Dual Coolant Circuit Layout for Vehicle Deairing and Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern vehicles face issues with air entering coolant circuits, reducing efficiency and damaging components, exacerbated by increased systems and components due to electrification, leading to higher costs, complexity, and space constraints.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle thermal management system with a first and second coolant circuit, utilizing a controllable valve and connecting conduits to deair and isolate coolant circuits, allowing independent operation and heat transfer between them, facilitated by gravity-assisted flow directions for efficient filling and deairing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple independent coolant circuits are provided to cool different vehicle systems, then each system can be cooled independently at peak power, but the number of components and system complexity increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple coolant circuits into a single integrated coolant circuit that can serve multiple vehicle systems. The system includes a coolant pump, radiator, expansion tank, and multiple connection points that allow different vehicle systems to be cooled through the same coolant loop, thereby reducing component count while maintaining independent cooling capability through strategic valve control.
Solution Approach 2:
The single coolant circuit is designed with universal applicability to cool multiple different vehicle systems including combustion engine, electric propulsion system, propulsion battery, and retarder. The circuit incorporates multiple branch connections and controllable valves that enable the same coolant loop to selectively serve different systems based on their thermal management needs.
2Reliability
If each coolant circuit is designed with sufficient capacity for peak power cooling, then each system can be cooled effectively, but the total number of components and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the cooling capacity requirements of multiple systems into a single shared coolant circuit. Instead of providing separate radiators and pumps for each system, the design uses one radiator and one pump that serve all systems through a common coolant loop with multiple connection points, significantly reducing the volume required for coolant circuit components.
3Ease of manufacture
If air is present in the coolant circuit, then the system is simpler to manufacture, but the cooling efficiency decreases and components may be damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates an expansion tank connected to the coolant circuit that serves as a pre-established air separation mechanism. The expansion tank is positioned to receive and trap air bubbles that enter the coolant circuit, preventing them from reaching and damaging the coolant pump or blocking coolant flow to the radiator, thereby maintaining cooling efficiency while allowing simpler manufacturing without complex air exclusion systems.
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 effectively prevents damage to coolant pumps, reduces costs and complexity, optimizes space usage, and enhances heat management by allowing independent operation and efficient heat transfer between circuits.
Implementation Method 1
facilitated by gravity-assisted flow directions for efficient filling and deairing
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
A vehicle thermal management system (1) is disclosed comprising a first and a second coolant circuit (11, 12) each comprising a coolant pump (21, 22). The first coolant circuit (11) comprises a coolant duct (3) configured to conduct coolant flow through a portion (5) of the first coolant circuit (11), and an expansion tank (7) connected to the coolant duct (3). The system (1) further comprises a first connecting conduit (9) connecting the second coolant circuit (12) to the coolant duct (3), and valve (13) controllable between a first state in which the valve (13) hinders flow of fluid through the first connecting conduit (9), and a second state in which the valve (13) allows flow of fluid through the first connecting conduit (9). The present disclosure further relates to a vehicle (2) comprising a vehicle thermal management system (1).