Battery Cooling Control for Fast Charging Heat Balance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing battery cooling methods during fast charging in electric and hybrid vehicles are inefficient and can cause user confusion due to unpredictable cooling and recharging cycles, potentially leading to misinterpretation of vehicle malfunctions.

Innovation Solution

A method that determines a curve of thermal power dissipation during charging, compares it with maximum cooling power, and adjusts cooling device operation in successive stages to maintain optimal battery temperature and maximize recharging efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If fast charging with high current is used to reduce recharging duration, then recharging speed is improved, but battery temperature increases excessively

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverecharging speedVSAvoidbattery temperature
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling system dynamically adjusts its cooling power based on real-time battery temperature and thermal power dissipation. The control device modifies cooling parameters (such as coolant flow rate or compressor speed) during the recharging process to match the varying thermal demands, enabling fast charging while maintaining temperature control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes operational parameters of the cooling device (cooling power, coolant flow rate, compressor speed) in response to changing battery conditions during fast charging. By adjusting these parameters dynamically, the system can handle the increased thermal load from high-current charging while keeping the battery within safe temperature ranges.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Temperature

If cooling power is increased to control battery temperature during fast charging, then temperature control is improved, but recharging duration increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery temperature controlVSAvoidrecharging duration
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Rather than using constant high cooling power, the system dynamically adjusts cooling power to match the actual thermal needs at each moment during charging. This dynamic approach provides sufficient cooling when thermal load is high while reducing cooling intensity when less needed, thereby controlling temperature without unnecessarily extending recharging time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The control device continuously monitors battery temperature and thermal power dissipation, then autonomously adjusts cooling parameters to maintain optimal temperature. This self-regulating mechanism ensures temperature control is applied only when and where needed, avoiding excessive cooling that would waste time and energy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Temperature

If real-time control of charging and cooling is implemented to maintain battery temperature, then temperature management is improved, but user confusion increases due to unpredictable cycles

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery temperature managementVSAvoiduser understanding
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback control by continuously monitoring battery temperature and thermal power dissipation, then adjusting cooling parameters accordingly. This closed-loop control ensures temperature remains within optimal ranges while the control device can communicate the charging status and temperature management actions to the user in an understandable way, reducing confusion about system behavior.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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

Optimizes recharging time by balancing cooling and charging power, ensuring consistent user experience and preventing battery temperature exceedance, thus minimizing energy consumption and user confusion.

Implementation Method 1

the thermal power dissipated by the battery, by Joule effect, is also an increasing function of the current

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectJoule effect: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 2

a cooling power is imposed on the cooling device according to several successive stages decreasing over time

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP4441862B1Method for optimised cooling of an electric or hybrid vehicle battery
Publication Date: 2025.09.03 VALEO ELECTRIFICATION
  • EP4441862B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4441862B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for cooling an electric or hybrid vehicle battery, in which method the following steps are implemented: - determining a theoretical curve of thermal power (102) dissipated by the battery as a function of time during continuous charging of the battery and the duration of charging; - determining the maximum thermal power dissipated by the battery during charging; - determining a maximum cooling power (106) of a battery cooling device; - determining a theoretical maximum temperature reached by the battery during charging; - comparing the maximum cooling power (106) with the maximum thermal power dissipated by the battery; - and then charging the battery and, depending on the comparison, imposing a cooling power on the cooling device according to one or more successive stages of decreasing rotational speeds of the compressor.