EV Battery Heat Storage Cooling Loop for Cold-Weather Range
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electric vehicles experience degradation in vehicle range when operated in extreme ambient temperatures, particularly at colder temperatures, due to ineffective thermal management systems.
Innovation Solution
An enhanced thermal management system for electric vehicles that utilizes the high voltage battery system as a thermal heat store, allowing heat exchange with other vehicle systems, and includes a controller to manage coolant flow between the battery, powertrain, and radiator, enabling various coolant flow states to optimize thermal performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional thermal management systems are used in electric vehicles, then the vehicle can operate in various environmental conditions, but the vehicle range degrades significantly when operated at colder temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the waste heat generated by the battery and powertrain into a beneficial resource for cabin heating. By capturing and redirecting this otherwise wasted thermal energy to heat the cabin in cold conditions, the system improves vehicle range without requiring additional energy consumption, directly addressing the degradation of range in cold temperatures
Solution Approach 2:
The thermal management system is designed to serve multiple functions: cooling the battery and powertrain when overheating, and heating the cabin when external temperatures are low. This multi-functional approach allows a single system to address both thermal management needs, improving reliability across varying environmental conditions without requiring separate dedicated systems
2Temperature
If external air heating or electrical cabin heating is used in cold conditions, then the cabin can be heated, but the vehicle range is reduced due to additional energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the vehicle's own waste heat from the battery and powertrain to heat the cabin, rather than consuming additional energy from the battery to power heating elements or air conditioning. This self-service approach eliminates the need for external energy input, maintaining vehicle range while providing cabin heating in cold conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the harmful waste heat that would otherwise be dissipated into a useful heating source for the cabin. By capturing this wasted thermal energy and redirecting it to the cabin, the system eliminates the need for energy-consuming heating methods, directly reducing energy consumption while maintaining cabin temperature
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 approach increases the performance and efficiency of electric vehicles by utilizing stored heat from the battery and powertrain, reducing reliance on external air or electrical cabin heating, thereby improving vehicle range and thermal management during cold conditions.
Implementation Method 1
coolant flow between the high voltage battery system, the power train system and the radiator
Implementation Method 2
heat exchange with other vehicle systems
Implementation Method 3
the high voltage battery system as a source of heat for another vehicle system
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are described herein for controlling heat flow between systems of an electric automotive vehicle. An automotive electric vehicle system includes a high voltage battery system including an enclosure, an electric powertrain system, a radiator, coolant lines that permit coolant flow between the high voltage battery system, the power train system and the radiator, one or more valves for routing coolant along the coolant lines, and a controller. The controller is configured to control the one or more valves to control the flow of coolant among a plurality of different, selectable coolant flow states involving the high voltage battery system, the powertrain system and the radiator.