Claims:We Claim:

1. An integrated heat exchanger assembly (100) for a hybrid vehicle, the assembly comprising:
an evaporator unit (101), comprising:
a plurality of first tubes (103) arranged parallel to each other, an inlet end of each of the plurality of first tubes (103) is fluidly connected to a refrigerant inlet tube (105), and an outlet end of each of the plurality of first tubes (103) is fluidly connected to a refrigerant outlet tube (106), wherein refrigerant parallelly enters the plurality of first tubes (103) from the refrigerant inlet tube (105) and discharges parallelly from the plurality of first tubes (103) into the refrigerant outlet tube (106); and
a chiller unit (102), comprising:
a plurality of second tubes (104), each positioned concentrically within at least one first tube of the plurality of first tubes (103), wherein an inlet end of each of the plurality of second tubes (104) is fluidly connected to a coolant inlet tube (107), and an outlet end of each of the plurality of second tubes (104) is fluidly connected to a coolant outlet tube (108), wherein the coolant enters the plurality of second tubes (104) from the coolant inlet tube (107) and discharges through the plurality of second tubes (104) into the coolant outlet tube (108).

2. The assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the coolant inlet tube (107) is positioned adjacent to the refrigerant outlet tube (106) and the coolant outlet tube (108) is positioned adjacent to the refrigerant inlet tube (105).

3. The assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the assembly is structured such that the refrigerant from the refrigerant inlet tube (105) and the coolant from the coolant inlet tube (107) flows in a counterflow direction.

4. The assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the chiller unit (102) is configured to cool the coolant flowing through the plurality of second tubes (104).

5. The assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein diameter of the plurality of first tubes (103) is greater than diameter of the plurality of second tubes (104).

6. The assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, comprises a plurality of fins (109) positioned between each of the plurality of first tubes (103).

7. A system (200) for conditioning a cabin and cooling a battery module (113) in a hybrid vehicle, the system (200) comprising:
a compressor (110);
a condenser (111), fluidly connected to the compressor (110);
an expansion valve (112) fluidly connected to the condenser (111); and
an integrated heat exchanger assembly (100) fluidly connected to the expansion valve (112), the condenser (111) and the battery module (113), the integrated heat exchanger assembly (100) comprises:
an evaporator unit (101), comprising:
a plurality of first tubes (103) arranged parallel to each other, an inlet end of each of the plurality of first tubes (103) is fluidly connected to a refrigerant inlet tube (105), and an outlet end of each of the plurality of first tubes (103) is fluidly connected to a refrigerant outlet tube (106), wherein refrigerant parallelly enters the plurality of first tubes (103) from the refrigerant inlet tube (105) and discharges parallelly from the plurality of first tubes (103) into the refrigerant outlet tube (106), exchanging heat with air to condition the cabin; and
a chiller unit (102) disposed within a portion of the evaporator unit (101) and configured to condition coolant of a battery module (113), the chiller unit (102) comprising:
a plurality of second tubes (104), each positioned concentrically within at least one first tube of the plurality of first tubes (103), wherein an inlet end of each of the plurality of second tubes (104) is fluidly connected to a coolant inlet tube (107), and an outlet end of each of the plurality of second tubes (104) is fluidly connected to a coolant outlet tube (108), wherein the coolant enters the plurality of second tubes (104) from the coolant inlet tube (107) and discharges through the plurality of second tubes (104) into the coolant outlet tube (108).

8. The system (200) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the chiller unit is structured such that the refrigerant from the refrigerant inlet tube (105) and the coolant from the coolant inlet tube (107) flows in a counterflow direction

9. The system (200) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the coolant inlet tube (107) is positioned adjacent to the refrigerant outlet tube (106) and the coolant outlet tube (108) is positioned adjacent to the refrigerant inlet tube (105).

10. The system (200) as claimed in claim 7, comprises a plurality of fins (109) positioned between each of the plurality of first tubes (103).

