Cooling Manifold Pressure Balancing for Stable Battery Loop Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing thermal management systems for electric vehicles lack a mechanism to adjust pressure in battery liquid cooling loops, leading to unstable pump flow rates and decreased cooling capacity.
Innovation Solution
A cooling module with a manifold incorporating a pressure adjusting flow path between two fluid flow paths, allowing for pressure balancing between the paths, and a valve configuration that enables communication between these paths to manage thermal expansion and pressure differences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the battery liquid cooling loop system is not provided with an expansion kettle, then the device complexity is reduced, but the pump flow rate stability deteriorates and cooling capacity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the expansion kettle function with the manifold by integrating a pressure equalization chamber into the manifold structure. This allows the battery liquid cooling loop to share the pressure adjustment mechanism with the motor liquid cooling loop, eliminating the need for a separate expansion kettle in the battery loop while maintaining pump flow rate stability and cooling capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The manifold is designed to serve multiple functions: it acts as both a flow distribution manifold and a pressure equalization chamber for both the motor liquid cooling loop and the battery liquid cooling loop. This multi-functional design allows pressure adjustment capability to be provided universally across both cooling loops without adding separate components to each loop.
2Reliability
If a separate pressure adjustment mechanism is added to the battery liquid cooling loop, then the pump flow rate stability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the pressure adjustment mechanism into the shared manifold structure, combining the expansion kettle function with the manifold body. This integration allows the battery liquid cooling loop to gain pressure adjustment capability without adding separate components, as the manifold's pressure equalization chamber serves both cooling loops simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The manifold is designed as a universal pressure adjustment mechanism that serves both the motor liquid cooling loop and the battery liquid cooling loop. By making the pressure equalization chamber accessible to both loops through the valve system, the patent provides pump flow rate stability improvement without increasing overall device complexity.
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 solution stabilizes the flow rate of pumps and enhances cooling capacity by allowing pressure adjustment and thermal expansion absorption within the cooling module, reducing the need for separate pressure adjustment mechanisms.
Implementation Method 1
even in the case where the fluid flowing through the battery liquid cooling loop system thermally expands, the pressure cannot be adjusted (depressurized) on the battery liquid cooling loop system side
Data Source
AI summary
A cooling module includes: a manifold including therein a first flow path configured to allow a first fluid to flow therethrough and a second flow path configured to allow a second fluid to flow therethrough; and a valve attached to the manifold and configured to control the flow of the first fluid and the second fluid. The manifold includes a pressure adjusting flow path configured to adjust a pressure between the first flow path and the second flow path.