Bidirectional Blower Fan for Vehicle Battery Temperature Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle battery temperature control systems face challenges in efficiently raising and lowering battery temperatures without increasing costs or deteriorating fuel economy, particularly when the duct route from the exhaust to the battery is long, and dedicated heating units are costly and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle battery temperature control apparatus that includes a battery temperature detector, a first duct, a second duct, an exhaust pipe, a heat receiver, and a blower fan, where the blower fan rotates bidirectionally to introduce cooling air or heated air from the exhaust pipe into the battery compartment, controlled by a processor to maintain optimal temperature ranges without a dedicated heating unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a dedicated heating unit is provided to raise battery temperature, then battery temperature control is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The exhaust pipe serves multiple functions: it exhausts gases from the engine and simultaneously acts as a heating source for the battery by transferring heat to air that is then circulated into the battery compartment. This eliminates the need for a dedicated heating unit while maintaining effective temperature control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the engine's own exhaust heat, which would otherwise be wasted, to heat the battery. This self-service approach converts a harmful byproduct (exhaust heat) into a useful resource for temperature control, avoiding additional heating equipment.
2Temperature
If exhaust heat is used to raise battery temperature through a long duct route, then heating function is improved, but heat loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
Air acts as an intermediary medium that transfers heat from the exhaust pipe to the battery. The air is heated as it passes over or near the exhaust pipe, then circulated into the battery compartment, efficiently transferring thermal energy over the necessary distance without significant heat loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses air flow (pneumatics) to transport thermal energy from the exhaust pipe to the battery. By circulating air through the exhaust area and then into the battery compartment, the system efficiently transfers heat over distance without requiring direct thermal contact or suffering significant heat loss along the path.
3Device complexity
If bidirectional fan rotation is used for both cooling and heating, then device complexity is reduced, but control precision may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The fan's rotation direction is dynamically changed based on temperature requirements. The control unit monitors battery temperature and switches the fan between clockwise rotation (cooling mode) and counterclockwise rotation (heating mode), allowing a single component to adapt to different operational requirements while maintaining precise temperature control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses periodic switching between heating and cooling modes based on temperature feedback. The fan alternates between different rotation directions in response to temperature conditions, creating a periodic control action that maintains the battery within the optimal temperature range through repeated monitoring and adjustment cycles.
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
Effectively controls battery temperature within a desired range (10°C to 50°C), maintaining charge and discharge characteristics while avoiding the need for additional heating units and minimizing fuel consumption.
Implementation Method 1
The heat receiver is provided in an intermediate region between the first end and the second end of the second duct and configured to receive heat generated from the exhaust pipe
Implementation Method 2
The blower fan is configured to rotate in a first direction, thereby introducing cooling air from the first duct into the battery compartment, and emitting the cooling air that has cooled the battery by exchanging heat with the battery to the outside via the second duct
Implementation Method 3
introducing cooling air from the first duct into the battery compartment, and emitting the cooling air that has cooled the battery by exchanging heat with the battery
Implementation Method 4
introducing air raised in temperature by exchanging heat with the exhaust pipe through the heat receiver
Implementation Method 5
air raised in temperature by exchanging heat with the exhaust pipe through the heat receiver
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle battery temperature control apparatus includes a battery temperature detector, first and second ducts, an exhaust pipe, a heat receiver, a blower fan, and a processor. The processor causes the blower fan to rotate in one of opposite directions, thereby introducing cooling air from the first duct into a battery compartment, and emitting the cooling air that has cooled a battery to the outside via the second duct, if the battery temperature is higher than a first set temperature, and causes the blower fan to rotate in the other direction, thereby introducing air raised in temperature by exchanging heat with the exhaust pipe through the heat receiver from the second duct into the battery compartment, and emitting the air that has raised the temperature of the battery to the outside via the first duct, if the battery temperature is lower than a second set temperature.