Vehicular Thermal Management System for EV Battery and Cabin Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicular thermal management systems for electric vehicles fail to efficiently manage the thermal needs of both the passenger space and electrical components, including high-voltage batteries, leading to increased fuel consumption and reduced travel distance due to the lack of a heat source in electric vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A vehicular thermal management system comprising an indoor-air-conditioner and a component-air-conditioner, where the indoor-air-conditioner is integrated into a first vehicle body with a compressor, condenser, evaporator, and blower, and the component-air-conditioner is integrated into a second vehicle body with electrical component and battery cooling lines, allowing for independent and integrated thermal management of passenger space, electrical components, and high-voltage batteries through a chiller and radiator system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If electric vehicles use additional energy to warm the indoor space without an engine heat source, then the indoor space can be warmed, but fuel consumption increases and travel distance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the indoor air conditioning system and component air conditioning system into a single integrated thermal management system. The compressor, condensers, evaporators, and refrigerant lines are shared between the passenger space cooling and electrical component/battery cooling functions, allowing one system to serve multiple thermal management purposes simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermal management system is designed with multi-functionality where the same components (compressor, condensers, evaporators, refrigerant circulation paths) can serve different functions: cooling the passenger space, cooling electrical components, cooling the high-voltage battery, or providing heating to the passenger space through the heater. The system can operate in various modes depending on thermal requirements.
2Temperature
If electric vehicles use additional energy to cool electrical components and batteries, then thermal management is achieved, but fuel consumption increases and travel distance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the indoor air conditioning system and component air conditioning system into a single integrated thermal management system. The compressor, condensers, evaporators, and refrigerant lines are shared between the passenger space cooling and electrical component/battery cooling functions, allowing one system to serve multiple thermal management purposes simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is segmented into distinct functional lines: an electrical component line with an electrical component radiator, and a battery line with a battery radiator and chiller. This segmentation allows independent thermal management of different components while sharing common refrigerant circulation infrastructure, optimizing energy efficiency for each component's specific cooling requirements.
3Device complexity
If a thermal management system is designed for a single vehicle body, then the system is simple, but it cannot accommodate vehicles composed of first and second vehicle bodies
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal management system is designed with multi-functionality where the same components (compressor, condensers, evaporators, refrigerant circulation paths) can serve different functions: cooling the passenger space, cooling electrical components, cooling the high-voltage battery, or providing heating to the passenger space through the heater. The system can operate in various modes depending on thermal requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates dynamic control through a controller that manages the operation of the compressor, condensers, evaporators, blower, heater, and radiators based on real-time thermal requirements. The refrigerant circulation paths can be dynamically routed through different valves and flow paths to accommodate different operating conditions and vehicle configurations.
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 efficiently manages thermal conditions for both passenger space and electrical components, optimizing energy conservation by allowing for simultaneous or independent cooling and heating of the passenger space, electrical components, and high-voltage batteries, thereby reducing fuel consumption and extending travel distance.
Implementation Method 1
a compressor
Implementation Method 2
a first condenser
Implementation Method 3
an evaporator
Implementation Method 4
a blower
Implementation Method 5
an electrical heater
Implementation Method 6
a chiller extending toward the first vehicle body and configured to be disposed behind the evaporator
Implementation Method 7
a first radiator configured to cool an electrical component and a second radiator configured to cool the high-voltage battery
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicular thermal management system includes: an indoor-air-conditioner disposed in a first vehicle body having a passenger space and including a compressor, a first condenser, an evaporator, a blower, and a refrigerant line; and a component-air-conditioner disposed in a second vehicle body combinable with the first vehicle body and including an electrical component line for cooling an electrical component of the vehicle and a first battery line for cooling a high-voltage battery including a chiller which extends toward the first vehicle body to be disposed behind the evaporator when the first vehicle body is combined with the second vehicle body.