Cabin and battery cooling control for electrified vehicles
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Hybrid electric and electric vehicles face inefficiencies due to thermal energy generation in batteries, which degrades charge and reduces vehicle propulsion time, necessitating effective cooling systems to enhance battery performance and fuel economy.
Innovation Solution
A climate control system incorporating a chiller, refrigerant and coolant circuits, and a controller that adjusts compressor speed and valve positions based on refrigerant pressure and temperature to optimize both cabin and battery cooling, allowing for adaptive thermal management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a cooling system is implemented to cool the battery, then battery performance and fuel economy are improved, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The climate control system is designed to perform multiple functions: cooling the cabin and cooling the battery through the chiller. The system uses a single compressor and refrigerant circuit that can selectively serve different cooling needs, eliminating the requirement for separate cooling systems and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
A chiller is introduced as an intermediary component between the refrigerant circuit and the battery coolant circuit. The chiller acts as a heat exchanger that transfers thermal energy from the battery coolant to the refrigerant, enabling efficient battery cooling while integrating with the existing climate control system architecture.
2Temperature
If the compressor speed is increased to improve cabin cooling, then cooling performance is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs variable compressor speed control that dynamically adjusts the compressor operating speed based on real-time cooling demands. The controller monitors cabin temperature, battery temperature, and thermal conditions to optimize compressor speed, ensuring adequate cooling performance while minimizing energy consumption by avoiding unnecessary high-speed operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The climate control system incorporates feedback control mechanisms where sensors continuously monitor cabin temperature, battery temperature, and system operating conditions. This feedback information is used by the controller to adjust compressor speed and valve positions, optimizing the balance between cooling performance and energy consumption based on actual thermal demands.
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 effectively dissipates thermal energy from batteries, improving power transfer efficiency, extending vehicle propulsion time, and reducing engine operation, thereby enhancing fuel economy and reducing pollutant emissions.
Implementation Method 1
a compressor configured to move fluid through the refrigerant circuits
Implementation Method 2
a cooling system includes a chiller, an evaporator, a first conduit and first valving arranged to selectively form a coolant circuit incorporating the chiller to cool the traction battery arrangement
Implementation Method 3
an evaporator, a first conduit and first valving arranged to selectively form a coolant circuit incorporating the chiller to cool the traction battery arrangement
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle includes a battery arrangement, a chiller, a coolant circuit configured to direct coolant through the chiller and battery arrangement, a refrigerant circuit including a compressor, valve, and evaporator, and a controller. The controller is programmed to alter a speed of the compressor and a position of the valve based on a pressure and temperature of refrigerant output from the chiller to alter a temperature of the coolant.