Dual Cooling Circuit Battery Thermal Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery cooling systems for motor vehicles, particularly electric vehicles, face inefficiencies due to dependence on air temperature and require additional components, leading to reduced battery performance and undesirable temperature rises in the vehicle interior.
Innovation Solution
A dual cooling circuit system integrated with the vehicle air-conditioning system, where a first cooling medium circulates through standard A/C system components and a second cooling medium flows through a heat exchanger in thermal contact with the battery, allowing heat transfer without substance contact, ensuring continuous and efficient cooling or heating of the battery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If air cooling is used to cool the battery, then the cooling system is simple, but the cooling efficiency depends greatly on air temperature and requires run-up time when the vehicle starts up
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the battery cooling function with the vehicle air-conditioning system by integrating a heat exchanger that serves both the A/C system's first cooling circuit and the battery cooling's second cooling circuit. This merging eliminates the need for a completely separate battery cooling system while ensuring immediate cooling capability upon vehicle startup, as the A/C system can quickly provide cooled air to the battery.
Solution Approach 2:
The vehicle air-conditioning system is designed to perform multiple functions: it cools the vehicle interior and simultaneously cools the battery through the integrated heat exchanger. The first cooling circuit serves both purposes, making the system universal and eliminating the need for dedicated battery cooling components.
2Productivity
If a separate battery cooling system with liquid coolant is used, then cooling efficiency is improved, but additional components lead to undesired high temperature rises in the vehicle interior
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the battery cooling circuit with the vehicle air-conditioning system's cooling circuit. The heat exchanger allows thermal energy from the battery to be transferred to the A/C system's first cooling circuit, which then dissipates this heat outside the vehicle. This eliminates the need for a separate battery cooling system that would otherwise discharge heat into the vehicle interior, thus avoiding unwanted temperature rises.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat exchanger acts as an intermediary between the battery cooling circuit and the vehicle air-conditioning system. It enables thermal energy transfer from the battery coolant to the A/C system's cooling medium without direct fluid contact, allowing efficient heat removal from the battery while utilizing the A/C system's existing heat dissipation capability.
3Ease of operation
If air cooled via air-conditioning system is used, then battery cooling is achieved, but run-up time is required and cooling efficiency depends on local temperature fluctuations
Solution Approach 1:
The system prepares the cooling capability in advance by integrating the battery cooling function into the vehicle air-conditioning system, which is already operational when the vehicle starts. The heat exchanger is pre-configured to immediately transfer heat from the battery to the A/C system's cooling circuit, eliminating the need for a run-up period to establish cooling capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated system ensures continuous cooling action from the moment the vehicle starts. The heat exchanger maintains constant thermal coupling between the battery cooling circuit and the A/C system, allowing uninterrupted heat transfer and eliminating temperature fluctuations or delays in cooling effectiveness.
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 enhances battery cooling efficiency, reduces temperature fluctuations, and maintains reliable energy provision without the need for separate battery cooling systems, ensuring stable battery performance and improved drive power.
Implementation Method 1
a heat exchanger through which the first and second cooling media flow in separate channels which are in thermal contact, wherein in the heat exchanger, heat is discharged from the second cooling medium towards the first cooling medium
Implementation Method 2
a cooling unit in thermal contact with the battery, wherein the second cooling medium flows through the cooling unit
Data Source
AI summary
A system for cooling a battery of an electrified vehicle includes a vehicle air-conditioning system having a first cooling circuit in which a first cooling medium circulates, a second cooling circuit in which a second cooling medium circulates, a cooling unit in thermal contact with the battery, wherein the second cooling medium flows through the cooling unit, and with a heat exchanger through which the first and second cooling media flow in separate channels which are in thermal contact, wherein in the heat exchanger, heat is discharged from the second cooling medium towards the first cooling medium.