Battery Thermal Management Circuit With Opposed Flow Cancellation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing thermal management circuits for batteries require complex control to switch the flow of a heat medium, making it difficult to easily switch between the flowing and non-flowing states of the heat medium.
Innovation Solution
A thermal management circuit that includes a battery, a first flow path for the heat medium, and flow rate adjusting units to control the flow rate of the heat medium, allowing easy switching between flowing and non-flowing states by adjusting the flow rates in opposite directions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a control valve is used to switch the flow path of the heat medium, then the flow of the heat medium can be switched, but the control becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the flow control function from a complex valve-based system and implements it through simple flow rate adjusting units that modify the flow characteristics of the heat medium. This removes the need for complex valve switching mechanisms while achieving the same flow control objective, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the control parameter from binary valve on/off states to continuous flow rate adjustment. By using flow rate adjusting units that can vary the flow characteristics continuously, the system achieves smoother control with fewer discrete components, simplifying the overall control mechanism while improving operational flexibility.
2Ease of operation
If flow rate adjusting units are used to control heat medium flow, then switching between flowing and non-flowing states becomes easy, but additional components are introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The flow rate adjusting units are designed to perform multiple functions: they can fully open the flow path for normal operation, partially restrict flow for rate control, and fully close the flow path to stop flow completely. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate valves for different flow states, reducing the total number of components while maintaining ease of switching between flowing and non-flowing states.
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 configuration simplifies the control of the heat medium flow, enabling easy switching between flowing and non-flowing states, which is essential for efficient thermal management of batteries.
Implementation Method 1
a first flow path through which the heat medium to exchange heat with the battery flows
Implementation Method 2
a first flow path through which the heat medium to exchange heat with the battery flows
Implementation Method 3
a first flow rate adjusting unit configured to adjust a flow rate of the heat medium that flows in a first direction in the first flow path
Implementation Method 4
a second flow rate adjusting unit configured to adjust a flow rate of the heat medium that flows in a second direction opposite to the first direction in the first flow path
Implementation Method 5
a stopped state in which a flow of the heat medium in the first flow path is stopped by canceling out a flow of the heat medium in the first direction in the first flow path and a flow of the heat medium in the second direction in the first flow path
Data Source
AI summary
The thermal management circuit includes a battery, a first flow path through which a heat medium in which heat exchange is performed between the battery and the battery flows, a water pump (first flow rate adjusting unit), and a water pump (second flow rate adjusting unit). In the thermal management circuit, the flow rate of the heat medium is adjusted by each of the water pump and the water pump, whereby the flow state and the stop state are switched. In the above stop state, the flow of the heat medium toward one side in the first flow path and the flow of the heat medium toward the other side in the first flow path are canceled, whereby the flow of the heat medium in the first flow path is stopped.