Tesla's cooling and heating system

[DerbyDave]

From Artifical Intelligence Query:

Tesla’s heating and cooling system is designed to keep the battery, motor, and cabin at optimal temperatures for performance and comfort. The system consists of several components, such as:

• A compressor that pumps a refrigerant fluid through the system. The compressor is located at the front of the car and draws power directly from the battery1.
• A chiller that cools down the refrigerant fluid by exchanging heat with the ambient air. The chiller is also located at the front of the car and has a fan to increase airflow2.
• A manifold that distributes the refrigerant fluid to different loops depending on the cooling needs. The manifold is located under the frunk and has valves to control the flow2.
• A battery loop that cools down the battery pack by running the refrigerant fluid through a ribbon-shaped pipe that snakes between the cells. The pipe allows direct contact between the coolant and each cell for efficient heat transfer3.
• A motor loop that cools down the motor and inverter by running the refrigerant fluid through a heat exchanger. The motor loop also has a heater to warm up the motor in cold conditions2.
• A cabin loop that cools or heats the cabin air by running the refrigerant fluid through an evaporator or a condenser. The cabin loop also has a filter to remove dust and pollen from the air1.

The Tesla heating and cooling system is controlled by a computerized system that monitors the temperature of various components and adjusts the coolant flow accordingly.

 

[mongo]

From Artifical Intelligence Query:

Tesla’s heating and cooling system is designed to keep the battery, motor, and cabin at optimal temperatures for performance and comfort. The system consists of several components, such as:

• A compressor that pumps a refrigerant fluid through the system. The compressor is located at the front of the car and draws power directly from the battery1.
• A chiller that cools down the refrigerant fluid by exchanging heat with the ambient air. The chiller is also located at the front of the car and has a fan to increase airflow2.
• A manifold that distributes the refrigerant fluid to different loops depending on the cooling needs. The manifold is located under the frunk and has valves to control the flow2.
• A battery loop that cools down the battery pack by running the refrigerant fluid through a ribbon-shaped pipe that snakes between the cells. The pipe allows direct contact between the coolant and each cell for efficient heat transfer3.
• A motor loop that cools down the motor and inverter by running the refrigerant fluid through a heat exchanger. The motor loop also has a heater to warm up the motor in cold conditions2.
• A cabin loop that cools or heats the cabin air by running the refrigerant fluid through an evaporator or a condenser. The cabin loop also has a filter to remove dust and pollen from the air1.

The Tesla heating and cooling system is controlled by a computerized system that monitors the temperature of various components and adjusts the coolant flow accordingly.

That is using refrigerant fluid in place of both refrigerant and water/glycol.
Cabin: refrigerant
Everything else: water/glycol

What it calls 'Chiller' is the glycol radiator (both heats and cools fluid).
There are also a refrigerant to gylcol chiller and a refrigerant to glycol heater.

 

[DerbyDave]

The chiller information is from a Model 3, which has a different heat pump system from the S -- at least previous to 2022-2023. I believe the 2023 S uses a heat pump now.

 

[mongo]

The chiller information is from a Model 3, which has a different heat pump system from the S -- at least previous to 2022-2023. I believe the 2023 S uses a heat pump now.

The heat pump system had been basically the same in all cars since 2021.

Tesla Model S and Model X get new heat pump, making entire lineup more efficient

 

[KalJoMoS]

From Artifical Intelligence Query:

Tesla’s heating and cooling system is designed to keep the battery, motor, and cabin at optimal temperatures for performance and comfort. The system consists of several components, such as:

As all of the links are solely about Model 3, can this post be moved to the rigth section of TMC?

 

[DerbyDave]

The model S is very similar since 2021+.

 

[livesmith]

The model S is very similar since 2021+.

I'd love to find some infographics or other explanations for the setup in my 2015 85D. I have a basic idea but am a little unclear on things like is there any crossover between cabin and battery/motor/inverter HVAC needs...

 

[mongo]

I'd love to find some infographics or other explanations for the setup in my 2015 85D. I have a basic idea but am a little unclear on things like is there any crossover between cabin and battery/motor/inverter HVAC needs...

Tesla Thermal Management System - explanation

 

[tesluv108]

From Artifical Intelligence Query:

Tesla’s heating and cooling system is designed to keep the battery, motor, and cabin at optimal temperatures for performance and comfort. The system consists of several components, such as:

• A compressor that pumps a refrigerant fluid through the system. The compressor is located at the front of the car and draws power directly from the battery1.
• A chiller that cools down the refrigerant fluid by exchanging heat with the ambient air. The chiller is also located at the front of the car and has a fan to increase airflow2.
• A manifold that distributes the refrigerant fluid to different loops depending on the cooling needs. The manifold is located under the frunk and has valves to control the flow2.
• A battery loop that cools down the battery pack by running the refrigerant fluid through a ribbon-shaped pipe that snakes between the cells. The pipe allows direct contact between the coolant and each cell for efficient heat transfer3.
• A motor loop that cools down the motor and inverter by running the refrigerant fluid through a heat exchanger. The motor loop also has a heater to warm up the motor in cold conditions2.
• A cabin loop that cools or heats the cabin air by running the refrigerant fluid through an evaporator or a condenser. The cabin loop also has a filter to remove dust and pollen from the air1.

