Vehicle Thermal Management for Battery Cooling in Heating Mode
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Solution Overview
Problem
In new energy electric vehicles or hybrid electric vehicles, the power battery's performance and lifespan are affected by temperature, with high temperatures leading to thermal runaway and reduced battery life if heat is not properly dissipated.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle thermal management system is developed, comprising an air conditioning system and a battery cooling system, which includes a compressor, three-way valves, heat exchangers, throttling elements, and a controller to manage refrigerant flow and coolant circulation, ensuring effective heat exchange between the air conditioning system and the battery cooling system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a separate battery cooling system is added, then battery cooling is effective, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The battery cooling system is integrated with the existing air conditioning system by sharing the evaporator and utilizing the same refrigerant circulation pathway. The battery cooling device connects to the evaporator outlet, allowing the refrigerant to flow through the battery cooling device after leaving the evaporator. This merging reduces the need for completely separate systems and components.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses dynamic control through electronic expansion valves and pumps that can adjust their operation based on real-time temperature requirements. The electronic expansion valve can regulate refrigerant flow to the battery cooling device, and the pump can adjust coolant flow to the radiator, enabling flexible adaptation to different operating conditions without fixed mechanical configurations.
2Temperature
If the battery cooling device is always connected to the evaporator, then cooling is available, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic expansion valve dynamically controls the refrigerant flow to the battery cooling device based on real-time temperature needs. When battery cooling is required, the valve opens to allow refrigerant flow; when not needed, the valve closes or reduces flow. This dynamic control prevents continuous energy consumption and allows flexible adaptation to different operating conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses temperature sensors to automatically detect when battery cooling is needed and activates the cooling pathway only when necessary. The controller monitors battery temperature and autonomously decides when to open the electronic expansion valve and activate the pump, eliminating the need for continuous operation and reducing 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 cools the vehicle battery during both cooling and heating modes of the air conditioning system, maintaining the battery within an optimal temperature range and preventing thermal runaway, thus extending battery lifespan and ensuring reliable vehicle performance.
Implementation Method 1
ensuring effective heat exchange between the air conditioning system and the battery cooling system
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
A vehicle thermal management system (100) and a transportation refrigeration vehicle are provided. The vehicle thermal management system comprises: an air conditioning system (100), comprising a compressor (111), a first three-way valve (112), a first outdoor heat exchanger (113), an indoor heat exchanger (114), a regulating valve (115), an intermediate heat exchanger (116), and a first throttling element (117), a second throttling element (118), and a third throttling element (119) with a shut-off function connected through pipelines, and a battery cooling system (120), comprising a second outdoor heat exchanger (121), a battery cooling device (122), and a second three-way valve (123) connected through pipelines. The vehicle thermal management system can not only cool the vehicle battery when the air conditioning system is in a cooling mode, but also cool the vehicle battery when the air conditioning system is in a heating mode, without affecting the independent cooling function of the vehicle battery, which is conducive to ensuring that the vehicle battery is always within the appropriate temperature range during operation.