Vehicle Cooling Control for Battery Protection During Refrigerant Faults
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle-mounted cooling systems face challenges in effectively cooling batteries during abnormalities in the air-conditioning refrigerant circuit, such as failures in the heat dissipation fan, which can lead to excessive battery temperature rises and potential damage.
Innovation Solution
A control device that determines abnormalities in the air-conditioning refrigerant circuit and adjusts the refrigerant-circulation control mode to prioritize battery cooling, restricting compressor driving and refrigerant pressure to prevent overheating while maintaining a simpler configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the heat dissipation fan fails in the air-conditioning refrigerant circuit, then air conditioning function deteriorates, but battery cooling must be maintained to prevent overheating
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches refrigerant circulation modes based on abnormality detection. When a heat dissipation fan failure is detected, the control device transitions from a normal dual-function mode to an abnormality-specific mode that prioritizes battery cooling by adjusting refrigerant flow distribution, thereby adapting the system behavior to maintain battery cooling reliability under faulty conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The control device changes refrigerant circulation parameters (flow rate, pressure, distribution ratio) when abnormality is detected. By modifying these parameters specifically for battery cooling priority, the system ensures continuous effective cooling of the battery even when air conditioning performance deteriorates due to fan failure
2Productivity
If the compressor drives at high speed to cool the battery, then battery cooling efficiency improves, but refrigerant pressure rises excessively causing safety risks
Solution Approach 1:
The control device optimizes compressor operating parameters (rotation speed, discharge pressure) to achieve effective battery cooling while maintaining refrigerant pressure within safe limits. By carefully adjusting these parameters rather than simply maximizing compressor speed, the system achieves high cooling efficiency without excessive pressure buildup
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback control by monitoring refrigerant pressure and battery temperature simultaneously. When abnormality occurs, the control device continuously adjusts compressor output based on real-time pressure feedback to prevent excessive pressure rise while maintaining sufficient cooling capacity for the battery
3Reliability
If the refrigerant circulation mode is changed during abnormality, then battery cooling is prioritized, but air conditioning performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The refrigerant circulation system is segmented into separate controllable pathways for battery cooling and air conditioning. During abnormality, the control device can independently adjust refrigerant flow to each pathway, prioritizing battery cooling by allocating more refrigerant to the battery cooling circuit while reducing flow to the air conditioning circuit, thereby maintaining battery cooling continuity with controlled degradation of air conditioning performance
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 control device ensures continuous battery cooling during air-conditioning refrigerant circuit abnormalities, preventing excessive temperature rises and protecting the battery and refrigerant piping, while allowing for efficient air conditioning when vehicle speed increases.
Implementation Method 1
a battery cooling unit that cools the battery using the refrigerant circulated in the refrigerant passage
Implementation Method 2
a compressor that compresses a refrigerant
Implementation Method 3
a heat source-side heat exchanger
Implementation Method 4
a use-side heat exchanger
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle-mounted cooling system includes an air-conditioning refrigerant circuit including a refrigerant passage, a compressor, a heat source-side heat exchanger and a use-side heat exchanger, a battery, and a battery cooling unit cooling the battery using the refrigerant. A control device controls a drive state of the compressor in response to an air-conditioning request and a battery cooling request. The control device includes an abnormality determination unit configured to determine whether an abnormality has occurred in the air-conditioning refrigerant circuit, and a control mode change unit configured to perform, under a situation where the battery cooling request has occurred and it is determined that an abnormality has occurred in the air-conditioning refrigerant circuit, a change of a refrigerant-circulation control mode while permitting the battery cooling unit to continuously cool the battery based on the refrigerant, the refrigerant-circulation control mode representing how the refrigerant is circulated in the air-conditioning refrigerant circuit.