Thermal management control method and device, storage medium, and vehicle

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing thermal management systems for vehicle engines do not optimize joint power consumption and fuel consumption, leading to suboptimal energy efficiency.

Innovation Solution

Control the rotational speed of the water pump and air-cooling radiator based on preset minimum fuel consumption and power consumption maps to maintain engine temperature for minimal fuel consumption and power usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the opening degree of thermostat, rotational speed of electronic water pump, and rotational speed of radiator fan are adjusted in priority order to meet heat dissipation requirements, then the heat dissipation requirement is satisfied, but the joint optimization of thermal management system power consumption and engine fuel consumption is not achieved

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat dissipation requirementVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the control strategy adaptive and variable rather than fixed. The control method dynamically adjusts the coordination between thermostat opening degree, water pump rotational speed, and radiator fan rotational speed based on real-time operating conditions (engine temperature, ambient temperature, heat dissipation requirements). This dynamic coordination allows the system to find optimal energy consumption points while satisfying heat dissipation needs, resolving the contradiction between reliable heat dissipation and energy efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes multiple parameters simultaneously (thermostat opening degree, water pump speed, radiator fan speed) in a coordinated manner rather than adjusting them in fixed priority order. By varying these parameters together based on their interrelationships and the current operating state, the system achieves joint optimization of heat dissipation performance and energy consumption, transforming the contradictory relationship into a coordinated optimization problem.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Temperature

If thermal management system components operate to ensure engine cooling, then engine temperature control is maintained, but system power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveengine temperatureVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by adjusting thermal management components to operate at optimized levels rather than maximum capacity. The control method determines appropriate rotational speeds for the water pump and radiator fan, and suitable opening degrees for the thermostat, based on actual heat dissipation requirements. This prevents excessive operation of power-consuming components while maintaining adequate engine cooling, thus reducing unnecessary power consumption while preserving temperature control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The control method implements feedback by continuously monitoring engine temperature, ambient temperature, and heat dissipation requirements, then adjusting the operation of thermal management components accordingly. This closed-loop control ensures that components operate only as much as needed to maintain engine temperature within acceptable ranges, minimizing power consumption while ensuring adequate cooling when required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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

Achieves optimal energy consumption by jointly optimizing engine fuel consumption and thermal management system power consumption.

Implementation Method 1

The engine is connected with the water pump to form a first cooling cycle

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

The air-cooling radiator is connected with the engine and the water pump through the thermostat to form a second cooling cycle

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 3

an opening degree of a thermostat

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal expansion: Thermal Expansion

Data Source

PatentEP4296486B1Thermal management control method and device, storage medium, and vehicle
Publication Date: 2026.03.11 BYD CO LTD
  • EP4296486B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4296486B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4296486B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A thermal management and control method and device, a storage medium, and a vehicle are provided. The thermal management and control method includes: determining a total target amount of to-be-dissipated heat of an engine based on a minimum engine fuel consumption MAP when a current temperature of the engine is greater than or equal to a preset temperature threshold and an opening degree of the thermostat is greater than or equal to a preset opening degree threshold; and querying a minimum thermal management system power consumption MAP based on the total target amount of to-be-dissipated heat, an air inlet speed of an air-cooling radiator, and a current ambient temperature, and determining a target rotational speed of a water pump and a target rotational speed of the air-cooling radiator. In the present disclosure, a rotational speed of the water pump and a rotational speed of the air-cooling radiator are controlled based on the preset minimum engine fuel consumption MAP and the minimum thermal management system power consumption MAP, to keep the engine at a temperature that implements minimum fuel consumption. Moreover, the thermal management system implements minimum power consumption, and a vehicle implements optimal energy consumption.