Coolant Composition Using Boric Acid Ester for EV Thermal Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Coolant compositions used in electric vehicles face challenges in maintaining insulating properties when water is mixed in, leading to potential short circuits and odor issues, which affect workability during replacement.
Innovation Solution
A coolant composition comprising mineral oil and/or synthetic oil combined with boric acid ester, which hydrolyzes to absorb water and maintain insulating properties while reducing odors, with a conductivity of less than 0.1 μS/cm to prevent short circuits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If water is mixed into the coolant composition, then the cooling capacity may improve, but the insulating property deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Boric acid ester serves as an intermediary substance that reacts with water to form boric acid and alcohol, preventing free water from mixing with the base oil and compromising insulating properties. This chemical mediation allows the system to tolerate water presence while maintaining electrical insulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the coolant by introducing boric acid ester, which alters the system's water tolerance threshold. The conductivity parameter is maintained below 0.1 μS/cm through this chemical modification, enabling the system to accept higher water content while preserving insulating properties.
2Temperature
If conventional coolants are used, then cooling performance is achieved, but odors are generated affecting workability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by replacing conventional coolant additives with boric acid ester, which has inherently low odor characteristics. This parameter change maintains cooling performance while eliminating the harmful odor factor that affects workability during coolant replacement.
3Reliability
If the coolant composition is replaced frequently, then performance is maintained, but workability and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs boric acid ester as a sacrificial additive that can tolerate water contamination and degradation over time without compromising the fundamental insulating properties of the coolant. This allows the coolant to serve its full operational lifespan even under suboptimal conditions, reducing replacement frequency and associated time losses.
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 coolant composition effectively maintains insulating properties and reduces odors, ensuring high workability during replacement and preventing short circuits, as demonstrated by conductivity measurements and cooling performance tests.
Implementation Method 1
the addition of boric acid ester to the oil will hydrolyze, for example, boric acid ester (B(OR)3: where R is independently an organic group) to give ROH and HOB(OR)2 or (HO)2B(OR)
Data Source
AI summary
A coolant composition capable of maintaining an insulating property even when water is mixed in, reducing odor, and having high workability when a coolant is replaced is provided. The coolant composition of the present disclosure contains mineral oil and/or synthetic oil, and boric acid ester. A conductivity of the coolant composition is set to less than 0.1 μS/cm.