WE DEVELOP How the climate compressor gets more out of electric vehicles.
Thermal management plays a central role in battery electric vehicles and is crucial for their efficiency, performance, and lifetime. Currently, A/C compressors are usually used, which operate with synthetic, environmentally harmful refrigerant. thyssenkrupp Dynamic Components has developed an A/C compressor that uses the natural refrigerant CO2 instead.
What is it about?
thyssenkrupp Dynamic Components has developed a climate compressor that ensures optimum thermal management in battery electric vehicles using a natural refrigerant.
What’s the point?
Thermal management is crucial for the efficiency, performance, and lifetime of electric vehicles. Refrigerants containing environmentally harmful PFAS substances (carbon-fluorine compounds) are often used. Instead of this, the A/C compressor uses the natural refrigerant R744 (CO2).
How does it help?
By using the natural refrigerant R744 (CO2), the A/C compressor contributes to meeting the sustainability targets of car manufacturers and increases the efficiency of electric vehicles.
Thermal management is of central importance for the efficiency, performance, and lifespan of electric vehicles. The refrigerants used in this process are mostly synthetic and contain PFAS substances that are highly harmful to the environment and degrade very slowly or not at all – the European Commission is planning to ban their use. Many automotive manufacturers are therefore considering switching to natural refrigerants such as carbon dioxide (R744) or propane (R290). thyssenkrupp Dynamic Components, a business unit of thyssenkrupp Automotive Technology, analyzed the market developments of synthetic refrigerants and the planned regulatory shift at an early stage, and in 2018 began developing an electrical A/C compressor that meets future requirements.
The decision was made to use a compressor with the refrigerant R744, which offers efficiency advantages compared to R290 when used in vehicle heat pumps. Also, it is non-flammable. However, the pressure level of R744 refrigerant circuits is around five times higher than that of R290 and conventional synthetic refrigerant circuits. To overcome this challenge, thyssenkrupp Dynamic Components has developed a compressor that meets the requirements while ensuring high efficiency, durability, and load point flexibility.
“Due to its complexity and high product requirements, the electric refrigerant compressor is an excellent fit with the core competencies and DNA of thyssenkrupp Dynamic Components,” explains Frank Altag, CEO of the business unit. And this is what the A/C compressor can do: Since electric vehicles do not have a combustion engine to drive a conventional belt-driven compressor, a climate compressor with an independent drive is required. This consists of an electric motor and control electronics. This type of drive allows the compressor to operate independently of the vehicle's drive system, enabling climate control even during charging or when the vehicle is off. Cooling is provided by the air conditioning system, heating by the heat pump function. But what is even more important: the compressor ensures that the battery is kept at the perfect temperature so that it can deliver high performance with maximum range over a long lifespan. This is because the energy consumption for heating and cooling is optimized. The battery can also charge faster. Additionally, the compressor cools the power electronics to prevent overheating and ensure efficient control of the power flow between the battery and the electric motor.
Conclusion: As the heart of the thermal management system, the electrical A/C compressor from thyssenkrupp Dynamic Components ensures optimal temperature control of the drivetrain, battery, and interior. It not only protects the battery-electric vehicle and its occupants but also the environment, thanks to the use of the natural refrigerant R744.
You can find out more about the climate compressor in the press release.
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