Coolant circulation system for a vehicle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electric vehicle high voltage batteries face efficiency reduction due to overheating during charging, especially during fast charging and in extreme temperatures, which can lead to battery deterioration and reduced charging efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A coolant circulation system for electric vehicles that includes a heating tank, cooling tank, coolant line, refrigerant line, and controller to manage coolant temperature, allowing for selective supply of heated or cooled coolant to the battery system, optimizing temperature management during charging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If fast charging is performed on the high voltage battery, then charging speed is improved, but heat generation increases causing battery deterioration and reduced charging efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a coolant circulation system with heating tank, cooling tank, and heat exchanger as intermediary components between the battery and external environment. The coolant acts as a mediator to transfer heat away from the battery during fast charging, enabling high charging speeds without excessive heat accumulation that would cause deterioration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the temperature parameter of the coolant circulating through the battery. By controlling the coolant temperature through heating and cooling tanks, the battery operating temperature is maintained within an optimal range, allowing fast charging to proceed without generating harmful heat levels.
2Reliability
If the high voltage battery is cooled to prevent overheating, then battery safety is improved, but charging efficiency is reduced due to lower reaction rates at lower temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The coolant circulation system dynamically adjusts coolant flow rates, temperatures, and circulation paths based on real-time battery conditions. Rather than static cooling, the system actively modulates cooling intensity to maintain battery temperature within an optimal charging range, ensuring both safety and charging efficiency are optimized simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary heating of the coolant and battery before charging begins, especially in cold environments. By pre-heating the battery to optimal temperature ranges, the system ensures high charging efficiency from the start of charging while preventing overheating during the charging process through coordinated cooling adjustments.
3Device complexity
If a simple cooling system is used for the battery, then device complexity is reduced, but temperature management capability is insufficient leading to overheating during fast charging
Solution Approach 1:
The coolant circulation system is designed to perform multiple functions: cooling the battery during fast charging, heating the battery in cold conditions, and maintaining optimal temperature during normal operation. By using a single multi-functional system rather than separate dedicated systems for each function, the overall device complexity is managed while providing comprehensive temperature control capability.
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
Improves charging efficiency by effectively managing the temperature of high voltage batteries, preventing overheating and maintaining optimal conditions for efficient charging, thereby extending battery life and enhancing overall performance.
Implementation Method 1
a refrigerant line in which refrigerant may be circulated. The refrigerant line includes a compressor, an expansion valve, a heating core provided in the heating tank
Implementation Method 2
a cooling core provided in the cooling tank
Data Source
AI summary
A coolant circulation system for a vehicle performs heat management of a high voltage battery provided in an electric vehicle. The coolant circulation system is configured to be connected to the high voltage battery of the electric vehicle to combine coolant managed outside the electric vehicle and coolant circulated in the high voltage battery of the electric vehicle with each other to supply cooled or heated coolant to the high voltage battery. Thus, the charging efficiency is improved through temperature management of the high voltage battery when the high voltage battery is charged.