Curved Induction Heater for Compact EV Battery Fluid Warming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing thermal management systems for vehicles, particularly electric vehicles, face challenges in efficiently heating batteries to optimal performance temperatures in low ambient conditions without increasing the device's space or volume.
Innovation Solution
An induction heating device with a curved isolation housing, a flat wire induction coil, and tubular heating elements arranged in straight sections of the housing, which heats a thermal management fluid by generating heat through magnetic field induction, allowing the fluid to exchange heat with both inner and outer surfaces of the elements, thereby enhancing heating efficiency without increasing device size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the heating area and heat exchange time are increased to improve heating efficiency, then the heating efficiency is improved, but the device volume and space occupation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The isolation housing is designed with a curved cross-section rather than a conventional rectangular shape. This curvature allows the heating elements to be positioned such that fluid flows through both inner and outer surfaces, effectively doubling the heat exchange area without increasing the overall device volume. The curved geometry enables more efficient space utilization while maintaining compact dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the curved housing to create additional heat exchange surfaces in a different spatial dimension. By arranging heating elements along the curved path, the system achieves extended heat exchange time and area through the curved geometry rather than extending the device linearly, thus improving heating efficiency without proportionally increasing device volume.
2Productivity
If conventional heating methods are used, then the device structure is simple, but the heating efficiency is insufficient for low ambient temperature conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional resistive heating elements with an induction heating system consisting of an induction coil and magnetizable heating elements. This substitution enables rapid and efficient heating through electromagnetic induction, significantly improving heating efficiency for low temperature conditions while maintaining a relatively simple overall device structure through the use of standard induction heating components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the heating mechanism from conventional thermal conduction to electromagnetic induction heating. By using magnetizable materials in the heating elements and applying alternating magnetic fields through the induction coil, the system achieves rapid heating with higher efficiency, transforming the physical parameters of the heating process to better suit low ambient temperature conditions.
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
The solution improves the heating efficiency of the thermal management fluid, ensuring the vehicle's battery operates within optimal performance temperatures while maintaining a compact device design, by increasing the heat exchange time and area without adding volume or space.
Implementation Method 1
an induction coil wound around an outer surface of the isolation housing and configured to generate heat through magnetic field induction
Implementation Method 2
The induction coil is wound around the outer surface of the isolation housing and is configured to generate heat through magnetic field induction
Implementation Method 3
The heater is arranged in a fluid path of the isolation housing and is configured to heat a fluid flowing through the fluid path
Implementation Method 4
heating a thermal management fluid by generating heat through magnetic field induction, allowing the fluid to exchange heat with both inner and outer surfaces of the elements
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides an induction heating device having an isolation housing, an induction coil, and a heater. The isolation housing defines a fluid path and has a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet connected with the fluid path. The induction coil is wound around the outer surface of the isolation housing. The heater is arranged in the fluid path of the isolation housing and is configured to generate heat in response to an induction current applied to the induction coil. The heater is configured to heat a fluid flowing through the fluid path. The isolation housing is curved in shape and comprises at least two straight sections and at least one curved section. The heater is configured to heat the fluid in the at least two straight sections. The present disclosure further discloses a thermal management system for a vehicle having the induction heating device as described above.