EV Battery Thermal Circuit Layout for Rear Component Cooling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Electric drive vehicles face challenges in thermoregulation, particularly with large and heavy power storage systems that require complex cooling systems, leading to aerodynamic inefficiencies and increased weight, especially when trying to cool components located at the rear of the vehicle without compromising aerodynamics or aesthetics.
Innovation Solution
The vehicle incorporates a dual thermoregulation system where the main thermoregulation circuit is located at the front and uses a secondary thermoregulation circuit at the rear, leveraging the power storage system as a conduit for thermoregulation liquid, eliminating the need for rear radiators and reducing the need for large hydraulic pipes across the passenger compartment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a rear cooling system with radiator and air intake/outlet is arranged at the rear position, then rear components can be cooled effectively, but aerodynamic efficiency and aesthetic configuration are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the cooling function for rear components with the existing front thermoregulation system. The power storage system acts as a thermal conduit, allowing the front thermoregulation system to cool both the power storage system and rear components (OBC, DC/DC converter, hydraulic circuit) through integrated liquid circulation, eliminating the need for separate rear cooling infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The power storage system is given a dual function: it serves both as an energy storage device and as a thermal management conduit. The liquid circulation system uses the power storage system as an intermediate heat exchange medium, enabling the front thermoregulation system to provide cooling services to both front and rear components universally.
2Loss of energy
If large hydraulic pipes are arranged from front to back crossing the passenger compartment, then pressure losses are minimized, but weight and bulkiness increase noticeably
Solution Approach 1:
The power storage system serves as an intermediary thermal medium. Instead of running long hydraulic pipes from front to back, the system uses the power storage system as an intermediate heat exchange point. Liquid circulates from the front thermoregulation system to cool the power storage system, which then thermally couples to rear components, eliminating the need for long cross-compartment pipes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the thermal coupling function from the hydraulic piping system. By separating the thermal management function from the mechanical piping structure, the system eliminates heavy cross-compartment pipes while maintaining effective thermal coupling between front and rear components through the power storage system.
3Quantity of substance
If the power storage system is made large and heavy to increase energy capacity, then autonomy and range are improved, but vehicle weight increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The power storage system performs multiple functions simultaneously: energy storage, thermal management for front components, and thermal coupling for rear components. This multi-functionality maximizes the utility of the power storage system's mass, reducing the need for additional separate systems and thereby mitigating the overall weight penalty.
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
This configuration allows for efficient cooling of rear components without compromising aerodynamics or increasing weight, while simplifying production and reducing costs by minimizing the need for complex rear cooling systems and large pipes, maintaining effective temperature control within the power storage system.
Implementation Method 1
The container (7) has a lower wall (which constitutes the bottom of the vehicle facing the road surface) and houses the various groups of electrochemical cells inside... the main thermoregulation circuit (10) is arranged inside the power storage system (6)... In use, the thermoregulation liquid circulates through the main thermoregulation circuit (10)
Implementation Method 2
the thermoregulation liquid circulates through the main thermoregulation circuit (10) introducing the thermoregulation liquid into the inlet (11) and receiving (in equal measure) the thermoregulation liquid from the outlet (12)... the temperature interval within which the batteries optimally operate ranges between 10° and 30°
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A vehicle (1) having: a power storage system (6); a main thermoregulation circuit (10) that is configured to distribute a thermoregulation liquid within the power storage system (6); a thermoregulation system (13) that is arranged in a front position, and is configured to cause the thermoregulation liquid to circulate in the main thermoregulation circuit (10); at least one component (18, 19, 20) that is arranged in a rear position behind; and a secondary thermoregulation circuit (21) that is arranged in a rear position and is coupled to the component (18, 19, 20). The main thermoregulation circuit (10) has : a drawing point (22) that goes through the rear wall (9) of the power storage system (6) and supplies the thermoregulation liquid to the secondary thermoregulation circuit (21); and a return point (23) that goes through the rear wall (9) of the power storage system (6) and receives the thermoregulation liquid from the secondary thermoregulation circuit (21).