11. A hybrid vehicle comprising a system (200) as claimed in claim 7.

Dated this 25th February 2021

GOPINATH A S
IN/PA 1852
OF K&S PARTNERS
AGENT FOR THE APPLICANT
, Description:FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT 1970
[39 OF 1970]
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
[See section 10; rule 13]

TITLE: “AN INTEGRATED HEAT EXCHANGER ASSEMBLY FOR A HYBRID VEHICLE”

Name and Address of the Applicant: TATA MOTORS LIMITED; Bombay House, 24 Homi Mody Street, Hutatma Chowk, Mumbai 400 001 Maharashtra, India.

Nationality: IN

The following specification particularly describes the nature of the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed

[001] TECHNICAL FIELD

[002] Present disclosure generally relates to field of automobiles. Particularly, but not exclusively, the present disclosure relates to a thermal management system for a hybrid vehicle. Further embodiments of the present disclosure disclose an integrated heat exchanger for the thermal management system of the hybrid vehicle.

[003] BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSUE

[004] With fast depletion of non-renewable energy sources such as fossil fuels, a significant amount of research and development is devoted in development of alternative energy sources for vehicles. Global warming is another concern for shifting from conventional IC engine automobiles to clean fuel vehicles such as electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles, and the like. Moreover, release of carbon contaminants into the atmosphere from burning fossil fuels has been another driving factor for researchers to look into alternative sources of energy.

[005] Electrical energy has emerged as a promising alternative source of energy for vehicles. Vehicles which run only using electrical energy to power an electric motor in a powertrain are broadly termed as electric vehicles or zero emission vehicles. However, with limitations of the electric vehicles such as short operating range and high maintenance cost, equal focus has been given towards hybrid vehicles. Hybrid vehicles employs a conventional internal combustion (IC) engine, and a power storage unit such as a rechargeable battery which drives the electric motor. In such hybrid vehicles, wheels receive power solely from the IC engine or through the electric motor, or from both the electric motor and the IC engine.

[006] During operation of the hybrid vehicle i.e., when an electrical storage device (i.e., a battery module) is used to provide power to the electric motor to drive the hybrid vehicle, temperature of the battery module increases. The battery module is usually installed in a relatively small, enclosed space which tends to retain the heat generated. Increase in temperature of the battery module, reduces battery efficiency and impede battery performance. If the battery module is not cooled, the power storage capacity, life of battery, may deteriorate over the time. Also, in cold climatic conditions, battery module is required to be pre-heated for its optimum performance.

[007] In some conventional configurations, separate radiator or radiator fan may be provided for dissipating heat from the battery module to the surroundings. Further in some other conventional configurations, to condition the temperature of the battery module, a separate liquid cooling systems is employed in the hybrid vehicles. Such conventional cooling systems are structured to remove heat from the battery module or supply heat to the battery module depending on the condition of operation. Such liquid cooling systems include a battery chiller unit, which receives hot coolant from the battery module. The hot coolant convey heat to a battery chiller which shares with the refrigerant of the air conditioning unit. However, such external systems pose packaging constraints and increases load on the air conditioning unit of the vehicle, thus reducing efficiency and escalating maintenance cost.

[008] The present disclosure is directed to overcome one or more limitations stated above or other such limitations associated with the conventional arts.

[009] SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

[010] One or more shortcomings of conventional systems are overcome, and additional advantages are provided through the system as claimed in the present disclosure. Additional features and advantages are realized through the techniques of the present disclosure. Other embodiments and aspects of the disclosure are described in detail herein and are considered as a part of the claimed disclosure.

