Vehicle Coolant Valve Control Using One Temperature Sensor
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing vehicular coolant systems require multiple temperature sensors to accurately measure coolant temperatures, leading to increased manufacturing costs due to the need for sensors in the battery, power electronics, and radiator coolant lines, which are not responsive to rapid changes in vehicle speed or torque.
Innovation Solution
A vehicular coolant system with a control valve and a controller that selectively connects coolant lines with and without temperature sensors, using a single temperature sensor to determine coolant temperatures based on sensed temperatures from other lines, reducing the number of required sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple temperature sensors are installed in the battery coolant line, power electronics coolant line, and radiator coolant line to accurately measure coolant temperatures, then measurement precision is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the temperature measurement function across multiple coolant lines by using a single temperature sensor that can measure temperatures in different lines sequentially through valve-controlled fluid communication. This consolidation reduces the number of sensors from three to one, directly addressing the contradiction between measurement precision and manufacturing cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The temperature sensor is designed to serve multiple functions by measuring temperatures in the battery coolant line, power electronics coolant line, and radiator coolant line through different operating modes enabled by the control valve. This multi-functionality allows one sensor to replace multiple sensors, resolving the contradiction between accurate temperature measurement and cost reduction.
2Ease of manufacture
If a single temperature sensor is used to measure temperatures in multiple coolant lines through valve-controlled communication, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but device complexity increases due to the control valve and switching mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The control valve acts as an intermediary component that enables the single temperature sensor to access different coolant lines sequentially. By controlling the fluid communication between the sensor and various coolant lines, the valve mediates the measurement process, allowing cost reduction while managing the added complexity through a standardized control component.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs dynamic switching of fluid communication paths through the control valve, allowing the temperature sensor to adaptively measure temperatures in different coolant lines based on operational requirements. This dynamic approach manages system complexity by using controlled variability rather than fixed multiple sensors.
3Measurement precision
If the temperature sensor is placed in the power electronics coolant line to directly measure coolant temperature, then measurement precision is improved, but the sensor cannot respond to rapid changes in vehicle speed or torque
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary temperature measurements in the battery coolant line or radiator coolant line where temperature changes can be detected earlier, then uses the control valve to communicate this information to the power electronics coolant line measurement. This preliminary action allows the system to anticipate and respond more quickly to thermal changes before they fully manifest in the power electronics line.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring temperatures in multiple coolant lines through the valve-controlled sensor and using this information to adjust measurements and control thermal management responses. This feedback mechanism enables faster response to changing vehicle conditions by aggregating temperature information from multiple sources rather than relying solely on direct power electronics line measurement.
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 approach improves electric efficiency and reduces costs by accurately maintaining power electronic components and batteries at appropriate temperatures without the need for multiple temperature sensors, enhancing thermal management.
Implementation Method 1
a temperature sensor disposed at at least one of the battery coolant line, the power electronics coolant line, or the radiator coolant line
Implementation Method 2
determine a first temperature of a coolant passing through the first coolant line based on a second temperature sensed by the temperature sensor disposed at the second coolant line
Data Source
AI summary
A coolant system includes a battery coolant line fluidly connected to a battery, a power electronics coolant line fluidly connected to a power electronic component, a radiator coolant line fluidly connected to a radiator, a control valve configured to allow the battery coolant line, the power electronics coolant line, and the radiator coolant line to be fluidly connected to or separated from each other, a temperature sensor disposed in at least one of the battery coolant line, the power electronics coolant line, or the radiator coolant line, and a controller configured to control a switching operation of the control valve under a predetermined condition in a manner that fluidly connects a coolant line without any temperature sensor to a coolant line with the temperature sensor, and determine a temperature of a coolant passing through the coolant line without any temperature sensor based on a temperature sensed by the temperature sensor.