Battery Thermal Circuit Switching for Year-Round Heating and Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional battery temperature adjusting devices can only cool battery cells and do not effectively warm them, which is necessary for year-round temperature adjustment, especially in cold periods, to maintain optimal battery performance.
Innovation Solution
A battery temperature adjusting device with a heat-exchange part and a heat medium circuit that includes both a warming circuit and a cooling circuit, controlled by a circuit switching unit to selectively warm or cool the battery cells based on temperature requests, using a heat medium that can be heated or cooled as needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If only a cooling circuit is used to adjust battery temperature, then cooling capability is improved, but warming capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The heat medium circuit is designed to perform multiple functions by integrating both a cooling circuit and a warming circuit. The same heat medium (refrigerant) is used for both cooling and warming operations, allowing the system to adapt to different temperature adjustment needs. The circuit switching unit enables the heat medium to be directed to either the cooling circuit or the warming circuit based on the battery's temperature requirements,从而实现 year-round temperature adjustment capability.
2Device complexity
If a single heat medium circuit is used for both cooling and warming, then device complexity is reduced, but temperature adjustment precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The heat medium circuit is segmented into distinct cooling and warming sub-circuits, each optimized for its specific function. The cooling circuit includes a compressor, condenser, and expansion valve for efficient cooling, while the warming circuit includes a heater and circulation pump for effective warming. The circuit switching unit directs the heat medium to the appropriate sub-circuit based on temperature requirements, maintaining temperature adjustment precision while avoiding the need for completely separate systems.
3Manufacturing precision
If separate cooling and warming circuits are used, then temperature adjustment precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling circuit and warming circuit are merged into a single integrated heat medium circuit system that shares common components such as the heat-exchange part, control unit, and circuit switching unit. The cooling circuit and warming circuit use the same heat medium and are controlled by a unified control system, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining the precision of separate temperature adjustment capabilities through the circuit switching unit.
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 solution allows for effective temperature adjustment of battery cells by selectively warming or cooling them, ensuring optimal performance and longevity regardless of environmental conditions, addressing the limitations of existing devices that only cool.
Implementation Method 1
a heat-exchange part configured to exchange heat between the battery and a heat medium
Implementation Method 2
exchange heat between the battery and a heat medium
Implementation Method 3
a warming circuit configured to flow the heat medium with a raised temperature to the heat-exchange part to warm the battery
Implementation Method 4
a cooling circuit configured to flow the heat medium cooled to the heat-exchange part to cool the battery
Data Source
AI summary
A battery temperature adjusting device includes a battery pack, a heat-exchange part for exchanging heat between the battery pack and a heat medium, and a heat medium circuit for flowing the heat medium to the heat-exchange part to adjust the temperature of the battery pack by flowing the heat medium to the heat-exchange part through the heat medium circuit to exchange heat with the battery pack. The heat medium circuit includes a warming circuit for flowing a warming medium to the heat-exchange part to warm the battery pack, and a cooling circuit for flowing a cooling medium to the heat-exchange part to cool the battery pack. The battery temperature adjusting device further includes a circuit switching unit switches between the circuits to connect the warming circuit to the heat-exchange part in warming the battery pack or to connect the cooling circuit to the heat-exchange part in cooling the battery pack.