Vehicle Charging Connector Heat Storage for Terminal Temperature Rise
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Solution Overview
Problem
In vehicles with high-capacity power storage devices, the terminal connecting portions of charging connectors experience significant temperature rises due to heat generation during energization, leading to potential thermal management issues.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a heat storage material within the connector housing to absorb the heat generated during high-current charging, thereby suppressing sudden temperature increases in the terminal connecting portions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a large current is used to increase power storage device capacity and shorten charging time, then charging efficiency is improved, but temperature rise in the terminal connecting portion increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the heat generated during high-current charging not as a harmful byproduct but as a useful resource. The terminal connecting portion is designed to generate heat that is then transferred to and stored in the power storage device, converting the harmful thermal energy into beneficial stored energy, thereby maintaining high charging speed while preventing dangerous temperature accumulation in the connector
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a thermal management intermediary system between the terminal connecting portion and the power storage device. This intermediary mechanism captures the heat generated at the terminal and redirects it to the power storage device, acting as a mediator that transfers thermal energy from where it is generated to where it is most beneficially utilized, thus resolving the temperature rise issue while maintaining charging efficiency
2Temperature
If heat storage material is added to the connector housing, then temperature rise is suppressed, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the heat storage material directly into the connector housing structure, combining two previously separate functions (connector housing and heat storage system) into a single integrated component. This integration eliminates the need for separate heat storage chambers or additional thermal management components, thereby suppressing temperature rise while avoiding significant increases in device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The connector housing is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support for the terminal connecting portion, acts as a thermal management system through the integrated heat storage material, and facilitates heat transfer to the power storage device. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, maintaining simplicity while achieving effective temperature control
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
The use of heat storage materials effectively reduces temperature rises in the connector and its components, ensuring efficient and safe charging operations while maintaining a lower maximum temperature compared to systems without this feature.
Implementation Method 1
Since the heat storage material absorbs the heat generated in the terminal, sudden temperature rises of the terminal and the like can be suppressed
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle-side connector 1 includes a plurality of vehicle-side terminals 50, a connector housing 10 for holding the vehicle-side terminals 50 and heat storage materials 60 accommodated in the connector housing 10.