EV Air-Conditioning Circuit Reusing Cooling-Body Heat for Battery Warming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Air-conditioning systems for electrically driveable motor vehicles are inefficient and costly due to the need for separate heaters for temperature control of traction batteries, which increases structural space and power losses.
Innovation Solution
An air-conditioning system with a heat transport medium-carrying circuit that connects a traction battery and an electronics component to a cooling body, where a heating device on the cooling body releases heating energy to the heat transport medium, which is then transported to the traction battery for heating, eliminating the need for additional heaters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a separate heater is used for heating the traction battery, then the traction battery can be heated effectively, but the structural space requirement and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the heating function with the existing cooling body structure. The heating device is integrated into the cooling body that already serves the traction battery, merging heating and cooling functions into a single structural component. This eliminates the need for a separate heater and reduces structural space requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling body is designed to serve multiple functions: it acts as both a cooling structure and a heating structure. By integrating the heating device into the cooling body, the same structural component performs both thermal management functions, reducing the overall number of components and space requirements.
2Temperature
If a separate heater is used for heating the traction battery, then the heating function is provided, but the costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The heating function is merged with the existing cooling body and heat transport medium circuit. By utilizing the already-present cooling infrastructure and integrating the heating device into it, the patent avoids the need for completely separate heating and cooling systems, thereby reducing manufacturing costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat transport medium circuit is designed to serve both heating and cooling functions. The same circuit and cooling body structure are used for both temperature control modes, reducing the need for duplicate components and lowering overall manufacturing costs.
3Temperature
If power losses of other vehicle components are used for heating the traction battery, then heating is provided, but the efficiency is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the waste heat generated by the heating device into a useful resource for heating the traction battery. Instead of allowing the heating energy to be wasted, the system captures and transports this heat through the heat transport medium to where it is needed, converting what would be a loss into a beneficial heating source.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat transport medium acts as an intermediary carrier that transfers thermal energy from the heating device to the traction battery. This mediator enables efficient heat transfer without direct thermal contact, allowing the system to capture and deliver waste heat effectively to the battery for temperature control.
4Temperature
If multiple separate heating and cooling components are used, then temperature control is provided, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the heating device with the cooling body structure. The heating device is integrated into the cooling body that already serves the traction battery, combining what would traditionally be separate heating and cooling components into a single integrated unit, thereby reducing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling body and heat transport medium circuit are designed to perform both heating and cooling functions. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed in the system, as the same infrastructure serves dual thermal management purposes.
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 configuration allows for efficient and cost-effective temperature control of vehicle components by utilizing waste heat from electronics components to heat the traction battery, reducing structural space and power losses, and enabling operation in various heating and cooling modes.
Implementation Method 1
a heating device 16 which is configured to release heating energy to the heat transport medium is arranged on the at least one cooling body 12
Implementation Method 2
via the heat transport medium, the heating energy can be transported at least partially to the first vehicle component 5
Data Source
AI summary
An air-conditioning system for an electrically drivable motor vehicle includes a first vehicle component to be temperature-controlled, a second vehicle component to be temperature-controlled, which is arranged on at least one cooling body, and a heat transport medium-carrying first circuit, which is provided for controlling the temperature of the vehicle components and to which the first vehicle component and the at least one cooling body of the second vehicle component are connected. A heating device which is configured to release heating energy to the heat transport medium is arranged on the at least one cooling body, wherein via the heat transport medium, the heating energy can be transported at least partially to the first vehicle component for the purpose of heating the first vehicle component.