Vehicle Battery and Power Electronics Airflow Switching in Cold Conditions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing temperature control systems for vehicles, particularly electric vehicles, face challenges in effectively managing the temperature of both batteries and power electronics devices, as they generate heat during operation, leading to inefficient cooling strategies when outside air temperatures are low or variable.
Innovation Solution
A temperature control system that includes a battery, power electronics device, air passages, intake passages for inside and outside air, and control devices with passage switches and an intake opening/closing member, allowing for dynamic switching between power-electronics prioritized, battery prioritized, and retention states based on outside air temperature and power electronics output values to optimize heat exchange.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If outside air is used for cooling when outside air temperature is low, then cooling efficiency is improved, but battery temperature may drop below the proper operating range
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between inside air and outside air intake passages based on temperature conditions. The passage switches change the air flow path in real-time: using outside air when it provides better cooling, and switching to inside air when outside air temperature is too low to prevent battery overheating or excessive cooling.
Solution Approach 2:
The control device changes the temperature parameter of the cooling air by selecting different air sources. It monitors outside air temperature and switches from outside air (lower temperature for better cooling) to inside air (higher temperature when outside air is too cold), thereby adjusting the cooling intensity to maintain battery temperature within the proper range.
2Device complexity
If a single cooling strategy is used for both battery and power electronics, then system complexity is reduced, but temperature control precision for each component deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is segmented into separate controllable paths with individual passage switches for battery and power electronics. This segmentation enables precise temperature control for each component while maintaining relatively simple overall system architecture through modular design and independent control of each cooling path.
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 system ensures appropriate temperature control for both the battery and power electronics by prioritizing cooling based on heat generation and external temperature conditions, maintaining optimal operating temperatures even in low outside air temperatures, thereby enhancing vehicle performance and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
an air passage in which the battery and the power electronics device are disposed and through which air that exchanges heat with the battery and the power electronics device is to flow
Data Source
AI summary
A temperature control system includes a battery; a power electronics device that converts high-voltage electric power; an air passage; an inside-air intake passage and an outside-air intake passage that acquire inside air and outside air of a vehicle, and supply the airs to the air passage; an intake opening/closing member that opens and closes between the air passage and each of the intake passages; a passage switch that switches among a power-electronics prioritized state, a battery prioritized state, and a retention state; and a control device including a processor and a memory coupled to the processor. In a state in which a temperature of the outside air is lower than a battery lower limit temperature, the processor performs switching control of a power-electronics prioritized state, a battery prioritized state, and a retention state with the passage switches, based on an output value of the power electronics device.