invention is illustrated by showing only an embodiment with only two sub-circuits, it should be understood that the intended scope of protection also includes solutions where there are many such sub-circuits and by means of which the temperature of the various components including the battery is controlled. Controlling the temperature of the component also includes controlling the temperature of the quantity of gas or liquid, preferably by controlling the temperature of the component, which in turn affects the temperature of the quantity of gas or liquid. It should of course be added that the scope of protection claimed also includes designs where other components/parts are present in each respective circuit. Such components/features may be provided in series or in parallel with components/features already disclosed in this disclosure.