Electromobility Component Cooling Circuit Peak Load Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electromobility components face challenges in optimizing drive power availability without exceeding limit temperatures, as maximizing cooling capacity for peak loads contradicts minimizing energy consumption in cooling circuits.

Innovation Solution

A control and regulation unit determines peak loads on the cooling circuit based on future route data, using a heat exchanger to proactively add cooling capacity, ensuring the electromobility component operates within safe temperature limits while optimizing drive power availability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If cooling capacity is designed for maximum case to increase drive power availability, then drive power availability is improved, but energy consumption of cooling circuit increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrive power availabilityVSAvoidenergy consumption of cooling circuit
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit determines peak loads on the cooling circuit from future route data and proactively activates the heat exchanger before these peak loads occur. This preliminary cooling action stores thermal energy in the cooling circuit, ensuring that when peak loads occur, the cooling capacity is already available without requiring maximum continuous operation of cooling components, thus reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining drive power availability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts cooling capacity based on predicted future thermal loads rather than operating at fixed maximum capacity. The control unit continuously monitors route data and adjusts heat exchanger activation timing and intensity to match actual cooling needs, optimizing the balance between drive power availability and energy consumption of cooling circuit components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Use of energy by moving object

If cooling capacity is reduced to minimize energy consumption, then energy consumption is improved, but drive power availability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy consumption of cooling circuitVSAvoiddrive power availability
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

By determining peak loads from future route data and activating cooling capacity before these peaks occur, the system prepares the cooling circuit in advance. This allows the cooling system to operate at lower power levels during normal conditions while still ensuring adequate cooling capacity is available when needed, thus maintaining drive power availability without requiring continuous maximum cooling operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The cooling circuit utilizes its own thermal mass and heat capacity to store cooling energy during low-load periods and release it during peak loads. This self-service mechanism allows the system to maintain drive power availability without requiring external energy input during peak cooling demands, reducing overall energy consumption while preserving reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Temperature

If proactive cooling is applied to prevent overheating, then temperature control is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature control of electromobility componentVSAvoidenergy consumption of cooling system
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit uses future route data to predict peak thermal loads and activates the heat exchanger proactively before these peaks occur. This timing optimization allows the cooling system to use the thermal mass of the cooling circuit to absorb and distribute cooling energy efficiently, preventing overheating while minimizing the duration and intensity of active cooling operation, thus reducing overall energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors actual temperature values and compares them with target temperatures determined from the model. Based on this feedback, the control unit adjusts the proactive cooling strategy, activating or deactivating the heat exchanger to maintain optimal temperature control while minimizing energy consumption. The feedback mechanism ensures that cooling is applied only when and where needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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 enhances drive power availability by anticipating and managing thermal loads, preventing overheating and reducing energy consumption in the cooling system, thus optimizing the electromobility component's performance and extending its operational range.

Implementation Method 1

by means of at least one heat exchanger provided in the cooling circuit, additional cooling capacity is fed into the system in a forward-looking manner

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Data Source

PatentEP2765019B1Method and arrangement for optimising the motor availability of electromobility components cooled by a cooling circuit
Publication Date: 2022.02.16 MAN TRUCK & BUS SE
  • EP2765019B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2765019B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2765019B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The method involves determining a future route peak loads of a cooling circuit (3) by a controlling- and regulating-unit (2). The driving distance-based time is ahead before the peak loads of the cooling circuit by a heat exchanger in the cooling circuit. The additional cooling power is fed into a system such that the services provided by an electromobility component (1) is optimized and a maximum temperature of the electric mobility component does not exceed after passing through a route. An independent claim is included for an arrangement for optimizing the motor availability of an electromobility component of a drive power cooled by a cooling circuit in a motor vehicle, particularly utility vehicle.