EV Charging Station Coolant Coupling for Battery Temperature Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing thermal management systems in electric vehicles face inefficiencies in battery charging due to ambient temperature dependencies, making it difficult to achieve efficient cooling or heating during the charging process.
Innovation Solution
A thermal management system that includes a coolant circulation line in a charging station, connected to the vehicle's cooling system via a connector, with a controller that adjusts the coolant temperature based on ambient conditions to optimize battery charging efficiency, utilizing a chiller for heat exchange between the coolant and refrigerant to enhance thermal management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the vehicle uses its own cooling system to cool the battery during charging, then the battery temperature can be controlled, but the charging efficiency is reduced due to ambient temperature dependencies and system inefficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The charging station's cooling system serves dual purposes: it cools the charging equipment itself and simultaneously cools the vehicle battery through the connector. This self-service approach eliminates the need for the vehicle to use its own thermal management resources during charging, thereby improving charging efficiency while maintaining temperature control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the charging station's cooling function with the vehicle battery cooling function. By combining these two separate cooling needs into a single integrated system, the patent eliminates redundant cooling operations and improves overall charging efficiency while maintaining reliable battery temperature control.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the vehicle is equipped with a complete thermal management system including cooling and heating components, then temperature control is achieved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The charging station's cooling system is designed to perform multiple functions: it cools the charging equipment and simultaneously cools the vehicle battery. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated cooling systems in the vehicle, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining temperature control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector serves as an intermediary that enables the charging station's cooling system to access and cool the vehicle battery. This intermediary approach allows the vehicle to leverage the charging station's thermal management resources without requiring a complete independent thermal management system, thus reducing complexity while maintaining adaptability.
3Productivity
If the coolant temperature is not optimized during charging, then the system operation is simple, but the energy efficiency and charging performance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The controller dynamically adjusts the coolant temperature parameter based on real-time conditions during charging. By optimizing the coolant temperature, the system improves heat exchange efficiency between the charging station and vehicle battery, thereby enhancing both charging efficiency and energy efficiency without complicating system operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller monitors charging conditions and battery temperature, then adjusts the coolant temperature accordingly. This feedback mechanism ensures optimal energy efficiency and charging performance while maintaining simple system operation, as the adjustment is automated based on real-time conditions.
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 improves charging efficiency by maintaining optimal battery temperature, reduces the need for additional cooling or heating, and increases thermal efficiency, thereby enhancing overall vehicle performance and reducing costs.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing a chiller for heat exchange between the coolant and refrigerant to enhance thermal management
Implementation Method 2
an evaporator cooling air to be blown into the interior space of a vehicle using latent heat of vaporization (or enthalpy of vaporization) of the refrigerant by evaporating the refrigerant
Implementation Method 3
a condenser condensing the refrigerant compressed by the compressor
Data Source
AI summary
A thermal management system for electric vehicles has a coolant circulation line provided in a charging station and containing therein a coolant having a predetermined temperature. A connector connects the coolant circulation line and a cooling system of a vehicle. A controller receives an ambient temperature of the vehicle. When a battery of the vehicle is rapidly charged, the controller controls the coolant circulation line of the charging station to be fastened to the cooling system of the vehicle so that the coolant in the charging station enters the cooling system through the connector. The controller controls the coolant overheated or supercooled to the predetermined temperature to be supplied to the vehicle according to a cooling condition or a heating condition of the battery while the vehicle is being charged through the connector.