System for testing heat component of vehicle

Abstract

To provide a system and method for analyzing a heat management system for a vehicle or components thereof by visualizing both actual hardware (test bench) measurements and simulation data of a complete virtual vehicle of substantially actual size.SOLUTION: A system for testing heat components 12a to 12c of a vehicle comprises a plurality of heat components and at least one or more sensors 14a to 14c detecting behavior of at least one heat component, which is connected to a simulation system 16 which simulates behavior of other components 18a to 18c of the vehicle, especially, the whole vehicle. Through the simulation system, at least one simulated component 18c of the vehicle is adapted to be replaced with another simulated component 18d, and the simulation system is therefore adapted to control the heat component based upon the behavior of the newly simulated component 18d.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a system for testing heat components of a vehicle.

Background Art

[0002] Current vehicles, especially electric vehicles, include many components that need to be cooled. The thermal behavior of these components is important for the function and performance of the vehicle. For example, when overheating occurs, operating these components outside the desired temperature range may cause serious damage or at least have a significant impact on the performance of the vehicle.

[0003] Therefore, modern vehicles, especially electric vehicles, include a very complex cooling system including heat components such as a cooling circuit containing a coolant, a plurality of valves, a control device, and a heat exchanger. This cooling system ensures that components of the vehicle, such as the battery, operate within the desired temperature range.

[0004] In order to ensure that all components of the vehicle can operate in an optimal manner, it is necessary to adapt the cooling system including its heat components to each vehicle. For that purpose, it is known to test such a cooling system including those heat components and analyze whether they meet the requirements regarding the cooling performance of each component of the vehicle.

[0005] Systems for simulating the behavior of such heat components or for testing heat components are known from the following publications.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0006]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a system for testing heat components of a vehicle that can simulate the behaviors of a plurality of different vehicles. [Means for Solving the Problems]

[0008] This object is achieved by the features of claim 1.

[0009] The system of the present invention for testing heat components of a vehicle includes a plurality of heat components and at least one sensor for detecting the behavior of at least one heat component. Preferably, the system includes a plurality of sensors for detecting the behaviors of a plurality of heat components, such as components of a cooling system of an electric vehicle.

[0010] At least one sensor is connected to other parts of the vehicle, in particular to a simulation device that simulates the behavior of the entire vehicle. The simulation device is adapted to be able to replace at least one simulated part of the vehicle with another simulated part. Thus, the behavior of the hot part to be tested can be tested in a very convenient way in relation to the vehicle or different parts of different vehicles. The simulated parts of the vehicle or the entire simulated vehicle can be changed in a very convenient way by the simulation device. Thus, the hot part can be very easily tested for a plurality of different vehicles or parts.

[0011] The simulation system is further adapted to control the hot part based on the behavior of the new simulated part. Thus, replacing one simulated part with another simulated part directly affects the hot part to be tested and is controlled accordingly. Thereby, it is very easy to analyze the behavior of the hot part tested in relation to the new simulated part (or a plurality of other simulated parts that can be easily replaced).

[0012] Preferably, the simulation system is adapted to simulate the virtual driving situation of the vehicle under different environmental conditions, in particular under different temperature and / or air pressure conditions, and to adapt the behavior of the simulated parts accordingly. Thereby, the hot part is controlled based on the behavior of these simulated parts under different environmental conditions.

[0013] In all embodiments of the present invention, the simulation system can also function as a control system for controlling the hot part based on the behavior of the simulated part. Thereby, the sensor value detected by at least one sensor for detecting the behavior of at least one hot part can be transmitted to the control system, and as a result, the control of the hot part and / or the simulation of other parts of the vehicle can be adapted based on the detected sensor value.

[0014] Preferably, the system includes a display device for presenting a virtual representation of the thermal component along with the parameters detected by the sensors of the thermal component and further displaying the simulated components and the parameters related to their behavior. Thereby, the functions and performance of the thermal components to be tested can be displayed in a very convenient way, so that many different people (including those without a technical background in this field) can understand the functions and performance of these thermal components.

[0015] More preferably, the system is adapted to display an endless real-time operation scenario on the display until the presenter switches to the next scene by using the control interface.

[0016] The control interface can be, for example, a tablet computer wirelessly connected to the system. Thereby, the observer can understand the behavior of the thermal component being tested in the real-time operation scenario.

