Cooling Module Layout With External Heat Exchanger for EV Space Limits
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The reduced space available in electric vehicles due to the elimination of upper cooling bays in electric motor vehicles limits the heat exchange capacity of the cooling module, leading to reduced performance in thermal management and air conditioning systems.
Innovation Solution
A compact cooling module design that includes a tangential turbomachine and additional heat exchanger placed outside the housing downstream of the evacuation opening, optimizing space usage and thermal exchange by exploiting dead volumes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the number of cooling bays is reduced to improve aerodynamic characteristics, then aerodynamic performance is improved, but the space available for the cooling module is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The additional heat exchanger is positioned outside the housing in the longitudinal direction downstream of the exhaust opening, utilizing dead volume space that would otherwise be unused. This spatial reconfiguration allows the system to maintain adequate heat exchange capacity while working within the constrained lateral space available in electric vehicles with reduced cooling bays.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling module integrates multiple components including the tangential turbomachine, housing with heat exchanger, and additional external heat exchanger in a nested arrangement. The additional heat exchanger is positioned to utilize the dead volume created by the housing structure, effectively nesting functionality within available spatial constraints.
2Volume of stationary object
If the space available for heat exchangers is reduced, then the cooling module size is reduced, but the total exchange surface is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The solution extends the heat exchange surface into the longitudinal dimension by placing the additional heat exchanger outside the housing downstream of the exhaust opening. This allows the system to maintain adequate total exchange surface area while keeping the lateral footprint and overall module size reduced for electric vehicle application.
Solution Approach 2:
The additional heat exchanger utilizes the air flow already generated by the tangential turbomachine and discharged through the exhaust opening. The system leverages its own operational characteristics (the discharged air flow) to provide additional heat exchange capacity without requiring separate ventilation resources.
3Volume of stationary object
If the total exchange surface is reduced, then the cooling module is more compact, but the heat exchange capacity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The additional heat exchanger is arranged in the longitudinal direction outside the housing, extending the heat exchange path in the flow direction rather than expanding the lateral dimensions. This maintains compactness in the width and height while preserving heat exchange capacity through extended surface area in the longitudinal dimension.
Solution Approach 2:
The air flow continues to pass through the additional heat exchanger after exiting the main housing, extending the useful heat exchange action beyond the traditional housing boundaries. This continuous utilization of the air flow ensures that the full kinetic energy and thermal potential of the discharged air are exploited for heat exchange purposes.
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 configuration enhances the thermal management capabilities, improves aerodynamic characteristics, and provides greater freedom in module architecture while maintaining or improving performance.
Implementation Method 1
a tangential turbomachine having an axis of rotation, the tangential turbomachine being capable of creating an air flow circulating between a suction opening and an exhaust opening
Implementation Method 2
at least one heat exchanger, at least one tangential turbomachine having an axis of rotation, the tangential turbomachine being capable of creating an air flow circulating between a suction opening and an exhaust opening by passing through the at least one heat exchanger
Implementation Method 3
an additional heat exchanger intended to be passed through by the air flow and arranged outside the at least one housing, downstream of the exhaust opening of the cooling module in a longitudinal direction of the cooling module
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a cooling module (22) for a motor vehicle (10) having an electric or hybrid power unit (12); said cooling module (22) comprising at least one heat exchanger (24, 26, 28), at least one tangential turbomachine (30) having an axis of rotation (A), the tangential turbomachine being capable of creating an air flow (F) flowing between a suction opening (22a) and a discharge opening (22b) and passing through the at least one heat exchanger (24, 26, 28); at least one housing (40, 41) configured to house the at least one heat exchanger (24, 26, 28) and said at least one tangential turbomachine (30); the cooling module (22) being characterized in that it comprises an additional heat exchanger (31) through which the air flow (F) passes, placed outside the at least one housing (40, 41), downstream of the discharge opening (22b) of the cooling module (22) in a longitudinal direction (X) of the cooling module (22).