EV Battery Air Cooling Layout With Split Evaporators and Blowers

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional cooling systems for electric vehicles are inadequate for cooling additional components beyond engine components, as they typically rely on liquid cooling for engines and air cooling for operators, failing to address the cooling needs of other components effectively.

Innovation Solution

An air cooling system comprising a compressor, condenser, evaporator coils, and multiple blowers to efficiently direct cooled air through battery housings and additional components, with specific volume distributions and airflow pathways to ensure effective cooling of battery modules and electronic components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional liquid cooling is used for engine components, then engine cooling is effective, but cooling of additional components (battery modules, electronic components) cannot be provided

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling coverageVSAvoidcooling effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling system is segmented into multiple independent evaporator coils (first evaporator coil for first battery housing, second evaporator coil for second battery housing) and multiple blowers (first blower, second blower, third blower). Each segment can independently cool specific components, allowing the system to provide targeted cooling for battery modules, electronic components, and other additional components while maintaining reliability for each cooled component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If a single cooling system is used for all components, then system complexity is reduced, but cooling effectiveness for different components with different cooling needs cannot be optimized

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling effectivenessVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Different parts of the cooling system are configured with different properties to match local cooling needs. The first evaporator coil and first blower are configured to provide higher cooling capacity (greater cool air volume) for the first battery housing with larger volume and more battery modules. The second evaporator coil and second blower are configured for the second battery housing with smaller volume. This local differentiation optimizes cooling effectiveness for each component while managing overall system complexity through modular design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If cool air volume is evenly distributed to all battery housings, then system simplicity is maintained, but cooling effectiveness for housings with different volumes cannot be optimized

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling effectivenessVSAvoidairflow control complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the parameter of cool air volume distribution to match the different volumes of battery housings. The first blower directs a first portion of cool air with a greater volume to the first battery housing, while the third blower directs a second portion of cool air with a smaller volume to the second battery housing. This parameter adjustment optimizes cooling effectiveness for each housing size without requiring complex active control systems, as the volume distribution is determined by the modular configuration of evaporator coils and blowers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 system provides efficient cooling of battery modules and electronic components, optimizing airflow distribution to maintain optimal operating temperatures and reduce energy consumption.

Implementation Method 1

a first evaporator coil that includes a first side at which warm air is received and a second side at which cool air exits after having passed through the first evaporator coil

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 2

a compressor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Implementation Method 3

a condenser

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCondensation: Condensation

Implementation Method 4

a first blower to direct a first portion of the cool air from the second side of the first evaporator coil into the first battery housing

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectForced convection: Forced Convection

Data Source

PatentEP4538078B1Air cooling system for an electric vehicle
Publication Date: 2026.02.25 KUBOTA CORP
  • EP4538078B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4538078B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4538078B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A vehicle (10) includes a first battery housing (600) to house a plurality of first battery modules (61), a second battery housing (70) to house a plurality of second battery modules (71), and an air cooling system to cool the plurality of first battery modules and the plurality of second battery modules. The air cooling system includes a compressor (362), a condenser (531), a first evaporator coil (3551L) that includes a first side at which warm air is received and a second side at which cool air exits after having passed through the first evaporator coil, and a second evaporator coil (3551R) that includes a first side at which warm air is received and a second side at which cool air exits after having passed through the second evaporator coil.