[0017] More preferably, the displayed thermal component can be selected, and the control interface is adapted to generate commands for rotating the selected thermal component, displaying an exploded view, and / or animating it. Thereby, the function of the thermal component can be displayed more effectively.

[0018] More preferably, the simulation device is adapted to simulate a vehicle heating scenario, a vehicle economical cooling scenario, and / or a vehicle extreme cooling scenario. The thermal components can be tested to analyze how they behave in each of these scenarios.

[0019] The vehicle is preferably an electric vehicle.

[0020] The thermal component can include a pump, a valve, and / or a heat exchanger.

[0021] More preferably, the display device is adapted to interactively display the functions and performance of the heat components, whereby the content can be controlled in real time by a presenter using the control device.

[0022] Furthermore, it is preferable that the control device is adapted to control the light in the presentation room where the display device is located.

[0023] More preferably, the simulation device is adapted to simulate the behavior of a selectable type of electric vehicle, in particular its electric motor, its battery and / or its cabin.

[0024] The present invention further relates to a method for testing heat components of a vehicle, the method comprising the following method steps, namely: detecting the behavior of at least one heat component (12a - 12c) by means of at least one sensor (14a - 14c); at least one sensor (14a - 14d) is connected to a simulation system (16) that simulates the behavior of other components (18a - 18c) of the vehicle, in particular of the entire vehicle, replacing at least one simulated component (18c) of the vehicle by another simulated component (18d) by means of the simulation system (16); controlling the heat components (12a - 12c) based on the behavior of the new simulated component (18d).

[0025] The method of the present invention can include all features of the system of the present invention, and vice versa.

[0026] In a preferred embodiment, the method comprises the following additional method steps, namely: selecting a target vehicle by a user; configuring components of the vehicle, in particular the powertrain and the battery; Selecting the desired features of the thermal system, Automatically loading 3D data into the visualization environment, Thereby, the simulation system selects the components necessary to meet the selected features of the thermal management system, And freely arranging these components in real time within the packaging space of the vehicle selected by the user.

[0027] The simulated components are preferably displayed on a large display so that the user can view all the details of the data selected in the appropriate size, especially the actual size. The positioning process can be supported by an AI method implemented in the simulation system.

[0028] More preferably, after the main components of the vehicle and the thermal system are arranged as desired in the fluid lines within the existing open space between the components, the results are displayed in real time.

[0029] Also in this case, this process can be supported by an AI method within the simulation system. The displayed results can be interactively investigated by the user, which means that the user can, for example, rotate, zoom in and / or select specific components.

[0030] In a more preferred embodiment, the method of the present invention further includes automatically analyzing the performance, efficiency, weight, and / or cost of the system based on at least one of the length, diameter, number, angle, bend of the thermal fluid line, number, type, and size of the main system components.

[0031] For example, the system cost can be loaded from a product database.

[0032] Performance, efficiency, hydraulic loss and / or other physical values can be calculated by detailed multiphysics simulations.

[0033] The analysis results can preferably be displayed as text, images, animations, and / or applied to the real-time operation scenarios described above.

[0034] The analysis results can be displayed in real time. Alternatively, some of the analysis results can be pre-processed and then displayed in a more attractive way than real time (e.g., in a complete drive cycle).

[0035] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in relation to the drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0036]

Figure 1

Figure 2a

Figure 2b

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0037] A system 10 for testing the heat components 12a - 12c of a vehicle is shown in FIG. 1. Accordingly, each component is connected to at least one sensor 14a - 14c that detects the behavior of the respective heat components 12a - 12c. The heat components 12a - 12c can be, for example, pumps, valves, and / or heat exchangers.

[0038] The sensor can detect system pressure, temperature, pump and compressor speeds, power consumption of components (such as valves, pumps, heaters), valve positions, mass flow rate, transferred heat, etc.

[0039] Sensors 14a - 14c are connected to a simulation system 16 that simulates the behavior of other vehicle components 18a - 18c. In particular, the entire vehicle can be simulated. At least one simulated vehicle component 18c can be replaced by another simulated component 18d.

[0040] The simulation system 16 is further adapted to control the heat components 12a - 12c based on the behavior of the new simulated component 18d.

[0041] Figure 2a shows a heat component (i.e., integrated thermal module refrigerant, ITMR) that can be displayed on a large - scale display according to the present invention.

[0042] Figure 2b shows an exploded view of the same heat component in a disassembled state.

