Battery Thermal Management Loop With Switchable Heating and Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electric and hybrid vehicles face challenges in maintaining battery charging and discharging efficiency across varying temperatures, which affects battery lifespan and charging speed.
Innovation Solution
A thermal management system incorporating a battery heat exchanger, pumps, heat exchangers, a heater, radiator, and valve devices, with a refrigerant and cooling liquid system that isolates flow channels for efficient heat exchange and temperature regulation, allowing the battery to be heated or cooled depending on conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a battery cooling system is used to cool the battery, then the battery temperature is reduced, but the charging and discharging efficiency decreases when the circumstance temperature is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic thermal management by enabling the battery thermal management system to switch between cooling mode and heating mode based on real-time temperature conditions. The system dynamically adjusts the flow direction of the coolant through valve control, allowing the battery to be cooled when overheated and heated when the ambient temperature is low, thereby optimizing charging and discharging efficiency across varying environmental conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs a multi-functional thermal management system that can perform both cooling and heating functions using the same battery thermal management infrastructure. By integrating heating elements and reversible flow control mechanisms, the system universally addresses both overheating and cold-temperature problems, eliminating the need for separate cooling and heating systems while maintaining battery performance across all temperature ranges
2Reliability
If the battery is cooled to prevent overheating, then the battery safety is improved, but the lifespan of the battery may be reduced due to low charging and discharging efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates temperature sensing and feedback control mechanisms that continuously monitor battery temperature and adjust the thermal management system accordingly. When the battery temperature exceeds safe thresholds, the system activates cooling; when the temperature is within optimal ranges or below threshold, the system switches to heating mode or maintains idle state, ensuring battery safety while preserving lifespan through intelligent, condition-based operation
3Device complexity
If a simple cooling system is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the system cannot maintain high charging and discharging efficiency under different circumstance temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the cooling and heating functions into a single integrated battery thermal management system. By combining cooling channels, heating elements, and flow control valves into one unified infrastructure, the system achieves high temperature adaptability without requiring separate independent systems, thereby balancing functionality with reasonable complexity
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 maintains high battery charging and discharging efficiency at both high and low temperatures, extending battery lifespan by effectively managing thermal conditions.
Implementation Method 1
the first heat exchanger includes a first flow channel and a second flow channel, the first flow channel and the second flow channel are isolated mutually, heat is exchangeable between a liquid in the first flow channel and a liquid in the second flow channel
Implementation Method 2
the cooling liquid in the heating/cooling loop flows into the radiator after being heated by the heater, and dissipates heat to external air out of the radiator
Implementation Method 3
the refrigerant is compressed with a high temperature and a high pressure status by the compressor
Implementation Method 4
the heater, the radiator and the second pump form a part of the heating/cooling loop
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
A thermal management system, the thermal management system comprises a coolant system, wherein the coolant system comprises a battery circuit and a heating/cooling circuit; a second flow channel of a first heat exchanger (103), a battery heat exchanger (107), and a first pump (108) form a part of the battery circuit, while a heater (110), a radiator (111), and a second pump (109) form a part of the heating/cooling circuit; a first valve device (115) turns on or blocks the battery circuit and the heating/cooling circuit; the coolant system comprises a connection portion (130), and the connection portion (130) turns on or blocks the battery circuit and the heating/cooling circuit.