Battery Duct Layout for Electric Work Vehicle Thermal Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric work vehicles, such as electric tractors, face challenges in efficiently cooling their battery systems, particularly in managing temperature variations and optimizing airflow for effective heat dissipation.
Innovation Solution
The electric work vehicle incorporates a battery housing with multiple ducts of varying sizes and shapes, attached to different rows of battery housing module compartments. This configuration includes an electronic controller to manage a plurality of blowers, which are independently controlled based on battery module temperature and charging status, ensuring optimal airflow and heat dissipation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a single uniform duct configuration is used for all battery housing module compartments, then the device complexity is reduced, but the temperature management effectiveness deteriorates due to inability to address temperature variations across different rows
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by configuring ducts with different sizes and/or shapes according to their specific location and cooling requirements. Ducts attached to battery housing module compartments in a first row have different configurations than ducts attached to compartments in a second row, allowing each duct to be optimized for its local thermal conditions and improving overall temperature management effectiveness.
2Measurement precision
If multiple independently controlled blowers are used for different battery rows, then the temperature control precision is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional control systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the cooling system into multiple independent blower units, each associated with specific battery housing module compartments. This allows independent control of airflow to different rows, enabling precise temperature control for each segment while managing complexity through modular architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dynamics by enabling independent control of multiple blowers based on real-time temperature conditions and charging status. The system dynamically adjusts airflow distribution to match varying thermal demands of different battery rows, improving temperature control precision while adapting to changing operational conditions.
3Productivity
If ducts are configured to direct air towards evaporators located on the same side, then the device complexity is reduced, but the heat dissipation efficiency deteriorates due to limited airflow distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensionality change by distributing evaporators across different sides of the battery housing rather than concentrating them on one side. Ducts are configured to direct air towards evaporators on opposite sides, utilizing three-dimensional space more effectively and improving heat dissipation efficiency by distributing thermal load across multiple spatial dimensions.
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 manages temperature across the battery modules, enhancing the performance and longevity of the electric work vehicle by ensuring efficient heat dissipation and optimal operating conditions.
Implementation Method 1
The electric work vehicle further includes a plurality of blowers, and each of the plurality of blowers is attached to a respective one of the plurality of ducts
Implementation Method 2
the first number of the plurality of ducts, that include the second end that faces the forward direction of the electric work vehicle, direct air towards the first evaporator
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 1C
AI summary
An electric work vehicle includes a battery housing (30) and a plurality of ducts (86A, 86B, 86C, 86D). The battery housing (30) includes a plurality of battery housing module compartments to house a plurality of battery modules, and each of the plurality of ducts (86A, 86B, 86C, 86D) is attached to a respective one of the plurality of battery housing module compartments. The plurality of battery housing module compartments includes a first row of battery housing module compartments and a second row of battery housing module compartments spaced apart from the first row of battery housing module compartments in an up-down direction of the electric work vehicle, and one of the plurality of ducts (86A, 86C) attached to the first row of battery housing module compartments is a different size and/or shape than another one of the plurality of ducts (86B, 86D) attached to the second row of battery housing module compartments.