[011] In one non-limiting embodiment of the disclosure, an integrated heat exchanger assembly for a hybrid vehicle is disclosed. The integrated heat exchanger assembly includes an evaporator unit. The evaporator unit includes a plurality of first tubes arranged parallel to each other. An inlet end of each of the plurality of first tubes is fluidly connected to a refrigerant inlet tube, and an outlet end of each of the plurality of first tubes is fluidly connected to a refrigerant outlet tube. The refrigerant parallelly enters the plurality of first tubes from the refrigerant inlet tube and discharges parallelly from the plurality of first tubes into the refrigerant outlet tube. Further, the integrated heat exchanger assembly includes a chiller unit. The chiller unit includes a plurality of second tubes, each positioned concentrically within at least one first tube of the plurality of first tubes. An inlet end of each of the plurality of second tubes is fluidly connected to a coolant inlet tube, and an outlet end of each of the plurality of second tubes is fluidly connected to a coolant outlet tube. The coolant enters the plurality of second tubes from the coolant inlet tube and discharges through the plurality of second tubes into the coolant outlet tube.

[012] In an embodiment, the coolant inlet tube is positioned adjacent to the refrigerant outlet tube and the coolant outlet tube is positioned adjacent to the refrigerant inlet tube.

[013] In an embodiment of the disclosure, the assembly is structured such that, the refrigerant from the refrigerant inlet tube and the coolant from the coolant inlet tube flows in a counterflow direction.

[014] In an embodiment of the disclosure, chiller unit is configured to cool the coolant flowing through the plurality of second tubes.

[015] In an embodiment of the disclosure, diameter of the plurality of first tubes is greater than diameter of the plurality of second tubes.

[016] In an embodiment of the disclosure, the integrated heat exchanger assembly includes a plurality of fins positioned between each of the plurality of first tubes.

[017] In another non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure, a system for conditioning a cabin and cooling battery module in a hybrid vehicle. The system includes a compressor, a condenser fluidly connected to the compressor, an expansion valve fluidly connected to the condenser and an integrated heat exchanger assembly fluidly connected to the expansion valve, the compressor and the battery module. The integrated heat exchanger assembly includes an evaporator unit. The evaporator unit includes a plurality of first tubes arranged parallel to each other. An inlet end of each of the plurality of first tubes is fluidly connected to a refrigerant inlet tube, and an outlet end of each of the plurality of first tubes is fluidly connected to a refrigerant outlet tube. The refrigerant parallelly enters the plurality of first tubes from the refrigerant inlet tube and discharges parallelly from the plurality of first tubes into the refrigerant outlet tube, exchanging heat with air to condition the cabin. Further, the integrated heat exchanger assembly includes a chiller unit. The chiller unit includes a plurality of second tubes, each positioned concentrically within at least one first tube of the plurality of first tubes. An inlet end of each of the plurality of second tubes is fluidly connected to a coolant inlet tube, and an outlet end of each of the plurality of second tubes is fluidly connected to a coolant outlet tube. The coolant enters the plurality of second tubes from the coolant inlet tube and discharges through the plurality of second tubes into the coolant outlet tube.

[018] It is to be understood that the aspects and embodiments of the disclosure described above may be used in any combination with each other. Several of the aspects and embodiments may be combined together to form a further embodiment of the disclosure.

[019] The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.

[020] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

[021] The novel features and characteristic of the disclosure are set forth in the appended claims. The disclosure itself, however, as well as a mode of use, further objectives, and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. One or more embodiments are now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals represent like elements and in which:

[022] Figure. 1 illustrates a schematic view of a system for conditioning a cabin and cooling a battery module in a hybrid vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[023] Figure. 2 illustrates a schematic view of an integrated heat exchanger employed in the system of Figure. 1, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[024] The figures depict embodiments of the disclosure for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the assembly illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.

[025] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[026] While the embodiments in the disclosure are subject to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the figures and will be described below. It should be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the disclosure to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the disclosure is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternative falling within the scope of the disclosure.

[027] It is to be noted that a person skilled in the art would be motivated from the present disclosure and modify various features of the assembly and system, without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Therefore, such modifications are considered to be part of the disclosure. Accordingly, the drawings show only those specific details that are pertinent to understand the embodiments of the present disclosure, so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skilled in the art having benefit of the description herein. Also, the assembly of the present disclosure may be employed in vehicles other than hybrid vehicles for cooling different coolants adapted for cooling desired components.

