Battery Thermal Control Using a Dedicated Heating Radiator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery temperature control devices for motor vehicles are inefficient in heating the battery, especially when starting from cold, due to delayed electronic control unit heating and energy-intensive thermo plungers, and result in heat loss and increased manufacturing costs.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a secondary battery radiator for direct heat transfer from the cooling fluid to the battery, a heat exchanger for transferring heat from the air-conditioning fluid to the cooling fluid, and a cold start valve system to enable efficient heating during cold starts without thermo plungers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a heat exchanger is used to transfer heat from the electronic control unit to the air-conditioning fluid, then heating capability is provided, but heat loss occurs and manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the heating function from the electronic control unit heat exchanger and relocates it to a dedicated battery heating radiator. This separates the cooling function for the electronic control unit from the heating function for the battery, eliminating heat loss in the air-conditioning fluid heat exchanger while providing direct heating capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The battery heating radiator serves multiple functions: it can be supplied by hot cooling fluid from the electronic control unit, by hot air-conditioning fluid directly from the compressor, or by both simultaneously. This multi-source capability provides universal heating solutions under different operating conditions without energy loss.
2Temperature
If thermo plungers are used to heat the battery during cold starts, then heating capability is provided, but energy consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary heating action by capturing and storing heat from the air-conditioning compressor discharge before the battery needs heating during cold starts. The hot air-conditioning fluid directly from the compressor heats the battery through the dedicated radiator, eliminating the need for energy-intensive thermo plungers during cold start conditions.
3Speed
If the main radiator is short-circuited to heat the battery, then heating response is improved, but cooling capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the heating and cooling functions into separate radiators: a main radiator for cooling the battery and a dedicated battery heating radiator for heating. This segmentation allows independent control of heating and cooling operations, enabling the main radiator to be short-circuited for rapid heating without compromising the cooling capability of the system.
Solution Approach 2:
The dedicated battery heating radiator acts as an intermediary component that receives hot fluid from either the cooling circuit or the air-conditioning circuit and transfers heat to the battery. This intermediary structure enables rapid heating response while preserving the original cooling pathway through the main radiator.
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
Enhances battery heating efficiency during cold starts with reduced energy consumption and eliminates heat loss, providing effective temperature control with improved manufacturing economics.
Implementation Method 1
an evaporator for direct transfer of heat emitted by the battery to the air-conditioning fluid
Implementation Method 2
a compressor making it possible to increase the pressure and the temperature of the air-conditioning fluid
Implementation Method 3
a heat exchanger that is arranged directly upstream of the battery radiator and makes it possible to transfer heat from the air-conditioning fluid directly to the cooling fluid
Implementation Method 4
a second, secondary radiator termed the 'battery radiator' for direct transfer of heat conveyed by the hot cooling fluid to the battery
Data Source
AI summary
A device that controls a temperature of a battery onboard a motor vehicle includes an air-conditioning circuit of the motor vehicle in which circulates, as a first heat-transfer fluid, an air-conditioning fluid. The air-conditioning circuit includes at least one evaporator for direct transfer of heat emitted by the battery to the air-conditioning fluid and a compressor to increase a pressure and a temperature of the air-conditioning fluid. The device also includes a cooling circuit in which circulates, as a second heat-transfer fluid, a cooling fluid. The cooling circuit includes at least one first heat source to heat the cooling fluid and at least one main radiator to cool the cooling fluid that can be short-circuited. The cooling circuit also includes a battery radiator to directly transfer heat conveyed by the hot cooling fluid to the battery when the main radiator of the cooling circuit is short-circuited.