Vehicle Battery Cooling Using Shared HVAC Airflow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling systems for vehicle batteries are inefficient and costly, as they require separate heat exchangers and refrigerant tubing, and using cabin air for cooling can reduce cabin comfort and effectiveness when cabin air is hot.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses a heat exchanger to cool air, which is then blown across the battery and cabin using a blower, with adjustable air distribution to prioritize cooling or warming based on needs, eliminating the need for refrigerant tubes by using air ducts, and incorporating an air heater or evaporator core to mix air temperatures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate heat exchanger is used to cool the battery, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but system cost and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the battery cooling function with the existing cabin HVAC system by integrating a battery air supply duct into the HVAC airflow path. The HVAC system's heat exchanger, blower, and ductwork are shared for both cabin climate control and battery cooling, eliminating the need for a separate battery cooling system while maintaining effective cooling performance
Solution Approach 2:
The HVAC system is designed to serve dual purposes: cooling the cabin and cooling the battery. The distribution gate enables the system to dynamically allocate cooled air between the cabin and battery based on their respective cooling needs, making the system versatile and adaptable to different operating conditions
2Device complexity
If cabin air is used to cool the battery, then system simplicity is improved, but cooling effectiveness decreases when cabin air is hot
Solution Approach 1:
The distribution gate is designed to dynamically adjust airflow allocation between the cabin and battery based on real-time temperature conditions. When the battery requires cooling, the gate directs a portion of the cooled HVAC air to the battery while maintaining cabin comfort, enabling the system to adapt to varying thermal demands
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the temperature parameter of the air used for battery cooling by routing it through the HVAC heat exchanger. Even when cabin air is hot, the heat exchanger cools the air before it reaches the battery, ensuring effective cooling while still using the existing HVAC infrastructure
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
This solution effectively cools both the battery and cabin while optimizing thermal control and reducing costs by eliminating the need for expensive refrigerant tubes and improving cabin comfort by allowing for flexible air distribution and temperature mixing.
Implementation Method 1
a heat exchanger to cool air
Implementation Method 2
a blower in fluid communication with the heat exchanger to blow the air across the heat exchanger
Data Source
AI summary
Air is cooled by a heat exchanger of a vehicle. The cooled air is directed to a cabin and/or battery of the vehicle. Ports in the cooling path direct the cooled air to the cabin and/or battery.