[0043] Figures 4 - 6 show different views of another heat component (integrated thermal manifold, ITMA) 12. Figure 5 shows a rotational view of the ITMA, and Figure 6 shows the ITMA in a disassembled state.

[0044] Therefore, the present invention provides a system and method for analyzing the performance of heat components, whereby the sensor data of the actual system is complemented by simulation data of components that do not actually exist as hardware. Thereby, virtual engineering can visualize the performance and data of the entire vehicle. At the same time, the system receives data from the simulated virtual vehicle, thereby combining hardware simulation and visualization in real time.

Claims

1. A system for testing heat components of a vehicle, comprising: a plurality of heat components (12a - 12c); at least one sensor (14a - 14c) for detecting the behavior of at least one heat component, wherein the at least one sensor (14a - 14d) is connected to a simulation system (16) that simulates the behavior of other components (18a - 18c) of the vehicle, particularly of the entire vehicle, the simulation system (16) being adapted to be able to replace at least one simulated component (18c) of the vehicle with another simulated component (18d), whereby the simulation system (16) is further adapted to control the heat components (12a - 12c) based on the behavior of the new simulated component (18d).

2. The simulation system (16) is adapted to simulate the virtual driving situation of the vehicle under different environmental conditions, particularly under different temperature and / or air pressure conditions, and to adapt the behavior of the simulated components (18a - 18d) accordingly, whereby the heat components (12c - 12d) are controlled based on the behavior of these simulated components (18a - 18d) under different environmental conditions. A system for testing heat components of a vehicle according to Claim 1.

3. The system (10) comprises a display device (20) for presenting a virtual representation of the heat components (12a - 12d) together with the parameters detected by the sensors (14a - 14c) of the heat components (12a - 12d), and for further displaying parameters regarding the simulated components (18a - 18d) and their behavior. A system for testing heat components of a vehicle according to Claim 1 or 2.

4. The system according to Claim 3, wherein the system (10) is adapted to display an endless real - time driving scenario on the display (20) until a presenter switches to the next scene by using a control interface.

5. The system according to Claim 4, wherein the control interface is a tablet computer wirelessly connected to the system.

6. The system according to claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the indicated heat component (12a) can be selected, and the control interface is adapted to generate commands for rotating the selected heat component, displaying an exploded view, and / or animating it.

7. The system according to claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the simulation device is adapted to simulate a heating scenario of a vehicle, an economic cooling scenario of a vehicle, and / or an extreme cooling scenario of a vehicle.

8. The system according to claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the vehicle is an electric vehicle.

9. The system according to claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the heat components (12a to 12c) include a pump, a valve, and / or a heat exchanger.

10. The system according to claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the display device (20) is adapted to interactively display the functions and performance of the heat components (12a to 12c), whereby the content can be controlled in real time by a presenter using the control device.

11. The system according to claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the control device is adapted to control the light in the presentation room in which the display device (20) is arranged.

12. The system according to claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the simulation device (16) is adapted to simulate the behavior of selectable types of electric vehicles, in particular their electric motors, their batteries and / or their cabins.

13. A method for testing heat components of a vehicle, comprising: detecting the behavior of at least one heat component (12a to 12c) by at least one sensor (14a to 14c), wherein the at least one sensor (14a to 14d) is connected to a simulation system (16) that simulates the behavior of other components (18a to 18c) of the vehicle, in particular of the entire vehicle; replacing at least one simulated component (18c) of the vehicle by another simulated component (18d) by means of the simulation system (16); A method comprising the step of controlling the heat components (12a-12c) based on the behavior of the new simulated component (18d).

14. The step of selecting a target vehicle by a user, The step of configuring components of the vehicle, particularly the powertrain and the battery, The step of selecting desired characteristics of the thermal system, The step of automatically loading 3D data into a visualization environment, Thereby, the step of the simulation system selecting components necessary to meet the selected characteristics of the thermal management system, The method according to claim 13, further comprising the step of the user freely arranging these components in real time within the packaging space of the selected vehicle.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein after the main components of the vehicle and the thermal system are arranged as desired in the fluid lines within the existing open space between the components, the results are displayed in real time.

16. Characterized by the step of automatically analyzing the performance, efficiency, weight, and / or cost of the system based on at least one of the length, diameter, number, angle, bend of the thermal fluid line, number, type, size of the main system components, the method according to claim 15.

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