EV Coolant System with Dual Pump Branches for Independent Temperature Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electric vehicles face challenges in efficiently managing the temperature of heat-generating components like battery packs, which affects performance and longevity, as existing coolant systems do not adequately provide different cooling temperatures for various components.
Innovation Solution
A coolant system with a fluid circuit and separate pump units for different heat-generating components, allowing independent control of coolant flow and temperature, specifically designed to provide a lower temperature for battery packs without unnecessary cooling of other components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single coolant system cools all heat-generating components, then the system structure is simple, but the temperature control precision for different components deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The coolant system is divided into multiple independent cooling circuits, each equipped with separate pumps and control mechanisms. This segmentation allows different components (battery pack, motor, inverter) to receive coolant at their respective optimal temperatures independently, resolving the contradiction between system simplicity and temperature control precision.
Solution Approach 2:
Each cooling circuit is tailored with specific coolant flow rates and temperatures suited to the local thermal requirements of individual components. The battery pack receives cooler coolant to prevent overheating during charging, while the motor and inverter receive warmer coolant optimized for their operational characteristics, achieving precise local temperature control.
2Reliability
If coolant is cooled to low temperature for battery pack, then battery cooling efficiency is improved, but energy loss increases due to unnecessary cooling of other components
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system segments the coolant flow into separate circuits, allowing the battery pack to receive highly cooled coolant for efficient thermal management while other components receive coolant at moderate temperatures. This eliminates the energy waste of over-cooling components that do not require low temperatures.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts coolant temperature parameters for different circuits based on component requirements. The battery cooling circuit maintains lower coolant temperatures for high cooling efficiency, while other circuits operate at higher temperatures to minimize energy loss, optimizing the balance between cooling efficiency and energy consumption.
3Temperature
If separate cooling circuits are used for different components, then temperature control precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
While segmentation into multiple circuits does increase structural complexity, it enables precise temperature control for each component. The patent accepts this complexity as necessary to achieve the critical temperature management requirements for high-performance electric vehicles with multiple heat-generating components.
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 temperature control and extends battery life by providing tailored cooling for different components, reducing energy losses and maintaining operational performance.
Implementation Method 1
a coolant assembly arranged in the fluid circuit. The coolant assembly is configured to decrease the temperature of a portion of the coolant to a first temperature and to supply the portion of coolant to the first vehicle heat generating component
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2~3
AI summary
The invention relates to a coolant system (100) for an electric vehicle (1), the vehicle comprising at least a first vehicle heat generating component (70) and a second vehicle heat generating component (80). The coolant system comprising a fluid circuit (60) configured to define a fluid passageway for circulating a coolant there through and a coolant assembly (10) arranged in said fluid circuit. The coolant assembly is configured to decrease the temperature of a portion of the coolant to a first temperature and to supply the portion of coolant to the first vehicle heat generating component via a first supply branch (62) of the fluid circuit and further configured to decrease the temperature of a remaining portion of the coolant to a second temperature and to supply the remaining portion of coolant to the second vehicle heat generating component via a second supply branch (64) of the fluid circuit. The system further comprising a first pump unit (40) arranged downstream of said coolant assembly in said first supply branch (62) and in fluid communication with said coolant assembly and said first vehicle heat generating component, said first pump unit being configured to direct said portion of coolant to said first vehicle heat generating component, and a second pump unit (50) arranged downstream of said coolant assembly in said second supply branch (64) and in fluid communication with said coolant assembly and said second vehicle heat generating component, said second pump unit being configured to direct said remaining portion of coolant to said second vehicle heat generating component.