Vehicle Battery Cooling Control During Defroster Operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle battery cooling systems do not effectively harmonize battery cooling with defrost functions, leading to potential visibility issues during defrost operations and inadequate battery protection.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle control system that integrates a battery cooler and an air conditioner with a defroster mode, where the control unit adjusts the cooling amount of the battery cooler and the operation of the air conditioner based on the battery temperature and vehicle state, ensuring harmonized cooling and defrosting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the air conditioner operates in defroster mode to reduce window fogging, then visibility is improved, but battery cooling capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the air conditioner's operational mode based on real-time conditions. When the vehicle is moving and defrosting is needed, the AC operates in defroster mode. When the vehicle is stopped and battery cooling is prioritized, the AC is stopped entirely, allowing maximum refrigerant flow to the battery cooler. This dynamic switching resolves the contradiction between visibility needs and battery cooling requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of the air conditioner based on vehicle state. By switching between defroster mode (when moving) and complete shutdown (when stopped), the system optimizes the balance between window defogging performance and battery cooling efficiency, ensuring both functions operate at peak effectiveness under their respective optimal conditions.
2Reliability
If the cooling amount of the battery is increased to protect the battery, then battery protection is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary assessment of battery temperature conditions before initiating cooling. Only when battery temperature exceeds the reference temperature does the system activate the battery cooler, avoiding unnecessary energy consumption during normal operating conditions while ensuring battery protection is activated precisely when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies cooling capacity selectively based on actual needs. When the vehicle is stopped, the AC is completely stopped and maximum cooling capacity is directed to the battery. When the vehicle is moving, the system accepts reduced cooling capacity in exchange for maintaining visibility through defroster operation. This partial action approach optimizes the balance between battery protection and energy consumption.
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 effectively reduces window fogging during defrost mode while providing adequate battery cooling, ensuring both user visibility and battery protection.
Implementation Method 1
The battery cooler is configured to cool the battery with a coolant that is cooled by heat exchange with a refrigerant flowing through the air conditioner
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle includes a battery for traveling; an air conditioner that includes a defroster mode and that is configured to air-condition a vehicle cabin using a refrigeration cycle; a battery cooler configured to cool the battery with a coolant that is cooled by heat exchange with a refrigerant flowing through the air conditioner; and a control unit configured to control the air conditioner and the battery cooler. In a case where a temperature of the battery is higher than a reference temperature, the control unit operates the battery cooler and controls the air conditioner such that the air conditioner operates in the defroster mode when the vehicle is moving, and the control unit operates the battery cooler and stops the air conditioner when the vehicle is stopped.