Vehicle Cooling System with Dynamic Path Switching for EV Thermal Management
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
As electric vehicles generate increasing heat due to larger electric devices and thicker wire harnesses, there is a need for an efficient cooling system to manage temperature effectively.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle cooling system that includes heat-exchange target electric devices, a high-voltage battery, an electrical junction box, medium pipes, and a path switching unit to circulate a heat exchange medium through these components, with the junction box optionally integrated with the battery and a heater for medium heating, to form dynamic heat exchange paths based on heat generation states.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the size of electric devices and wire harness diameter are increased to handle higher energization currents, then the current carrying capacity is improved, but the temperature of the electric devices and wire harness increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is segmented into multiple independent medium pipes, each dedicated to cooling specific electric devices or wire harnesses. This segmentation allows targeted cooling of high-heat-generation components without requiring cooling of the entire system, thereby effectively managing temperatures while supporting higher current capacities.
Solution Approach 2:
A heat exchange medium (coolant) is introduced as an intermediary substance to transfer heat from electric devices and wire harnesses to a heat dissipation device. The coolant circulates through medium pipes, absorbing heat from high-power components and carrying it away, thus enabling high current carrying capacity while maintaining acceptable operating temperatures.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple electric devices are cooled simultaneously, then the cooling coverage is improved, but the complexity of the cooling system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system incorporates a path switching unit that dynamically configures the heat exchange medium flow paths based on real-time heat generation states of different electric devices. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to provide comprehensive cooling coverage when needed while simplifying the active cooling paths under different operating conditions, thereby managing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat exchange medium circulation system serves multiple functions: it cools different electric devices and wire harnesses depending on configuration, and the same medium pipes and switching unit can adapt to various cooling scenarios. This multi-functionality allows comprehensive cooling coverage using a unified system architecture rather than separate dedicated cooling systems for each component.
3Device complexity
If the heat exchange medium path is fixed, then the system simplicity is improved, but the ability to adapt to different heat generation states deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs a path switching unit that enables dynamic reconfiguration of heat exchange medium flow paths based on the heat generation states of electric devices. This dynamic capability allows the system to adapt to varying thermal conditions while maintaining a relatively simple underlying pipe architecture, balancing simplicity with adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The path switching unit is pre-configured with multiple possible flow path configurations corresponding to different heat generation scenarios. This preliminary preparation allows the system to quickly adapt to different operating conditions by simply switching between pre-planned paths, rather than requiring complex real-time optimization, thus maintaining system simplicity while achieving adaptability.
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 configuration efficiently cools electric devices and wire harnesses, reducing their size and weight, improving cold startability, and optimizing space usage while enhancing charging efficiency by dynamically managing heat exchange paths.
Implementation Method 1
heat-exchange target electric devices that are mounted on a vehicle and perform heat exchange with a heat exchange medium
Implementation Method 2
electric device medium pipes that are routed along a routing path of the wire harness and are used for circulation of the heat exchange medium through the heat-exchange target electric devices
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle cooling system includes a wire harness WH electrically connected to a plurality of heat-exchange target electric devices, a J/B electrically connected to the wire harness and a high-voltage battery, electric device medium pipes routed along a routing path of the wire harness and used for circulation of a heat exchange medium through the heat-exchange target electric devices, and a path switching unit connected to the electric device medium pipes so that the heat exchange medium can be circulated, and configured to form a heat exchange medium path in which the heat exchange medium is circulated through the plurality of heat-exchange target electric devices. The path switching unit is provided in the J/B and forms the heat exchange medium path according to a heat generation state of the heat-exchange target electric devices.