Battery-Coupled Vehicle Heat Exchanger Layout to Reduce Heat Loss
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicular heat exchange systems for electric vehicles face heat loss issues due to heat radiation outside the vehicle from the cooling water circuit and heat exchanger, which reduces the efficiency of heating the interior and increases power consumption.
Innovation Solution
A vehicular heat exchange system that includes a first heat exchanger for exchanging heat between refrigerant and air, a heating circuit for circulating refrigerant, a cooling water circuit for exchanging heat with a secondary battery, and a second heat exchanger for exchanging heat between refrigerant and cooling water, with the second heat exchanger and cooling water circuit being covered by a case to minimize heat loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the cooling water circuit and second heat exchanger are exposed to the exterior environment, then heat exchange with the external environment occurs, but heat is radiated outside the vehicle causing heat loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the cooling water circuit and second heat exchanger into a unified enclosed structure (the case). By combining these components and enclosing them together, the system prevents heat radiation to the external environment while maintaining the heat exchange function between cooling water and refrigerant, thereby reducing heat loss without significantly increasing structural complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a case (enclosure) to cover the cooling water circuit and second heat exchanger. This shell structure acts as a thermal barrier that prevents heat radiation to the external environment while allowing the internal heat exchange processes to continue, effectively reducing heat loss from the system
2Temperature
If refrigerant circulates through compression and heat exchange to heat the interior, then the interior can be heated, but power consumption increases reducing driving range
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the waste heat generated by the secondary battery during charging into a useful resource for heating the vehicle interior. By utilizing the second heat exchanger to transfer heat from the cooling water (which absorbs battery heat) to the refrigerant, the system transforms what would otherwise be wasted thermal energy into a beneficial heating source, thereby reducing the power consumption required for interior heating
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables the secondary battery to serve dual purposes: not only storing electrical energy but also providing thermal energy for interior heating. The battery's waste heat is utilized to preheat the cooling water, which then transfers heat to the refrigerant system, allowing the battery to contribute to the heating function and reduce the load on the primary heating system
3Loss of energy
If the second heat exchanger is provided outside the case, then accessibility and maintenance are easier, but heat is radiated outside the vehicle
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the second heat exchanger with the cooling water circuit and encloses both within the case structure. This integration ensures that the heat exchanger operates within a thermally controlled environment, preventing heat radiation to the external environment while the entire assembly can be designed as a modular unit for maintenance
4Use of energy by moving object
If cooling water circulates to exchange heat with the secondary battery, then battery heat can be utilized, but heat is lost to the external environment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the case enclosure to create a thermal barrier around the cooling water circuit. This shell structure prevents the cooling water from losing heat to the external environment while allowing it to effectively absorb heat from the secondary battery and transfer it to the refrigerant through the second heat exchanger, thereby improving energy utilization efficiency
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 reduces heat loss and utilizes heat generated by the secondary battery to efficiently heat the vehicle interior, enhancing energy usage and reducing power consumption.
Implementation Method 1
a first heat exchanger for causing heat to be exchanged between refrigerant and air in an interior of a vehicle
Implementation Method 2
a second heat exchanger for causing heat to be exchanged between the refrigerant and the cooling water
Implementation Method 3
a cooling water circuit for causing cooling water that exchanges heat with the secondary battery to circulate
Implementation Method 4
a case for covering the secondary battery, the cooling water circuit, and the second heat exchanger
Data Source
AI summary
There are included a first heat exchanger (42) for causing heat to be exchanged between refrigerant and air in an interior of a vehicle (1), a heating circuit (36) for causing the refrigerant with a temperature higher than that of the air in the interior of the vehicle to circulate through the first heat exchanger, a secondary battery (21) where charging and discharging of power are performed, a cooling water circuit (50) for causing cooling water that exchanges heat with the secondary battery to circulate, a second heat exchanger (61) for causing heat to be exchanged between the refrigerant and the cooling water, the second heat exchanger being provided in a manner including a portion of the heating circuit downstream of the first heat exchanger and a portion of the cooling water circuit, and a case (23) for covering the secondary battery, the cooling water circuit, and the second heat exchanger.