Electrified Vehicle Compressor Control for Battery Thermal Management
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Electrified vehicles face challenges in effectively managing battery and cabin cooling, particularly in balancing cooling demands between the battery and cabin thermal management systems, which can lead to inefficient energy use and increased costs due to the need for complex systems like chillers.
Innovation Solution
A control strategy that adjusts the speed of the compressor and cabin blower based on the vehicle's speed and battery temperature, prioritizing battery cooling by reducing or stopping the compressor when battery thresholds are met, and adjusting for cabin cooling requests, without requiring a chiller, thus simplifying the thermal management system and reducing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a chiller is added to the thermal management system, then battery cooling capability is improved, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention makes the existing compressor serve multiple functions: it cools both the cabin and the battery through intelligent control. By enabling the single compressor to perform dual cooling roles based on operational conditions, the system eliminates the need for a separate chiller while maintaining effective battery thermal management.
Solution Approach 2:
The existing thermal management components, particularly the compressor and radiator, are made to serve the battery cooling function through intelligent control strategies. The system uses its own existing resources and components to achieve battery thermal management without requiring additional dedicated cooling equipment.
2Temperature
If the compressor runs continuously at high speed, then cooling capacity is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic or intermittent compressor operation based on battery temperature conditions and vehicle speed. Instead of continuous high-speed operation, the compressor is activated or modulated in periodic cycles that match the thermal demands of the battery, reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining effective cooling capacity when needed.
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 approach enables effective battery cooling while optimizing cabin comfort, reducing energy consumption, and eliminating the need for a chiller, thereby lowering costs and improving thermal management efficiency in electrified vehicles.
Implementation Method 1
A cabin thermal management system of an electrified vehicle includes a compressor
Implementation Method 2
a battery thermal management system configured to thermally condition a battery of the electrified vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure relates to an electrified vehicle having a control strategy for managing battery and cabin cooling. A corresponding method is also disclosed. An example electrified vehicle includes a cabin thermal management system configured to thermally condition a cabin of the electrified vehicle. The cabin thermal management system includes a compressor. The vehicle further includes a battery thermal management system configured to thermally condition a battery of the electrified vehicle, and a controller configured issue an instruction to reduce the speed of the compressor based, at least in part, on a speed of the electrified vehicle and a temperature of the battery.