Vehicle Cooling Module Layout for Compact Multi-Loop Heat Exchange
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cooling modules for electric or hybrid motor vehicles are bulky and heavy due to the large number of heat exchangers required for effective thermal management, which complicates the architecture and increases space and weight requirements.
Innovation Solution
A cooling module design that incorporates a housing with an air inlet and outlet, featuring a set of heat exchangers and a tangential-flow turbomachine, along with a two-fluid heat exchanger located on an external lateral face for simplified fluidic connections and reduced size and weight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple heat exchangers are stacked in series within the housing, then thermal management effectiveness is improved, but the device volume and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a conventional series stacking arrangement (one-dimensional linear arrangement) to a parallel arrangement where heat exchangers are positioned side-by-side within the housing (two-dimensional spatial distribution). This dimensional change allows multiple heat exchangers to occupy less overall volume while maintaining thermal management effectiveness through simultaneous heat exchange operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing structure is designed to serve multiple functions: it contains the parallel arrangement of heat exchangers, provides fluid distribution manifolds, and facilitates compact integration. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional components and minimizes overall module volume while maintaining effective thermal management across multiple heat exchangers.
2Reliability
If multiple heat exchangers are stacked in series within the housing, then thermal management effectiveness is improved, but the device weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
By arranging heat exchangers in parallel side-by-side rather than stacking them in series, the patent reduces the total material required for housing, mounting structures, and fluid connections. This dimensional reconfiguration decreases overall module weight while maintaining the number and effectiveness of heat exchangers for thermal management.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent integrates multiple heat exchangers into a single compact housing with shared fluid distribution manifolds and common mounting structures. This merging of components eliminates redundant structural elements and connections that would otherwise increase weight, while maintaining effective thermal management through the parallel heat exchanger arrangement.
3Device complexity
If heat exchangers are arranged in series within the housing, then fluidic connections are simplified, but the device volume increases
Solution Approach 1:
The housing incorporates integrated fluid distribution manifolds that serve all parallel heat exchangers simultaneously. These manifolds perform multiple functions: distributing coolant to multiple heat exchangers, collecting thermal energy, and providing structural support. This multi-functionality simplifies fluidic connections while maintaining compact volume through the parallel heat exchanger arrangement.
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 design reduces the size and weight of the cooling module while maintaining effective thermal management, simplifying fluidic connections, and optimizing space usage within the vehicle.
Implementation Method 1
a two-fluid heat exchanger configured to allow exchanges of heat energy between a first heat transfer fluid circulating in a first circulation loop and a second heat transfer fluid circulating in a second circulation loop
Implementation Method 2
a tangential-flow turbomachine configured so as to generate an air flow passing through said housing from its air inlet to its air outlet
Implementation Method 3
The heat exchangers within the cooling module are generally stacked in such a way that the same air flow passes successively through the set of heat exchangers
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a cooling module for an electric or hybrid vehicle, the cooling module having a housing including an air inlet and an air outlet and within which there are arranged an assembly of heat exchangers and a tangential turbomachine configured so as to generate an air flow passing through the housing from its air inlet to its air outlet and passing through the assembly of heat exchangers. The housing has, on one of its outer lateral faces, a two-fluid heat exchanger in order to allow the exchanges of heat energy between a first heat-transfer fluid circulating in a first circulation loop and a second heat-transfer fluid circulating in a second circulation loop.