[028] The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, or any other variations thereof used in the disclosure, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusions, such that an assembly that comprises a list of components does not include only those components but may include other components not expressly listed or inherent to such system, method, or assembly, or device. In other words, one or more elements in a system or device proceeded by “comprises… a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other elements or additional elements in the system or device.

[029] Embodiments of the present disclosure disclose a system for conditioning a cabin and cooling a battery module in a hybrid vehicle. In conventional hybrid vehicles, to cool a battery module, separate liquid cooling systems have been adapted to remove heat from the battery module. Conventional cooling systems include a battery chiller unit, which receives hot coolant from the battery module and shares with a refrigerant of an air conditioning unit of the vehicle. The coolant convey the heat to a battery chiller which shares with the refrigerant of the air conditioning unit. However, such external systems pose packaging constraints and increases load on the air conditioning unit of the vehicle, thus reducing efficiency and escalating maintenance cost.

[030] Accordingly, the present disclosure discloses a system for conditioning a cabin and cooling a battery module in the hybrid vehicle. The system may include a compressor and a condenser, which is fluidly connected to the compressor. Further, the system may include an expansion valve fluidly connected to the condenser and an integrated heat exchanger assembly, which may be fluidly connected to the expansion valve, the battery module and the compressor. The integrated heat exchanger assembly may broadly include an evaporator unit and a chiller unit. The evaporator unit may include a plurality of first tubes, which may be arranged parallel to each other. An inlet end of each of the plurality of first tubes may be fluidly connected to a refrigerant inlet tube, such that the refrigerant flows parallelly through each of the plurality of first tubes. Further, an outlet end of each of the plurality of first tubes may be fluidly connected to a refrigerant outlet tube, such that the refrigerant discharges parallelly from the plurality of first tubes into the refrigerant outlet tube. The refrigerant flowing parallelly through the plurality of first tubes may exchange heat with air to condition the cabin.

[031] The chiller unit may include a plurality of second tubes, each positioned concentrically within at least one first tube of the plurality of first tubes. An inlet end of each of the plurality of second tubes may be fluidly connected to a coolant inlet tube and outlet end of each of the plurality of second tubes may be fluidly connected to the coolant outlet tube. This configuration of the system having the integrated heat exchanger assembly, which includes both the evaporator unit for conditioning the cabin and the chiller unit for cooling the coolant makes the system compact, aiding in mitigating packaging constraints and eliminates use of additional components, unlike conventional cooling systems of the hybrid vehicle.

[032] The following paragraphs describe the present disclosure with reference to Figures. 1 to 2. In the figures, the same element or elements which have similar functions are indicated by the same reference signs.

[033] Figure. 1 illustrates a schematic view of a system (200) for conditioning a cabin and cooling a battery module (113) in a hybrid vehicle. The system (200) may include an integrated heat exchanger assembly (100), which may include an evaporator unit (101) and a chiller unit (102). The evaporator unit (101) may be configured to condition a cabin of the hybrid vehicle and the chiller unit (102) may configured to cool or condition a battery module (113). This configuration makes the system (200) compact, thus reducing packaging constraints, unlike conventional systems which adapt individual subsystems for cooling the cabin and the battery module (113) making the system (200) bulky, thus posing packaging constrains.

[034] As seen in Figure. 1, the system (200) may include a compressor (110) and a condenser (111) fluidly connected to the compressor (110). Further, the system (200) may include an expansion valve (112), fluidly connected to the condenser (111) and an integrated heat exchanger assembly (100), which may be fluidly connected to the expansion valve (112) at one side and to the compressor (110) and a battery module (113) at another side, opposite to the one side. In an illustrated embodiment, the system (200) includes two air conditioning units and the same cannot be construed as a limitation, since the system (200) may include one or a plurality of air conditioning units, depending on the requirement.

