Boat Drive Cooling Circuit Merging Motor and Battery Thermal Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing boat drive systems, particularly electric outboard drives, face challenges in efficiently cooling batteries and other components due to limited space for air cooling, leading to issues like leaks, corrosion, and increased maintenance costs with traditional water cooling methods.
Innovation Solution
The integration of a coolant line that is in thermal contact with both the electric motor and spatially separated components, such as batteries, allowing the existing cooling circuit to be expanded to include these components, eliminating the need for separate cooling systems and leveraging the existing coolant line for efficient heat exchange.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a separate water cooling system is installed for the battery, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but device complexity and maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the battery cooling function with the existing motor cooling circuit by integrating a heat exchanger into the motor housing. The coolant line serves dual purposes: cooling both the motor and the battery through thermal contact, thereby merging two separate cooling functions into one unified system.
Solution Approach 2:
The coolant line and heat exchanger are designed to serve multiple functions: primary motor cooling and secondary battery cooling. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for a separate battery cooling system while maintaining effective temperature control for both components.
2Device complexity
If air cooling is used for the battery, then device complexity is reduced, but cooling effectiveness deteriorates due to limited space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs liquid coolant circulation through a heat exchanger to transfer heat from the battery. This hydraulic cooling approach provides superior heat transfer efficiency compared to air cooling, effectively managing battery temperature within the constrained boat space.
3Temperature
If a separate coolant line is routed to the battery, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but leakage risk and corrosion increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the battery cooling function into the existing motor cooling circuit, eliminating the need for separate coolant lines to the battery. The heat exchanger uses the same coolant loop that already cools the motor, thereby reducing leakage points and corrosion risks associated with additional external piping.
4Temperature
If the coolant line is extended to the battery, then cooling coverage is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent nests the battery cooling function within the motor housing by integrating a heat exchanger into the existing motor structure. This nested arrangement allows the battery to be cooled through the motor's cooling circuit without requiring separate external cooling infrastructure, thereby extending cooling coverage while minimizing added 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 approach reduces maintenance costs and improves cooling efficiency by utilizing the existing coolant line for multiple components, minimizing the risk of leaks and corrosion, while allowing for flexible installation and reduced size and weight of cooling systems.
Implementation Method 1
the coolant line is in thermal contact with the electric motor and which has a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet, wherein a pump is provided to pump coolant through the coolant line to cool the electric motor
Implementation Method 2
the coolant line is also routed to the additional component and brought into thermal contact with it
Implementation Method 3
a pump is provided to pump coolant through the coolant line
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a boat drive with an electric motor and a coolant line that is in thermal contact with the electric motor. A pump is provided to pump coolant through the coolant line to cool the electric motor. A further component to be cooled by the outboard boat drive is provided, and the coolant line is in thermal contact with the further component (Figure 1).