Kia Soul EV: Heat Pump / Description and Operation

Heat Pump Configuration and Operation

Heat pump is configured to circulate refrigerant flow for cooling/heating function.

This process minimizes battery consumption by the heater resulting in enhanced driving distance of EV.

[Heating]

1.	Outer Condenser - Evaporates liquid refrigerant and forms low temp-low pressure gas substance.

2.	3-Way Solenoid Valve #2 - Redirects the refrigerant direction towards the chiller when heat pump is active.

3.	Chiller - Uses waste heat from the motor and performs secondary heat exchange on low temp-low pressure gas.

4.	Accumulator - Separates gas/liquid so that only the refrigerant in gas state can flow into the compressor.

5.	Electric Compressor - Compressor is operated by electric motor. Converts low temp-low pressure gas refrigerant into high temp-high pressure gas and sends it to inner condenser.

6.	Inner Condenser - Condenses high temp-high pressure gas refrigerant and transforms it into high temp-high pressure liquid refrigerant.

7.	2-Way Solenoid Valve #1 - Instantly expands refrigerant to create low temp-low pressure refrigerant.

8.	2-Way Solenoid Valve #2 - Sends the refrigerant to the evaporator if DEFROST Mode is used when heating.

9.	3-Way Solenoid Valve #1 - Bypasses the refrigerant to chiller if refrigerant accumulation in the outer condenser is detected.

[Cooling]

1.	Outer Condenser - Condenses high temp-high pressure gas refrigerant and transforms it into high temp-high pressure liquid refrigerant.

2.	3-Way Valve #2 - Directs refrigerant flow to expansion valve when A/C is operating.

3.	Expansion Valve - Instantly expands refrigerant to create low temp-low pressure gas.

4.	Evaporator - Operates blower fan to cool the air passing through the evaporator pin while the refrigerant in foggy state is transformed into gas (surrounding area gets cold).

5.	Accumulator - Separates gas/liquid so that only gas state refrigerant can flow into the compressor.

6.	Electric Compressor - Compressor is operated by electric motor. Converts low temp-low pressure gas refrigerant into high temp-high pressure gas and sends it to inner condenser.

7.	Inner Condenser - Condenses high temp-high pressure gas refrigerant and transforms it into high temp-high pressure liquid refrigerant.

8.	2-Way Solenoid Valve #1 - Does not expand but circulates refrigerant when A/C is operating.

9.	2-Way Solenoid Valve #2 - Prevents refrigerant from flowing into evaporator.

10.	3-Way Solenoid Valve #1 - Circulates refrigerant to outer condenser.

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