The Tesla heating and cooling system is controlled by a computerized system that monitors the temperature of various components and adjusts the coolant flow accordingly.

Could a coolant leak affect heating performance? I’m guessing the answer is yes. I have a loaner and the heat is amazing compared to my car. 2017 build date vs 2015 build date.

 

[mongo]

Could a coolant leak affect heating performance? I’m guessing the answer is yes. I have a loaner and the heat is amazing compared to my car. 2017 build date vs 2015 build date.

Yes, in the new setup, coolant still directly moves the heat around the vehicle other than the cabin which is direct via refrigerant but that refrigerant exchanges the heat with the coolant.

Older cars had an electric cabin heater.

 

[tesluv108]

Yes, in the new setup, coolant still directly moves the heat around the vehicle other than the cabin which is direct via refrigerant but that refrigerant exchanges the heat with the coolant.

Older cars had an electric cabin heater.

So when did this start? What year model s? I’m seeing a huge difference between at 12/2015 build and a 8/2017 build

 

[DerbyDave]

2021+

 

[mongo]

So when did this start? What year model s? I’m seeing a huge difference between at 12/2015 build and a 8/2017 build

I think the 2015 used a different electric cabin heater than the 2017.

 

[tesluv108]

I think the 2015 used a different electric cabin heater than the 2017.

Ahhhh! Thanks , it must be the reason my heat always sucks.

 

[mongo]

Ahhhh! Thanks , it must be the reason my heat always sucks.

Are you sure it's working?

 

[tesluv108]

Are you sure it's working?

Do you think the cabin heater could be broken? It’s bad in general but I didn’t know how bad until I had the 2017. Basically have to put the fan on 10 with heat at 77 for below average heat. By comparison the 2017 cranks me out of the car like an ice engine at 71 on auto. I’m confused

 

[mongo]

Do you think the cabin heater could be broken? It’s bad in general but I didn’t know how bad until I had the 2017. Basically have to put the fan on 10 with heat at 77 for below average heat. By comparison the 2017 cranks me out of the car like an ice engine at 71 on auto. I’m confused

Yeah, they break and sometimes the fuse just blows. If you have partial heat, it sounds like the fuse is still good.

PTC cabin heater repair

 

[David29]

From Artifical Intelligence Query:

Tesla’s heating and cooling system is designed to keep the battery, motor, and cabin at optimal temperatures for performance and comfort. The system consists of several components, such as:

• A compressor that pumps a refrigerant fluid through the system. The compressor is located at the front of the car and draws power directly from the battery1.
• A chiller that cools down the refrigerant fluid by exchanging heat with the ambient air. The chiller is also located at the front of the car and has a fan to increase airflow2.
• A manifold that distributes the refrigerant fluid to different loops depending on the cooling needs. The manifold is located under the frunk and has valves to control the flow2.
• A battery loop that cools down the battery pack by running the refrigerant fluid through a ribbon-shaped pipe that snakes between the cells. The pipe allows direct contact between the coolant and each cell for efficient heat transfer3.
• A motor loop that cools down the motor and inverter by running the refrigerant fluid through a heat exchanger. The motor loop also has a heater to warm up the motor in cold conditions2.
• A cabin loop that cools or heats the cabin air by running the refrigerant fluid through an evaporator or a condenser. The cabin loop also has a filter to remove dust and pollen from the air1.

The Tesla heating and cooling system is controlled by a computerized system that monitors the temperature of various components and adjusts the coolant flow accordingly.

Does this description apply to all years? I should think the description and components would be quite different for the latest models with heat pumps....
(Edit) From reading the comments, I gather that this is for the current (2021+ model years, right? Except I see no mention of the term "heat pump." Is that actually a combination of the compressor and chiller? Or have I reached the wrong conclusion about the applicability?

As an aside, I knew most of this, having had my Model S for 8 years, but had not heard that the motors might be heated. I knew they might be cooled, so i suppose heating them also makes sense. But I am curious if that is for all years.

 

[mongo]

Does this description apply to all years? I should think the description and components would be quite different for the latest models with heat pumps....
(Edit) From reading the comments, I gather that this is for the current (2021+ model years, right? Except I see no mention of the term "heat pump." Is that actually a combination of the compressor and chiller? Or have I reached the wrong conclusion about the applicability?

As an aside, I knew most of this, having had my Model S for 8 years, but had not heard that the motors might be heated. I knew they might be cooled, so i suppose heating them also makes sense. But I am curious if that is for all years.

It's for the new system.

Historically, heat pump was a term applied to a unit with only two coils that swapped evaporator and condenser roles via a reversing valve.
Tesla refrigerant flow is unidirectional and it has two sets of evaporators and condensers, one for the glycol loop and one for the cabin.

Motors can provide heat by modifying the inverter drive waveform. This eliminated the separate PTC gycol heater.

 

[Plaid SBD]

I have a 2023 Model S and it shows no current alerts in normal mode. However, in service mode it shows two active alerts:
VCFRONT_a121_pumpChiller|CLatchFault
VCFRONT_a254_pumpChillerStopped

These alerts continually repeat in the service mode log. Last time I was at a Tesla service center I mentioned this to a tech and he told me not to worry about it. Any knowledge, ideas, recommendations would be greatly appreciated!