Cyclic Reactant Heating System for Electric Vehicle Range Extension
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electrically operated vehicles face challenges in utilizing waste heat for vehicle heating, leading to additional electrical load on the battery, which reduces the vehicle's range, especially at low ambient temperatures.
Innovation Solution
A heating system utilizing a cyclic reaction between two reactants, where heat is generated during their reaction and recovered by separating them, allowing for efficient heating without relying on the vehicle's electrical energy source, using a reaction system with a reactant storage space, reaction space, and heat management devices to recirculate and separate reactants.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If electrical heating devices are used to heat the vehicle interior, then sufficient heating can be achieved, but the battery is subjected to additional load which reduces the vehicle's range
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs heating in periodic cycles: during vehicle operation, reactants react to generate heat for interior heating; during charging periods, the reaction product is heated externally to separate and regenerate reactants. This periodic operation allows heating functionality without continuous battery load.
Solution Approach 2:
The reaction system serves itself by using the reaction product as both the output of the heating reaction and the input for reactant regeneration. The system autonomously cycles between heating mode and regeneration mode, eliminating the need for continuous external energy input from the battery.
2Loss of energy
If waste heat from drive assembly is utilized for heating, then energy efficiency improves, but this is impossible in electrically operated vehicles
Solution Approach 1:
The reaction system acts as an intermediary energy storage and conversion mechanism. Instead of directly using waste heat from the drive assembly, the system uses chemical reaction energy as an intermediate form that can be converted to thermal energy for heating, making waste heat utilization concepts applicable to electric vehicles through a different energy pathway.
3Quantity of substance
If reactants are separated by introducing heat into the reaction product, then reactants can be recovered for continuous operation, but external energy sources are required during charging phases
Solution Approach 1:
During charging periods when external energy is available, the system performs preliminary action by heating the reaction product to separate and regenerate reactants in advance. This ensures reactants are ready for the next heating cycle, transforming available external energy into stored chemical energy in the reactants.
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 system provides reliable vehicle heating without loading the electrical energy source, enabling extended vehicle operation by using external energy sources during charging to separate reactants and maintain thermal energy for heating, thus reducing battery load and enhancing vehicle range.
Implementation Method 1
a reaction of the first reactant with the second reactant releases heat for producing a reaction product
Implementation Method 2
the second reactant can be separated from the first reactant by introducing heat into the reaction product
Implementation Method 3
a heating unit for heating the first reactant or/and reaction product contained in the reaction space
Implementation Method 4
a first heat removal device for removing heat from the first reactant or/and reaction product contained in the reaction space
Data Source
AI summary
A heating system for a vehicle includes a reaction space (16) containing a first reactant (22) and a reactant storage space (20) containing or/and receiving a second reactant (24), wherein the first reactant and the second reactant form such a reaction system. A reaction of the first reactant with the second reactant produces a reaction product that releases heat. The second reactant can be separated from the first reactant by introducing heat into the reaction product. A reactant-releasing device (26) releases second reactant from the reactant storage space into the reaction space (16). A first heat removal device (58) removes heat from the first reactant or/and reaction product contained in the reaction space (16). A heating unit (52) heats the first reactant or/and heats the reaction product contained in the reaction space. A reactant-recirculating device (36) recirculates second reactant from the reaction space into the reactant storage space.