Electric Drivetrain Cooling Loop Using Condensation Return Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling devices for electric drive train components are not efficient in controlling temperature and maintaining a reliable coolant flow, leading to suboptimal performance and lifespan of these components.
Innovation Solution
A cooling device with a heat exchanger that transforms gaseous coolant into liquid coolant, using a coolant collection channel oriented vertically to create a suction effect, ensuring a consistent coolant supply and efficient heat extraction, integrated with the electric drive train assembly to enhance cooling performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a conventional cooling device uses liquid coolant flow through cooling channels, then cooling is provided to the electric drive train component, but the cooling efficiency is insufficient and temperature control is unreliable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies phase transition by utilizing the evaporation of liquid coolant into gaseous coolant to absorb heat from the electric drive train component, and subsequent condensation of the gaseous coolant back into liquid form in the heat exchanger. This phase change mechanism enables more efficient heat extraction compared to conventional liquid-only cooling, while the condensed liquid coolant flows back to the component through gravity and pressure differential, ensuring reliable continuous circulation.
2Productivity
If heat is extracted from gaseous coolant to transform it into liquid coolant, then cooling efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the heat exchanger function with the coolant circulation system by integrating the condensation process directly into the cooling loop. The heat exchanger serves dual purposes: condensing gaseous coolant into liquid form while also facilitating its return to the electric drive train component. This integration reduces the need for separate return line components and simplifies the overall device structure while maintaining high cooling efficiency.
3Reliability
If the coolant collection channel is arranged vertically below the heat exchanger, then coolant flow reliability is improved through gravity-assisted flow, but the device occupies more vertical space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes gravity by positioning the coolant collection channel vertically below the heat exchanger, creating a natural potential energy gradient that drives the condensed liquid coolant downward without requiring additional pumping power. This gravitational flow mechanism ensures reliable coolant circulation while the vertical arrangement is optimized to minimize the overall height of the device while maintaining effective phase change and heat transfer processes.
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 effectively controls the temperature of electric drive train components by efficiently extracting heat and maintaining a reliable coolant flow, thereby improving the performance and lifespan of these components.
Implementation Method 1
a heat exchanger (26) being configured to extract heat from the gaseous coolant such that the gaseous coolant is at least partially transformed into liquid coolant
Implementation Method 2
This end is located on a lower vertical level than the heat exchanger in an operational position of the cooling device. Since the condensed coolant is driven at least partially along the vertical direction by gravity, it creates a suction effect
Implementation Method 3
at least a portion of the coolant is gasified or vaporized when being in contact with hot or warm parts of the electric drivetrain component. This has a cooling effect on the electric drivetrain component
Data Source
AI summary
A cooling device for an electric drive train component can comprise a coolant inlet port configured to receive gaseous coolant from the electric drive train component, a coolant outlet port configured to deliver liquid coolant to the electric drive train component, a heat exchanger configured to extract heat from the gaseous coolant such that the gaseous coolant is at least partially transformed into liquid coolant, wherein the heat exchanger is fluidically connected to the coolant inlet port and the coolant outlet port such that the heat exchanger is arranged between the coolant inlet port and the coolant outlet port along a coolant flow direction, and a coolant collection channel fluidically connected to the heat exchanger and the coolant outlet port such that the coolant collection channel is arranged between the heat exchanger and the coolant outlet port along the coolant flow direction.