Electrical vehicle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing thermal management systems in electric vehicles are inefficient in maintaining optimal battery temperatures, especially at extreme temperatures, leading to reduced battery longevity and vehicle range.
Innovation Solution
A thermal energy arrangement combining a mechanical vapor recompression (MVR) unit with an absorption cooler unit, utilizing a water-lithium bromide solution, to efficiently manage battery temperatures and provide heating/cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If air source heat pumps are used for heating the passenger compartment and battery, then electricity consumption is reduced compared to resistance heating, but the COP drops drastically at very low temperatures (e.g., COP ≈ 1 at -20°C)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a working liquid with a freezing point below -40°C (such as water-lithium bromide solution with anti-freezing agents) to enable the MVR unit to operate efficiently at very low ambient temperatures where conventional heat pumps fail, maintaining high COP across a wide temperature range
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the conventional vapor compression refrigeration cycle with a mechanical vapor recompression (MVR) system that uses a compressor or jet ejector to compress vapor directly, achieving higher efficiency and better low-temperature performance compared to traditional heat pumps
2Temperature
If liquid cooling systems are used to cool battery packs, then battery temperature is maintained within optimal range, but the system complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal energy arrangement performs multiple functions: it cools the battery pack during high-rate charging/discharging, heats the battery in cold conditions, and provides climate control for the passenger compartment, replacing multiple separate systems with a single integrated MVR-based system
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the battery thermal management system with the passenger compartment climate control system into a single integrated thermal energy arrangement, sharing common components such as the MVR unit, working liquid circuit, and heat exchangers
3Device complexity
If air cooling is used for battery packs, then the system is simpler than liquid cooling, but it is ineffective in hot climates where ambient air temperature is too high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a liquid working medium (water-lithium bromide solution with anti-freezing agent) as an intermediary between the battery pack and the ambient environment, enabling efficient heat transfer regardless of ambient air temperature, and this working liquid circulates through channels in the battery pack
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
Enhances battery longevity and vehicle range by maintaining optimal temperatures, reducing energy consumption, and improving thermal efficiency with a COP of at least 10 for heating and 6-7 for cooling.
Implementation Method 1
Mechanical Vapor Recompression (MVR), which is an evaporation method by which a blower, compressor or jet ejector is used to compress, and as a result of the compression, increase the pressure, density and temperature of the vapor produced
Implementation Method 2
an absorption cooler unit (15) arranged to absorb thermal energy from the battery system (3)
Implementation Method 3
wherein hot water condensate from the MVR-unit is supplied to the absorption cooler unit
Implementation Method 4
a thermal energy arrangement configured to supply thermal energy to keep a battery system of the electrical vehicle within an optimal operating temperature interval
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical vehicle (1) comprising a battery system (3) configured to generate electrical energy to operate the electrical vehicle, a control system (5) configured to control various systems of the electrical vehicle, a temperature monitoring system (7) configured to monitor at least one temperature of said battery system (3), and to generate a temperature signal (9) comprising said at least one temperature, wherein said battery system is provided with a thermal energy arrangement (11) arranged to supply thermal energy to keep the battery system (3) within an optimal operating temperature interval. The thermal energy arrangement (11) comprises a mechanical vapor recompression, MVR, unit (13) and an absorption cooler unit (15). A working liquid, preferably having a freezing temperature less than −40° C. is applied. A control system (5) is configured to receive the temperature signal (9), and to control the thermal energy arrangement (11) in dependence of the at least one temperature, to supply said generated thermal energy to the battery system (3) via a cooling line (35) and a heating line (39) to keep the temperature of said battery system (3) within said predetermined temperature interval.