Battery Housing Air Cooling Layout for Electric Work Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric vehicles, particularly electric tractors, face challenges in efficiently cooling their battery systems, which can lead to reduced performance and longevity due to inadequate heat management.
Innovation Solution
An electric work vehicle, such as an electric tractor, is equipped with a battery housing that includes multiple compartments and an air cooling system with dual evaporators and ducts that direct warm air in specific directions to efficiently exhaust heat from the battery modules, utilizing a blower and ducts to optimize airflow for effective cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single evaporator and single warm air path are used for battery cooling, then the device complexity is reduced, but the cooling efficiency and heat management capability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The battery housing is divided into multiple compartments (first battery housing portion, second battery housing portion, third battery housing portion) with each having dedicated evaporators and warm air paths. This segmentation allows independent cooling zones for different battery modules, improving heat management effectiveness while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces multiple evaporators arranged in different spatial dimensions (first evaporator in first battery housing portion, second evaporator in second battery housing portion, third evaporator in third battery housing portion) with corresponding multi-directional warm air paths. This three-dimensional cooling architecture enhances heat dissipation coverage and efficiency without proportionally increasing system complexity.
2Device complexity
If warm air is exhausted in a single direction from the battery housing, then the duct structure is simplified, but the heat exhaust efficiency and cooling performance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs asymmetric duct configurations with different exhaust directions for different battery housing portions. The first warm air path exhausts in a first direction, the second warm air path exhausts in a second direction, and the third warm air path exhausts in a third direction. This asymmetric multi-directional design optimizes heat exhaust efficiency by directing warm air away from different thermal zones independently, without requiring overly complex ductwork.
Solution Approach 2:
The exhaust system is segmented into multiple independent warm air paths (first warm air path, second warm air path, third warm air path), each serving specific battery housing portions. This segmentation allows each duct to be relatively simple in structure while the collective system achieves high heat exhaust efficiency through coordinated multi-directional operation.
3Ease of manufacture
If uniform opening sizes are used in the battery housing, then the manufacturing process is simplified, but the airflow optimization and cooling uniformity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality variations in the battery housing openings. The first battery housing portion has a first opening with specific size characteristics, the second battery housing portion has a second opening with different size characteristics, and the third battery housing portion has a third opening with yet another size characteristic. This localized differentiation optimizes airflow distribution and cooling uniformity across different thermal zones, while each individual opening remains simple to manufacture.
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 described cooling system effectively manages heat within the battery modules, enhancing the performance and longevity of the electric vehicle by maintaining optimal operating temperatures.
Implementation Method 1
the air cooling system includes a first evaporator and a second evaporator, the air cooling system includes a first warm air path and a second warm air path, the first warm air path fluidly connects the first battery housing portion to the first evaporator to exhaust first warm air from the first battery housing portion to the first evaporator
Implementation Method 2
the electric work vehicle further includes a blower, and the blower is attached the second end of the duct
Data Source
AI summary
An electric work vehicle includes a battery housing including a first battery housing portion, and an air cooling system. The battery housing includes a plurality of battery housing module compartments to house a plurality of battery modules, the air cooling system includes a first evaporator and a second evaporator, the air cooling system includes a first warm air path and a second warm air path, the first warm air path fluidly connects the first battery housing portion to the first evaporator to exhaust first warm air from the first battery housing portion to the first evaporator, and the second warm air path fluidly connects the first battery housing portion to the second evaporator to exhaust second warm air from the first battery housing portion to the second evaporator.