EV Battery Thermal Management for Low-Temperature Charging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric vehicle charging systems do not adequately consider the amount of charging electric power received by the battery in low-temperature environments, leading to insufficient power during charging.
Innovation Solution
An electric vehicle equipped with a battery, a temperature adjuster to heat the battery, and an air conditioner that operates based on predetermined schedules, ensuring the battery is pre-heated before charging and air-conditioning in the passenger compartment is completed by the scheduled start time, allowing for optimal charging power reception.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the battery is pre-heated in a low-temperature environment before charging, then the charging electric power reception is improved, but the charging time is extended and the overall process duration increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary heating of the battery before charging by automatically operating the battery heater during external charging in low-temperature environments. This pre-heating action prepares the battery to receive optimal charging power without extending the overall charging duration, as the heating occurs concurrently with the charging process setup.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the temperature parameter of the battery by controlling the battery heater to maintain the battery within a specific temperature range (e.g., 0°C to 45°C) during charging. This parameter control ensures optimal charging power reception while managing the heating process efficiently to minimize time loss.
2Productivity
If the battery temperature is controlled within a specific range during charging, then the charging efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional temperature monitoring and control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the battery's own thermal characteristics and the natural heat generated during charging to maintain optimal temperature. The control unit monitors temperature and automatically adjusts the heater operation, allowing the system to self-regulate without requiring complex external temperature control infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The battery heater serves multiple functions: it pre-heats the battery before charging, maintains optimal temperature during charging, and can serve as a thermal management component for other battery operations. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated temperature control systems, thereby reducing overall device complexity.
3Reliability
If both the battery heater and air conditioner operate simultaneously, then the passenger comfort and battery temperature are optimized, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit continuously monitors both the battery temperature and passenger compartment temperature, and dynamically adjusts the operation of the battery heater and air conditioner based on real-time feedback. This coordinated control ensures that both systems operate only when necessary and at optimal levels, minimizing energy consumption while maintaining both battery temperature and passenger comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges the thermal management functions by coordinating the battery heater and air conditioner operations under a single control unit. This integration allows the system to optimize energy usage by leveraging the air conditioner's cooling capacity to offset some heating requirements and vice versa, reducing the total energy consumption compared to independent operation.
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 solution ensures a sufficient amount of charging electric power is secured for the battery by pre-heating the battery and adjusting the air-conditioning to optimize charging efficiency, particularly in low-temperature conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a battery heater is automatically operated during external charging of an electric vehicle in a low-temperature environment to pre-heat a battery
Implementation Method 2
an air conditioner configured to control air-conditioning in a passenger compartment
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an electric vehicle equipped with a battery mounted on a vehicle and capable of being charged by supplying electric power from outside of the vehicle; a temperature adjuster configured to adjust a temperature of the battery; and an air conditioner configured to control air-conditioning in a passenger compartment by a predetermined schedule, in which, if both an operating condition of the temperature adjuster and an operating condition of the air conditioner are established, the air conditioner operates after the temperature adjuster operates for a predetermined time.