Traction Battery Thermal Management Using EV Radiator Waste Heat
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing traction battery temperature management systems in vehicles suffer from high energy consumption and inefficiencies in cooling and heating, particularly due to reliance on air conditioners and cooling liquids or refrigerants, which affect vehicle endurance mileage.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that integrates a vehicle's electrically-driven system radiator with the traction battery cooling apparatus, allowing the use of the electrically-driven radiator to manage temperature without additional energy consumption by reusing low-grade heat from the electrically-driven system for both cooling and heating the traction battery, reducing the need for separate cooling and heating apparatuses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If cooling by using cooling liquid is employed, then cooling effect is improved, but energy consumption increases due to air conditioner compressor operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the battery cooling system with the vehicle's existing cooling liquid circulation system. The battery cooling plate is integrated into the cooling liquid circulation path, allowing the same cooling liquid to serve both the engine/EV system and the battery, eliminating the need for a separate cooling system and reducing overall energy consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling liquid circulation system performs multiple functions: it cools the engine, cools the EV drive system, and cools the battery. This multi-functional approach eliminates redundant systems and reduces total energy consumption while maintaining effective cooling of all components
2Productivity
If cooling by using refrigerant is employed, then cooling efficiency is improved and system weight is reduced, but temperature consistency of battery cells deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces cooling liquid as an intermediary heat transfer medium between the battery and the cooling system. The cooling liquid absorbs heat from the battery through the cooling plate and transports it to the heat exchanger, providing uniform heat removal across all battery cells and maintaining temperature consistency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the heat transfer function from the refrigerant and assigns it to the cooling liquid. By separating the heat absorption function (performed by cooling liquid at the battery) from the heat rejection function (performed by refrigerant at the heat exchanger), the system achieves both efficient cooling and uniform temperature distribution
3Speed
If heating by using heating film is employed, then heating rate is improved and temperature uniformity is excellent, but safety risk increases due to potential short-circuit and thermal runaway
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the electrical heating film system with a thermal heating system using the cooling liquid circulation system. The PTC heater element is integrated into the cooling liquid path, using thermal conduction through the cooling plate rather than direct electrical contact with battery cells, thereby eliminating short-circuit risks while maintaining effective heating
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling liquid and cooling plate serve as intermediary thermal conduction elements between the heat source (PTC heater) and the battery cells. This indirect heating method eliminates direct electrical contact, removing the risk of short-circuits and thermal runaway while still achieving high heating rates through efficient thermal conduction
4Reliability
If heating by using cooling liquid with PTC heater is employed, then safety is improved, but energy consumption increases due to intermediate heat transfer
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the heating function with the existing cooling liquid circulation system. The same cooling liquid that normally cools the battery is used for heating by reversing the heat flow direction through the PTC heater, eliminating the need for separate heating components and reducing overall system energy consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling liquid circulation system performs both cooling and heating functions depending on operational conditions. By integrating the PTC heater into the existing circulation path, the system achieves multi-functionality, using the same fluid and infrastructure for both temperature reduction and temperature maintenance, thereby minimizing energy consumption
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
Reduces energy consumption in temperature management by utilizing the electrically-driven system's radiator to cool or heat the traction battery, thereby increasing vehicle endurance mileage and ensuring efficient temperature regulation without additional energy expenditure.
Implementation Method 1
an electrically-driven radiator of the cooling apparatus of the electrically-driven system is controlled to cool a cooling liquid in a cooling pipeline of the traction battery
Implementation Method 2
the cooling liquid in the cooling pipeline of the cooling apparatus of the electrically-driven system is controlled to heat the cooling liquid in the cooling pipeline of the traction battery
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to the technical field of traction battery temperature management for vehicles, and specifically relates to a vehicle and a traction battery temperature management method and system therefor. The method includes: controlling, when a cooling condition is reached and in cases where an environment temperature is not greater than a preset environment temperature and a temperature of a cooling liquid of an electrically-driven system is not greater than a preset cooling liquid temperature, an electrically-driven radiator of a cooling apparatus of the electrically-driven system to cool a cooling liquid in a cooling pipeline of a traction battery; and controlling, when a heating condition in a vehicle running process is reached and in a case where a temperature of a battery falls within a first set temperature range, the cooling liquid in a cooling pipeline of the cooling apparatus of the electrically-driven system to heat the cooling liquid in the cooling pipeline of the traction battery. That is, the traction battery is cooled by using an electrically-driven cooling module according to the environment temperature such that energy consumption of cooling the traction battery in a low-temperature environment can be reduced; and the traction battery is heated by using the electrically-driven system according to a state of the vehicle such that energy consumption of heating the traction battery can be reduced.