Battery Thermal Management Using Self-Heating and Refrigerant Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle battery thermal management systems suffer from poor heat resistance, low-temperature resistance, and low heating efficiency, leading to increased weight, manufacturing costs, and complexity due to external heat sources and complex pipelines.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle battery thermal management system integrating a heat conducting element connected to the vehicle air conditioning system and a self-heating circuit, allowing for high-frequency alternating charging and discharging for self-heating, and forming a battery refrigeration loop with the air conditioning system's compressor and outdoor condenser to maintain optimal battery temperature without external heat sources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If two sets of thermal management pipelines are arranged in the battery pack (one for refrigerant circulation and one for coolant circulation), then the cooling and heating functions are improved, but the device complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The existing air conditioning system's compressor and outdoor condenser are made to serve dual purposes: cooling the passenger compartment and cooling the power battery. By connecting the heat conducting element to these existing components, the system achieves battery thermal management without requiring dedicated battery cooling components, thus reducing device complexity while maintaining thermal management functionality.
2Temperature
If an external heat source is used to heat the power battery, then the heating function is achieved, but the manufacturing costs and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The power battery is made to heat itself through high-frequency alternating charging and discharging cycles. The battery's own internal resistance generates heat during these cycles, eliminating the need for external heating devices. This self-heating capability reduces manufacturing costs and simplifies the system structure while maintaining the required heating function.
3Temperature
If an external heat source is arranged in addition to the power battery, then the heating function is provided, but the weight and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The power battery utilizes its own electrochemical reactions to generate heat through high-frequency alternating charging and discharging. This self-heating mechanism eliminates the need for separate heating devices, reducing the overall weight of the battery pack while maintaining effective heating capability for low-temperature operation.
4Temperature
If external heat source heating is used for the power battery, then the heating function is achieved, but the heating efficiency is low
Solution Approach 1:
The power battery generates heat internally through its own electrochemical reactions during high-frequency alternating charging and discharging cycles. This self-heating process achieves high heating efficiency by directly converting electrical energy to thermal energy within the battery, avoiding energy losses associated with external heat transfer and eliminating the need for additional heating equipment.
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 enhances heat resistance and low-temperature resistance, reduces manufacturing costs and weight, and improves energy utilization by maintaining battery temperature within an appropriate range, enabling efficient operation in varying conditions without additional external heat sources.
Implementation Method 1
the battery refrigeration loop cools the power battery by absorbing heat from the power battery through a refrigerant in the heat conducting element
Implementation Method 2
the power battery implements high-frequency alternating charging and discharging for self-heating through the self-heating circuit
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle battery thermal management system includes a heat conducting element connected to a vehicle air conditioning system and a self-heating circuit connected to a vehicle power battery. The heat conducting element, a compressor of the vehicle air conditioning system, and an outdoor condenser of the vehicle air conditioning system form a battery refrigeration loop, and the battery refrigeration loop absorbs heat from the vehicle power battery through a refrigerant in the heat conducting element to cool down the vehicle power battery. The self-heating circuit and the vehicle power battery form a battery self-heating loop, and the self-heating circuit is configured to control the vehicle power battery to perform high-frequency alternating charging and discharging for self-heating in the battery self-heating loop.