Charging Station Thermal Conditioning Arm for EV Battery Packs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electric vehicle battery packs generate significant heat during charging and operation, and existing cooling systems may not adequately manage thermal conditions, especially during fast charging or when initial temperature requirements are needed.
Innovation Solution
An external thermal conditioning system that communicates with the vehicle's energy storage to provide thermal management by supplying electric energy and using a maneuverable arm with both electric and fluid connectors to couple with the vehicle, employing heated or cooled liquids and air for thermal conditioning based on specified temperature needs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If fast charging is provided to the electric vehicle, then charging speed is improved, but heat generation increases and existing cooling systems cannot adequately manage thermal conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the charging function and thermal conditioning function into a single integrated charging station system. The charging station includes both charging equipment for supplying electric energy and thermal conditioning equipment for managing battery temperature, allowing simultaneous or coordinated operation of charging and cooling/heating functions to handle the thermal demands of fast charging
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a maneuverable arm with fluid connectors as an intermediary between the charging station and the vehicle's battery pack. This arm provides a physical interface for delivering conditioned fluid (coolant or heated liquid) directly to the battery pack, enabling efficient thermal management during fast charging operations
2Temperature
If onboard cooling system is used to remove heat from battery pack, then thermal management is provided, but the system complexity and space requirements increase within the vehicle
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the thermal conditioning equipment from the vehicle and relocates it to the charging station. The charging station houses the fluid conditioning systems (cooling or heating) and delivers conditioned fluid through the maneuverable arm to the vehicle's battery pack, thereby reducing the thermal management system complexity within the vehicle itself
Solution Approach 2:
The charging station is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a charging device and as a thermal conditioning device. The same infrastructure and equipment at the charging station provide both electric energy supply and thermal management functions, eliminating the need for dedicated vehicle-based thermal management systems
3Productivity
If initial temperature requirements are needed before charging, then charging performance is improved, but additional thermal conditioning time and energy are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary thermal conditioning by providing heating or cooling to the battery pack before charging begins. The charging station's thermal conditioning equipment prepares the battery pack to the required initial temperature, ensuring optimal conditions for charging to commence without delay
Solution Approach 2:
The patent ensures continuous thermal conditioning during the entire charging process. The fluid conditioning system operates continuously throughout charging, maintaining optimal battery temperature from initial conditioning through the charging session, thereby maximizing charging performance without interruption
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
Effectively maintains the battery pack within an acceptable temperature range during charging, enhancing cooling efficiency and addressing increased cooling demands during rapid charging, while also providing heating when necessary, thus improving overall battery health and charging performance.
Implementation Method 1
supplying, by the charging station, electric energy to the energy storage in a charging session
Implementation Method 2
employing heated or cooled liquids and air for thermal conditioning based on specified temperature needs
Implementation Method 3
employing heated or cooled liquids and air for thermal conditioning
Data Source
AI summary
A method of thermally conditioning an energy storage of a vehicle while charging includes: receiving, at a charging station, thermal information about the energy storage; supplying, by the charging station, electric energy to the energy storage in a charging session; and providing, by the charging station and based on the thermal information, thermal conditioning of the energy storage during at least part of the charging session.