Autonomous Driving Controller Cooling via Chiller Integration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing cooling systems for autonomous driving controllers in vehicles are inefficient, leading to increased costs, complex layouts, and potential malfunctions due to inadequate cooling, which can compromise safety by not properly cooling the controller and battery modules simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
A cooling apparatus and system that integrates a chiller, reservoir tank, and water pump to heat-exchange coolants with the air-conditioning system, using a sub-expansion valve to expand refrigerant and supply cooled coolant to the autonomous driving controller, simplifying the system layout and reducing weight and manufacturing costs through modularization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a separate cooling system is added for the autonomous driving controller, then the cooling performance is improved, but the cost and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the autonomous driving controller cooling system with the existing air-conditioning system by integrating a chiller that uses the air-conditioning refrigerant cycle. The cooling apparatus shares infrastructure with the air-conditioning system while providing dedicated cooling for the controller, thereby improving cooling performance without proportionally increasing system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The air-conditioning system's refrigerant cycle is made multi-functional by adding a chiller that can serve both the air-conditioning evaporator and the autonomous driving controller. The same refrigerant circulation system performs dual functions, reducing the need for separate dedicated cooling infrastructure
2Temperature
If a separate cooling system is added for the autonomous driving controller, then the cooling performance is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling apparatus merges with the existing air-conditioning system infrastructure, utilizing shared components such as the refrigerant circulation system, compressor, and condenser. This integration avoids the need to manufacture and install a completely separate cooling system, thereby improving cooling performance while controlling manufacturing costs
3Area of stationary object
If cooling systems are coupled in series, then the space utilization is improved, but the cooling performance for individual components deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is segmented into separate cooling circuits that can operate independently. The chiller can selectively direct refrigerant flow to either the air-conditioning evaporator or the autonomous driving controller cooling circuit, ensuring that each component receives adequate cooling even when space is constrained
4Device complexity
If cooling systems are coupled in series, then the system layout is simplified, but the coolant temperature requirements cannot be met for all components
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs dynamic control of refrigerant flow distribution through the chiller. The chiller can adjust and optimize refrigerant allocation in real-time based on the cooling demands of different components, allowing the simplified layout to still meet varying temperature requirements through active flow management
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 solution efficiently cools the autonomous driving controller using heat-exchanged low-temperature coolant, simplifying the system layout, reducing costs, and improving maintenance and space utilization, while ensuring proper cooling to prevent malfunctions and ensure safety.
Implementation Method 1
heat-exchanges coolants in conjunction with an air-conditioning system
Implementation Method 2
using a sub-expansion valve to expand refrigerant
Data Source
AI summary
A cooling apparatus for an autonomous driving controller may include, a chiller fluidically connected to an air-conditioning system through a refrigerant connection line so that a refrigerant circulating in the air-conditioning system provided in the vehicle is introduced into the chiller; a reservoir tank storing a coolant, and fluidically connected to the chiller; and a water pump mounted between the reservoir tank and the autonomous driving controller; wherein coolant pipes connected to the water pump and the chiller may be connected to the autonomous driving controller respectively.