Dual-Circuit Thermal Switching for Vehicle Component Temperature Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current thermal management systems in new energy vehicles are complex, heavy, expensive, and inflexible, making it difficult to efficiently cool or heat critical components like CPUs, leading to risks of overheating and component damage due to inadequate temperature regulation.
Innovation Solution
A thermal management system with a main and secondary thermal control circuit connected via a valve unit, allowing the secondary circuit to activate temporarily for enhanced cooling or heating when the main circuit fails or is insufficient, using sensors to detect malfunctions or temperature requirements and a storage unit with a pump for efficient heat transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a complex thermal management system with multiple components is used, then temperature regulation capability is improved, but system weight and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal management system is divided into a main thermal control circuit and a secondary thermal control circuit. The secondary circuit acts as a backup that can be activated when the main circuit malfunctions or when enhanced cooling/heating is required, allowing the system to maintain reliability with reduced overall complexity and weight compared to having multiple fully redundant systems operating simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between the main thermal control circuit and the secondary thermal control circuit based on operational requirements and system status. A valve unit controls the switching, allowing the system to adapt its configuration in real-time, maintaining optimal performance while minimizing weight and complexity for each operational state.
2Device complexity
If a simple thermal management system is used, then system cost and complexity are reduced, but temperature regulation reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The secondary thermal control circuit serves as a pre-prepared backup system that remains standby-ready to compensate for potential failures of the main circuit. This beforehand cushioning ensures that if the main system fails, temperature regulation reliability is maintained without requiring a completely redundant complex system, thus balancing simplicity with reliability.
3Ease of operation
If the main thermal control circuit is used exclusively, then system operation is simple, but response to malfunction or temperature spikes is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a static single-circuit design to a dynamic multi-circuit design where the valve unit enables rapid switching between the main and secondary thermal control circuits. This allows the system to maintain simple normal operation while achieving fast response to malfunctions or temperature spikes by activating the secondary circuit when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve unit acts as an intermediary component that enables quick switching between the main and secondary thermal control circuits. This intermediary mechanism allows rapid response to temperature regulation needs without complicating the normal operation of the main circuit, as the valve simply directs flow based on control signals.
4Reliability
If a secondary thermal control circuit is added as backup, then system reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal management system is segmented into distinct main and secondary control circuits with a valve unit for switching. This segmentation allows the secondary circuit to be added as a modular backup component rather than integrating redundancy throughout the entire system, thereby improving reliability while minimizing the increase in overall system complexity.
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 system simplifies design and construction, quickly addresses temperature regulation needs, preventing overheating by efficiently cooling or heating critical components, even when the main thermal control circuit malfunctions, thus extending component lifespan and reducing operational risks.
Implementation Method 1
thermal control circuits with heat transfer fluid are operated to control the temperature levels of the vehicle components
Implementation Method 2
The thermal management system comprises a main thermal control circuit connected to the vehicle component and a secondary thermal control circuit connected to the vehicle component
Implementation Method 3
The thermal management system comprises a valve unit. The main thermal control circuit is connected to the vehicle component via the valve unit in the normal operational state
Implementation Method 4
using sensors to detect malfunctions or temperature requirements and a storage unit with a pump for efficient heat transfer
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a
Figure 2b
AI summary
A thermal management system for cooling or heating a vehicle component, where the thermal management system comprises a main thermal control circuit connected to the vehicle component and a secondary thermal control circuit connected to the vehicle component. The thermal management system is configured for being operated in a normal operational state by means of the main thermal control circuit, or in a temporary operational state by means of the secondary thermal control circuit. The thermal management system comprises a valve unit. The main thermal control circuit is connected to the vehicle component via the valve unit in the normal operational state, and the secondary thermal control circuit is temporarily connected to the vehicle component via the valve unit in the temporary operational state upon detection of a cooling requirement or a heating requirement of the vehicle component. The thermal management system is configured for temporarily activating the secondary thermal control circuit for cooling or heating the vehicle component in the temporary operational state.