[035] Referring now to Figure. 2, which is an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure illustrating a schematic view of the integrated heat exchanger assembly (100). The integrated heat exchanger assembly (100) may be a single component, configured to perform functions of both the evaporator unit (101) for conditioning the cabin of the vehicle and the chiller unit (102) for cooling the battery module (113). As apparent from Figure. 2, the integrated heat exchanger assembly (100) may broadly include the evaporator unit (101) and the chiller unit (102), which may be disposed in a portion of the evaporator unit (101). The evaporator unit (101) may include a plurality of first tubes (103), which may be arranged parallel to each other. Each of the plurality of first tubes (103) may be defined with an inlet end and an outlet end. The inlet end of each of the plurality of first tubes (103) may be fluidly connected to a refrigerant inlet tube (105), which may extend vertically and perpendicular to the inlet ends of the plurality of first tubes (103). Further, the outlet end of each of the plurality of first tubes (103) may be fluidly connected to a refrigerant outlet tube (106), which may extend vertically and perpendicular to the outlet ends of the plurality of first tubes (103). This configuration may facilitate the refrigerant to parallelly enter the plurality of the first tubes (103) from the refrigerant inlet tube (105) and discharge parallelly from the plurality of first tubes (103) into the refrigerant outlet tube (106), to effectively exchange heat with air for efficiently conditioning the cabin. As apparent from Figure. 2, the evaporator unit (101) may further include a plurality of fins (109). In an embodiment, the plurality of fins (109) may be positioned between each of the plurality of first tubes (103). The plurality of fins (109) may be configured to maintain the adjacent first tubes (103) of the plurality of first tubes (103) parallel to each other, to maintain uniform heat exchanging area through out the length.

[036] In an embodiment, the inlet ends and the outlet ends of each of the plurality of first tubes (103) may be fluidly connected to the refrigerant inlet tube (105) and the refrigerant outlet tube (106), respectively by a thermal joining process such as but not limiting to welding, brazing and the like.

[037] Further referring to Figure. 2, the chiller unit (102) may include a plurality of second tubes (104). The chiller unit (102) may be configured to cool coolant circulating in the battery module (113). In an embodiment, each of the plurality of second tubes (104) may be concentrically positioned within at least one first tube of the plurality of first tubes (103). To facilitate such a configuration, diameter of each of the plurality of first tubes (103) is greater than diameter of the plurality of second tubes (104) such that, the plurality of second tubes (104) may be concentrically positioned within the at least one first tubes (103). Further, an inlet end of each of the plurality of second tubes (104) may be fluidly connected to a coolant inlet tube (107) and an outlet end of each of the plurality of second tubes (104) may be fluidly connected to a coolant outlet tube (108). That is, each of the plurality of second tubes (104) may extend outside the plurality of first tubes (103) and extend through the refrigerant inlet tube (105) and the refrigerant outlet tube (106) for coupling with the coolant inlet tube (107) and the coolant outlet tube (108). The coolant from battery module (113) may enter the plurality of second tubes (104) from the coolant inlet tube (107) and discharges into the coolant outlet tube (108). The discharged coolant may be circulated in a coolant flow loop (not shown in figures) associated for cooling the battery module (113).

[038] In an embodiment, the plurality of first tubes (103) and the plurality of second tubes (104) may include but not limiting to a cylindrical profile, to facilitate effective heat exchange between the refrigerant and other desired hot medium circulating in a secondary loop.

[039] As apparent from Figure. 2, the coolant inlet tube (107) is positioned adjacent to the refrigerant outlet tube (106) at one side of the integrated heat exchanger assembly (100) and, the coolant outlet tube (108) is positioned adjacent to the refrigerant inlet tube (105) at another side, opposite to the one side of the integrated heat exchanger assembly (100). This configuration aids in facilitating counter flow between the coolant flowing through the plurality of second tubes (104) and the refrigerant flowing through the plurality of first tubes (103). That is, the coolant flowing through the plurality of second tubes (104) flows in a direction opposite to the direction of flow of the refrigerant in the plurality of first tubes (103).

[040] In an embodiment, counter flow between the coolant and the refrigerant aids in effective heat transfer between the coolant and the refrigerant, thus efficiently cooling the battery coolant.

[041] In an embodiment, the plurality of first tubes (103) and the plurality of second tubes (104) may be manufactured by metals such as but not limiting to copper.

