Ester Cooling Composition for Electric Vehicle Thermal Runaway Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cooling methods for electric and hybrid vehicle propulsion systems, particularly batteries and power electronics, are inadequate at high temperatures, leading to overheating risks and potential thermal runaway, which can result in dangerous conditions such as battery explosions.
Innovation Solution
A cooling composition comprising esters with specific kinematic viscosity and auto-ignition temperature properties is used, which includes branched monoesters or diesters with high auto-ignition temperatures and suitable viscosity for effective cooling and stability at elevated temperatures, ensuring resistance to ignition and maintaining electrical insulation properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional cooling methods (air or water with glycol) are used, then cooling is provided for the propulsion system, but the cooling effectiveness is insufficient at high temperatures and cannot extract heat from batteries during rapid charging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the cooling fluid by using esters with specific viscosity characteristics (kinematic viscosity at -25°C ≤ 200 mm²/s and at 25°C ≤ 20 mm²/s) and high auto-ignition temperature (≥350°C). This parameter optimization enables effective heat extraction from batteries during rapid charging and maintains cooling reliability at elevated temperatures up to 400°C, resolving the insufficiency of conventional glycol-based coolants.
2Temperature
If cooling compositions are used to prevent overheating, then cooling function is provided, but stability and electrical insulation properties are compromised at high temperatures leading to thermal runaway risk
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the thermal and electrical parameters of the cooling composition by selecting esters with auto-ignition temperature ≥350°C and optimized viscosity ratios. These parameter changes ensure the composition maintains its stability and electrical insulation properties even at temperatures up to 400°C, preventing thermal runaway while effectively managing heat from battery operations and rapid charging events.
3Productivity
If viscosity is reduced for better flow and cooling, then cooling efficiency improves, but stability and lubrication properties deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the viscosity parameters of the ester-based cooling composition by selecting compounds with specific kinematic viscosity values at different temperatures (≤200 mm²/s at -25°C and ≤20 mm²/s at 25°C). This parameter optimization achieves a balance where the composition maintains sufficiently low viscosity for effective flow and heat transfer while retaining adequate stability and lubrication properties, even under high-temperature operating conditions up to 400°C.
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 proposed cooling composition effectively retards or prevents thermal runaway by maintaining stability and electrical insulation, ensuring safe operation of batteries and power electronics even at high temperatures, such as up to 400°C, while providing lubrication and cooling functions.
Implementation Method 1
The cooling composition effectively retards or prevents thermal runaway by maintaining stability and electrical insulation, ensuring safe operation of batteries and power electronics even at high temperatures
Implementation Method 2
A cooling composition comprising esters with specific kinematic viscosity and auto-ignition temperature properties is used, which includes branched monoesters or diesters with high auto-ignition temperatures and suitable viscosity for effective cooling
Implementation Method 3
maintaining electrical insulation properties
Implementation Method 4
Lubricant compositions are conventionally composed of one or more base oils which are generally combined with several additives intended for stimulating the lubricant performance of the base oils, for instance friction-modifying additives
Data Source
AI summary
Use of an ester in a cooling composition. The present invention relates to the use of a composition, for cooling a drive system of an electric or hybrid vehicle, comprising at least one ester having a kinematic viscosity, measured at −25° C., less than or equal to 200 mm2/s and an auto-ignition point greater than or equal to 350° C. It also relates to a composition capable of cooling a drive system, in particular the battery and/or the power electronics of an electric or hybrid vehicle, the composition comprising (i) at least one ester having a kinematic viscosity, measured at −25° C., less than or equal to 200 mm2/s and an auto-ignition point greater than or equal to 350° C. and (ii) at least one additive selected from antioxidants, friction modifiers, detergents, anti-wear additives, extreme pressure additives, dispersants, pour point depressants, defoamers and mixtures thereof.