Absorption Heat Pump Battery Thermal Control Across Engine States
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing absorption type heat pump devices face challenges in maintaining consistent cooling performance, especially at low temperatures and during engine idling or load fluctuations, and require complex structures for high-temperature exhaust energy recovery, which complicates the cooling process.
Innovation Solution
An absorption type heat pump device with a regenerator, condenser, evaporator, absorber, and controller that switches between cooling and heating operations, using a refrigerant cycle where the absorber's concentration is adjusted to manage heat exchange effectively, allowing continuous cooling and heating of batteries regardless of engine state.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a sorbent-based cooling system is used to cool the battery, then cooling function is provided, but cooling stops when absorption by the sorbent ends and regeneration of sorbent becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the working parameters of the absorption system by using a two-component absorbing solution (lithium bromide and lithium chloride) with adjustable concentrations. By controlling the concentration ratio and flow rates, the system maintains continuous absorption capacity without requiring periodic regeneration stops, thus extending cooling duration and ensuring continuous operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements continuous circulation of the absorbing solution through the absorber, evaporator, and condenser. The absorbing solution continuously absorbs refrigerant vapor in the absorber, ensuring uninterrupted cooling action. The system design eliminates dead zones and ensures constant flow, maintaining continuous useful action throughout the cooling cycle.
2Temperature
If a separated heat storage medium with high-temperature resistance is used to recover exhaust energy, then high-temperature heat recovery is achieved, but the structure becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The absorbing solution serves multiple functions: it acts as both the cooling medium in the absorber and the heat transfer fluid in the heat exchanger for exhaust energy recovery. This dual functionality eliminates the need for separate heat storage media, simplifying the overall system structure while maintaining high-temperature heat recovery capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the heat recovery function with the cooling function by using the same absorbing solution circuit for both purposes. The heat exchanger integrated into the absorbing solution loop combines exhaust heat recovery with system cooling, reducing the number of separate components and simplifying the overall system architecture.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the vapor generation amount in the ejector changes with engine operation state, then the system adapts to engine conditions, but cooling capacity fluctuates and continuous necessary cooling performance is difficult to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a controller that monitors the battery temperature and engine operation state, and adjusts the absorbing solution flow rate accordingly. This feedback control mechanism ensures that cooling capacity remains stable and adequate regardless of engine conditions, maintaining reliable cooling performance while adapting to different operating scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses variable flow rates of the absorbing solution instead of fixed vapor generation. The flow rate is dynamically adjusted based on battery temperature and engine state, allowing the system to adapt to changing conditions while maintaining stable cooling capacity. This dynamic control replaces the static ejector-based vapor generation approach.
4Reliability
If the battery is operated at low temperature, then battery performance is improved, but heating the battery at car start becomes necessary
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic switching between cooling and heating modes based on battery temperature requirements. The controller monitors battery temperature and periodically switches the system operation: cooling mode when temperature is high, heating mode when temperature is low. This periodic action ensures battery operates in optimal temperature range for maximum performance.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device achieves continuous cooling and heating of batteries, stabilizes cooling performance across varying engine states, and simplifies the structure by eliminating the need for sorbents, reducing the size and cost of the heat exchange system.
Implementation Method 1
a regenerator which separates a refrigerant having a gas phase from an absorbing solution heated by a heat source to relatively increase concentration of the absorbing solution
Implementation Method 2
a condenser which condenses the refrigerant having a gas phase obtained in the regenerator to obtain the solvent having a liquid phase, by performing heat exchange with the outside
Implementation Method 3
an evaporator which evaporates the refrigerant having a liquid phase obtained in the condenser to obtain the refrigerant having a gas phase, by performing heat exchange with the outside
Implementation Method 4
an absorber which causes the absorbing solution to absorb the refrigerant to obtain the relatively diluted absorbing solution
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an absorption type heat pump device including: a battery, a battery case, a regenerator, a condenser, an evaporator, an absorber, and a controller, in which, in the cooling operation, heat exchange between the absorber and the outside of the absorber is performed, the refrigerant having a liquid phase is supplied to the battery case from the condenser, and the refrigerant having a gas phase which is obtained by evaporating the refrigerant having a liquid phase by the heat of the battery, is supplied to the absorber, and in the heating operation, heat exchange between the absorber and the battery case is performed, the refrigerant having a gas phase or a liquid phase is supplied to the absorber from the evaporator, and the absorbing solution with relatively high concentration which is accommodated in the regenerator is supplied to the absorber.