Battery Temperature Control System Using Engine Heat Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery temperature control systems for vehicles with internal combustion engines are inefficient in actively utilizing heat generated by the engine to quickly heat advanced lithium-ion batteries, which require higher temperatures for optimal performance.
Innovation Solution
A battery temperature control system that includes an engine cooling circuit, an exhaust heat recovery circuit, and a battery cooling circuit, with a channel switching mechanism and temperature sensors to selectively direct heat from the engine and exhaust heat recovery to the battery cooler, ensuring immediate and efficient heating of the battery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the heat generated by the internal combustion engine is used to warm the battery, then the battery temperature rises, but the heating response is delayed and the configuration becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-heating the coolant in the engine cooling circuit before it reaches the battery cooler. The coolant is heated by the engine and exhaust heat recovery in advance, so when the battery requires heating, the pre-heated coolant can immediately flow through the battery cooler, eliminating the delay of heating cold coolant from scratch.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements nesting by integrating the battery cooling circuit into the engine cooling system. The battery cooler is positioned within the engine cooling circuit, allowing the engine coolant to directly flow through and heat the battery. This nested configuration enables immediate heat transfer from the engine to the battery without requiring separate heating equipment or complex piping.
2Temperature
If the heat generated by the internal combustion engine is used to warm the battery, then the battery temperature rises, but the system configuration becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The engine cooling circuit is designed with multi-functionality to serve both engine cooling and battery heating purposes. The same coolant circulation system that cools the engine is used to heat the battery by routing coolant through the battery cooler. This universal approach eliminates the need for separate heating equipment, simplifying the overall system configuration while achieving effective battery temperature control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the battery cooling circuit with the engine cooling circuit, combining two separate functions into one integrated system. The coolant circulation paths are connected such that the engine coolant flows through both the engine and the battery cooler sequentially. This merging of circuits reduces the number of independent systems required, simplifying the overall configuration while maintaining effective temperature control for both components.
3Temperature
If the air conditioning system is used to cool the battery, then the battery temperature is controlled, but the energy consumption increases when the air conditioning system is under large load
Solution Approach 1:
The system converts the waste heat from the engine and exhaust heat recovery, which would otherwise be discarded, into a useful resource for heating the battery. By capturing and redirecting this waste heat through the coolant circulation system to the battery cooler, the system transforms a harmful waste product into a beneficial heating source, reducing the need for additional energy consumption from the air conditioning system or dedicated heaters.
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
The system allows for immediate and efficient heating of the battery, maintaining it at a suitable temperature while avoiding excessive heating, thereby enhancing the battery's output characteristics in higher temperature ranges.
Implementation Method 1
a coolant in an internal combustion engine (e.g., an internal combustion engine 3 described later) is circulated between a coolant jacket and a radiator
Implementation Method 2
a coolant in an internal combustion engine (e.g., an internal combustion engine 3 described later) is circulated between a coolant jacket and a radiator (e.g., a radiator 6 described later) by a coolant pump (e.g., a coolant pump 5 described later)
Implementation Method 3
a coolant in an exhaust heat recovery device (e.g., an EGR cooler 4 described later) that recovers exhaust heat of the internal combustion engine flows
Implementation Method 4
a coolant in a battery cooler (e.g., a battery cooler 10 described later) that cools a battery (e.g., a battery 2 described later) of a vehicle having the internal combustion engine flows
Implementation Method 5
a coolant in a battery cooler (e.g., a battery cooler 10 described later) that cools a battery (e.g., a battery 2 described later) of a vehicle having the internal combustion engine flows
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a battery temperature control system having a simple configuration and capable of immediately raising a battery temperature by actively using heat generated by an internal combustion engine. The battery temperature control system includes: an engine cooling circuit in which a coolant in an internal combustion engine is circulated between a coolant jacket and a radiator by a coolant pump; an exhaust heat recovery circuit in which a coolant in an EGR cooler that recovers exhaust heat of the internal combustion engine flows; a battery cooler-destined branch circuit that is branched from the engine cooling circuit and goes toward an upstream side of the battery cooler in the battery cooling circuit 11; and a channel switching mechanism that selectively connects a downstream side of at least one of the exhaust heat recovery circuit or the battery cooler-destined branch circuit to the upstream side of the battery cooler in the battery cooling circuit.