[042] In an operational embodiment, to condition the cabin and cool the battery module (113), the refrigerant may be compressed by the compressor (110) to increase pressure, thus increasing temperature of the refrigerant. The high temperature refrigerant may flow into the condenser (111), where the refrigerant is condensed to change phase of the refrigerant from gaseous phase to liquid phase. The high temperature liquid refrigerant from the condenser (111) flows through the expansion valve (112), where pressure of the refrigerant reduces and, thus the temperature of the refrigerant also reduces. Further, cold refrigerant from the expansion valve (112) enters the integrated heat exchanger assembly (100). Now, working of the integrated heat exchanger assembly (100) to condition the cabin and cool the battery coolant is disclosed in the below sections of the present disclosure.

[043] The cold refrigerant from the expansion valve (112) may enter the integrated heat exchanger assembly (100) [thus, evaporator unit (101) of the integrated heat exchanger assembly (100))]. The cold refrigerant from the refrigerant inlet tube (105) may parallelly enter into each of the plurality of first tubes (103) from the refrigerant inlet tube (105) and may discharge parallelly from the plurality of first tubes (103) into the refrigerant outlet tube (106). This parallel flow of the refrigerant may cool the plurality of first tubes (103), which exchanges heat with air to condition the cabin. Simultaneously, the coolant from the coolant inlet tube (107) may be pumped from the battery module (113) by a pump (120). In an embodiment, the pump (120) may be associated with a control unit [not shown in figures]. The control unit upon determination of temperature of the coolant exceeding a threshold limit, may operate the pump (120) for pumping the coolant into the integrated heat exchanger assembly (100) [thus, the chiller unit (102)]. The pumped coolant from the battery module (113) may enter into the plurality of second tubes (104) and flows through the plurality of second tubes (104) in a direction opposite to the direction of flow of the refrigerant through the plurality of first tubes (103). In other words, counter-flow occurs between the coolant and the refrigerant, where the coolant may be cooled due to exchange of heat with the refrigerant. Further, the cooled coolant may discharge through the plurality of second tubes (104) into the coolant outlet tube (108) from which the cold battery coolant may be circulated through the battery module (113) for cooling the battery module (113).

[044] In an embodiment, the chiller unit (102) configured to cool the coolant of a batter module (113) is an exemplary embodiment and the same cannot be construed as a limitation, as the chiller unit (102) may be configured to cool any fluid in a secondary loop of the vehicle.

[045] In an embodiment, the integrated heat exchanger assembly (100) adapted in the hybrid vehicle is an exemplary embodiment, and the same cannot be construed as a limitation, as the integrated heat exchanger assembly (100) may be adapted in an internal combustion engine vehicle, electric vehicle, and the like.

[046] In an embodiment, the integrated heat exchanger assembly (100) may facilitate in cooling both the cabin of the vehicle and battery module. Therefore, the system (200) facilitates in mitigating use of additional components and thus Hence, the configuration makes the system (200) compact, aiding in mitigating packaging constraints and eliminates use of additional components, unlike conventional cooling systems of the hybrid vehicle.

[047] In an embodiment, the integrated heat exchanger assembly (100) may be configured to provide heat to the cabin of the vehicle and to the battery module, to assist switching on the electric motors in cold conditions.

[048] Equivalents:

[049] With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singular terms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from the plural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as is appropriate to the context and/or application. The various singular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for sake of clarity.

[050] It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to inventions containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system (200) having at least one of A, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances, where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system (200) having at least one of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase “A or B” will be understood to include the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B.” While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.

[051] Referral Numerals:

Particulars Numeral
Integrated heat exchanger assembly 100
Evaporator unit 101
Chiller unit 102
First tubes 103
Second tubes 104
Refrigerant inlet tube 105
Refrigerant outlet tube 106
Coolant inlet tube 107
Coolant outlet tube 108
Fins 109
Compressor 110
Condenser 111
Expansion valve 112
Battery module 113
System 200