Cooling module for an electric or hybrid motor vehicle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cooling modules for electric and hybrid vehicles face performance issues due to the stacking of heat exchangers, which affects airflow and aerodynamic efficiency, leading to reduced performance and autonomy.
Innovation Solution
A cooling module design where the desiccant bottle is positioned upstream and downstream, perpendicular to the heat exchangers, with a deflector element masking its disturbances, allowing optimal airflow and reducing the module's footprint, while maintaining similar dimensions for each heat exchanger to minimize pressure losses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If heat exchangers are stacked in the direction of air flow to reduce cooling bay height, then the cooling module height is reduced improving aerodynamics, but the upstream heat exchanger impacts the performance of downstream exchangers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a vertical stacking arrangement (in the direction of air flow) to a horizontal arrangement (transverse to the air flow direction). The heat exchangers are positioned side-by-side rather than one above the other, eliminating the performance impact while maintaining reduced height through optimized lateral positioning and closer spacing to the vehicle centerline.
2Productivity
If the cooling module width is reduced to improve aerodynamics, then the air penetration coefficient improves, but the space available for heat exchanger placement is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent rearranges heat exchangers from a vertical stack to a horizontal configuration transverse to air flow, allowing them to be positioned closer to the vehicle's longitudinal centerline. This reduces the cooling module's lateral width while maintaining sufficient placement area through optimized horizontal spacing.
3Loss of energy
If heat exchangers are arranged to minimize pressure losses, then cooling efficiency improves, but the cooling module footprint increases affecting aerodynamics
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the local positioning of each heat exchanger within the cooling module, arranging them transverse to air flow at specific distances from the vehicle centerline. This local optimization maintains adequate spacing to minimize pressure losses while keeping the overall module footprint compact for aerodynamic efficiency.
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 performance of heat exchangers by improving airflow circulation, reducing turbulence, and maintaining efficient cooling while minimizing the cooling module's size, thereby improving aerodynamics and vehicle autonomy.
Implementation Method 1
at least one heat exchanger (24, 26, 28, 29)... configured to be crossed by an air flow (F)
Implementation Method 2
heat exchanger... making it possible, for example, to generate an air flow in contact with the heat exchanger
Implementation Method 3
a dehydrating bottle (61)... connected within a cooling circuit (A)... the dehydrating bottle being arranged in an upstream part of the cooling module
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a cooling module (22) for an electric or hybrid motor vehicle (10), said cooling module (22) being intended to be traversed by an air flow (F) and comprising at least one heat exchanger (24, 26, 28, 29) and a dryer vessel (61) connected within a cooling circuit (A), the dryer vessel (61) being placed in an upstream portion of the cooling module (22) in a longitudinal direction (X) from the front to the back of said cooling module (22), along the longitudinal direction (X) of said cooling module (22), the dryer vessel (61) being placed downstream of and opposite a deflector element (70).