Battery Cooling Circuit Switching for Cell Temperature Uniformity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heat management systems in electrified vehicles fail to evenly distribute temperature across multiple battery cells due to varying susceptibility to heat, leading to unequal temperature rise and inefficient heat dissipation.
Innovation Solution
A heat management system with multiple channels and switching devices to create isothermal circuits, separating heat-exchanging components and using a chiller device connected to a refrigeration cycle to equalize temperature, with sensors for temperature control and a pump to circulate the heat transfer medium.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the coolant flows through the onboard battery to cool the battery cells, then the battery cells can be cooled, but the temperature of the battery cells may not rise equally due to external heat transfer to the coolant
Solution Approach 1:
The heat management system is divided into multiple independent channels (first channel for battery cooling, second channel for drive device cooling, third channel with radiator, fourth channel with chiller device). This segmentation allows each channel to independently manage heat for specific components, enabling temperature equalization of battery cells without complex interactions between different cooling zones.
Solution Approach 2:
The switching device dynamically changes the connection state among the four channels based on real-time temperature conditions. When battery cells require temperature equalization, the switching device configures the channels to form an isothermal circuit; when other cooling needs arise, the configuration changes accordingly. This dynamic adaptability resolves the contradiction by providing simple targeted solutions rather than a permanently complex system.
2Temperature
If the drive device and radiator are connected to the same coolant circuit as the power storage device, then heat dissipation is efficient, but heat from the drive device transfers to the power storage device causing temperature imbalance
Solution Approach 1:
The coolant system is segmented into separate channels: the first channel serves the power storage device, the second channel serves the drive device, the third channel contains the radiator, and the fourth channel contains the chiller device. This segmentation physically isolates heat paths, preventing unwanted heat transfer from the drive device to the power storage device while maintaining efficient heat dissipation for each component through its dedicated channel.
Solution Approach 2:
The drive device and radiator are extracted from the power storage device's coolant circuit. By removing these heat-generating or heat-dissipating components from the battery cooling loop, the system eliminates the source of temperature imbalance while preserving their individual heat management capabilities through separate channels.
3Temperature
If the chiller device actively cools the heat transfer medium, then cooling efficiency is high, but temperature equalization of battery cells becomes difficult due to excessive cooling
Solution Approach 1:
The switching device dynamically controls when the chiller device operates and how the coolant channels are configured. During temperature equalization phases, the switching device may bypass the chiller device or configure channels to form an isothermal circuit that prevents excessive cooling. The chiller device only activates when and where cooling is actually needed, reducing energy consumption while maintaining temperature uniformity.
Solution Approach 2:
The chiller device is extracted from the mandatory path of the power storage device cooling circuit. By placing it in a separate fourth channel with switching control, the system can choose whether to engage active cooling based on actual needs, preventing unnecessary energy consumption while maintaining the ability to cool when required.
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
Effectively equalizes temperature across battery cells by suppressing heat transfer from drive devices and dissipating generated heat, ensuring uniform temperature distribution and efficient cooling.
Implementation Method 1
a power storage device that performs heat exchange with the heat transfer medium in the first channel
Implementation Method 2
a radiator provided on the third channel
Implementation Method 3
a chiller device provided on the fourth channel
Data Source
AI summary
The heat management system includes a power storage device in a first channel, a drive device in a second channel, a radiator in a third channel, a chiller device in a fourth channel, and a switching device. In a heat management system, when making the temperature of a plurality of power storage cells uniform, a first connected channel in which a first channel and a fourth channel are connected, and a second channel and a third channel are connected. The switching device is controlled so that the second connected channels that have been connected are separated from each other and become independent.