Vehicle Battery Cooling Device Airflow Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle battery cooling systems face issues with air recirculation, where cooled air easily flows back into the battery-cooling inlet, complicating the passage structure and reducing cooling efficiency, and the charging device requires separate air supply passages, further complicating the system.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle battery cooling device with a box-shaped case behind the rear seat, where air is drawn into the case through separate inlet passages for the battery and charger, and the air conditioning system controls the recirculation of warmed air, directing it either outside or back into the cabin based on its status, with the charger's cooling passage used for air return during travel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the outlet passage for cooled air is opened behind the rear seat, then the cooling effect is achieved, but the cooled air easily flows back into the battery-cooling-air inlet port causing air recirculation and reduced cooling efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The air inlet passages are divided into separate upstream end portions: one opened behind and above the rear seat for battery cooling, and another opened to the space in front of the lower side of the rear seat for charger cooling. This segmentation prevents air recirculation by ensuring distinct air intake zones.
Solution Approach 2:
The air inlet passages are positioned at different spatial locations and orientations - one above the rear seat and another in front of the lower side - creating dimensional separation that prevents cooled air from flowing back into the inlet, thereby simplifying the passage structure while maintaining cooling efficiency.
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate air supply passages are provided for both battery and charger cooling, then both components can be cooled independently, but the passage structure becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The air conditioning device's outlet passage serves multiple functions: it can discharge warmed air to the outside when the battery temperature is high, and return warmed air to the cabin when the battery temperature is acceptable. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated passages for different cooling scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between two operational modes based on battery temperature conditions: (1) discharging cooled air to the outside when cooling is required, and (2) returning cooled air to the cabin when cooling is sufficient. This dynamic operation simplifies the passage structure by using a single configurable pathway instead of multiple fixed passages.
3Productivity
If the air conditioning device takes in air from lower part and blows out cool air to upper part, then effective air circulation is achieved, but the passage structure for returning cooled air becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The air inlet passage for charger cooling, positioned in front of the lower side of the rear seat, automatically serves dual purposes: it supplies air to the charger for cooling and simultaneously serves as the return passage for cooled battery air to be delivered to the cabin. This self-service arrangement eliminates the need for a separate return passage.
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 design enhances battery cooling efficiency, simplifies the passage structure, and improves mountability by utilizing the charger's passage for air return, reducing complexity and enhancing cooling performance.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling fan 35 for cooling the battery 28
Implementation Method 2
in a case in which the air conditioning device takes in air from a lower part of the cabin and blows out cool air to an upper part of the cabin
Data Source
AI summary
To achieve improvement in a vehicle battery cooling device in its effect on the cooling of a battery, and also in its mountability in a vehicle through simplification of a passage structure for the cooling. A structure is such that: an upstream end portion of an air inlet passage for cooling down a battery is opened behind and above a rear seat while an upstream end portion of an air inlet passage for cooling down a charger is opened to a space in front of a lower side of the rear seat; and in a case in which an air conditioning device takes in air from a lower part of a cabin and blows out cool air to an upper part of the cabin, air having cooled down the battery is returned into the cabin through the air inlet passage for cooling down the charger.