Importance

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Abstract

A vehicle arrangement (20) for thawing thermal energy from and/or rejecting thermal energy to a plurality of components in a vehicle, the arrangement comprising a heat-pump assembly (12) comprising a first heat-pump section (18) at a first temperature and a second heat-pump section (22) at a second temperature different from the first temperature, and a first thermal energy distribution path (26) for transporting a first carrier fluid and extending through at least a portion of the first heat-pump section (18), and a second thermal energy distribution path (28) for transporting a second carrier fluid and extending through at least a portion of the second heat-pump section (22). The arrangement further comprises a first circulation pump (32) associated with the first thermal energy distribution path (26) for pumping the first carrier fluid around the first thermal energy distribution path and a second circulation pump (34) associated with the second thermal energy distribution path (28) for pumping the second carrier fluid around the second thermal energy distribution path. In addition the system comprises means (78-100) for selectively connecting at least one of the plurality of vehicle components to at least one of the thermal energy distribution paths so as to draw thermal energy from and/or reject thermal energy to said vehicle component or components.

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First Claim