Coolant Flow Regulation to Prevent Heat Backflow in Shared Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
In cooling systems where a common coolant is used for multiple cooling objects, heat transfer can cause the temperature of one object to increase, leading to inefficient cooling, especially when the coolant's temperature is higher than the object it is intended to cool.
Innovation Solution
A cooling system with a flow rate regulation mechanism and a controller that adjusts the flow rate of the coolant based on temperature differences between the coolant and the cooling objects, allowing the coolant to bypass certain passages to prevent excessive heat transfer and reduce pressure drops, while using two separate cooling circuits with different coolants for effective cooling of power control units and rotating electrical machines.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a common coolant is used to cool multiple cooling objects, then the cooling system structure is simplified, but heat transfer from the coolant to a cooling object with lower temperature causes temperature increase of that object
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the coolant flow path adjustable based on temperature conditions. The switching valve dynamically changes the coolant circulation path between cooling the power control unit and cooling the rotating electrical machine, allowing the system to adapt to different temperature conditions and prevent harmful heat transfer while maintaining a relatively simple common coolant system structure
2Temperature
If the flow rate of coolant is increased to improve cooling effect, then the cooling performance is enhanced, but the pressure drop in the cooling passage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by using a flow rate regulation mechanism that adjusts the coolant flow rate based on the cooling requirements of different components. The controller regulates the flow rate to be sufficient for effective cooling while optimizing it to minimize pressure drop, rather than using a constantly high flow rate
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 system effectively restrains temperature increases in the first cooling object due to heat transfer from the coolant, ensuring efficient cooling of both the power control unit and the rotating electrical machine, while reducing pressure drops and maintaining effective cooling even when the coolant's temperature is higher.
Implementation Method 1
the coolant transfers its heat to the other cooling object even though the coolant was intended to cool the other cooling object
Implementation Method 2
a flow rate regulation mechanism configured to regulate a flow rate of the first coolant flowing in the first cooling passage
Data Source
AI summary
A cooling system includes a first cooling passage in which a first cooling object is cooled by first coolant, a flow passage that supplies the first coolant to a second cooling object from the first cooling passage, a flow rate regulation mechanism that regulates a flow rate of the first coolant flowing in the first cooling passage, and a controller that controls the flow rate regulation mechanism. The controller controls the flow rate regulation mechanism so that the flow rate of the first coolant flowing in the first cooling passage is lower when temperature of the first cooling object is lower than temperature of the first coolant, than the flow rate when the temperature of the first cooling object is equal to or higher than the temperature of the first coolant.