Electric Vehicle Heat System Parallel Circuit Topology
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electric and hybrid vehicles require multiple cooling circuits for different components, leading to increased construction complexity, high costs, and significant structural space requirements, which can be inefficient and costly.
Innovation Solution
A heat system for electric or hybrid vehicles that integrates a cooling circuit with a heating heat exchanger in parallel, featuring a refrigeration circuit with a condenser and evaporator for efficient heat transfer and distribution, allowing for multiple operating modes to optimize air-conditioning and reduce the need for multiple coolers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple separate cooling circuits are used for different vehicle components, then each component can be cooled independently, but the construction complexity, costs, and structural space requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate cooling circuits into a single integrated cooling circuit that serves multiple vehicle components (engine, battery, power electronics, air conditioning). This merging approach maintains the ability to cool different components independently through strategic placement of heat exchangers and flow control mechanisms while significantly reducing construction complexity, component count, and structural space requirements compared to multiple separate circuits
2Reliability
If multiple separate cooling circuits are used for different vehicle components, then each component can be cooled independently, but the costs and structural space requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple cooling functions into a single cooling circuit, reducing the structural space required for cooling system components such as radiators, hoses, and heat exchangers. By sharing common coolant flow paths and consolidation of thermal management functions, the system achieves independent cooling capability for multiple components while occupying less engine bay space
3Device complexity
If a common cooling circuit is used to combine previously separate cooling circuits, then construction complexity and costs are reduced, but the ability to provide optimized cooling for components in different temperature ranges may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the common cooling circuit into different thermal zones and pathways, allowing components operating in different temperature ranges (such as the engine requiring high-temperature cooling and the battery requiring moderate-temperature cooling) to receive optimized cooling. This is achieved through strategic placement of heat exchangers, thermal isolation mechanisms, and flow control valves that can direct coolant flow to specific components based on thermal demands
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by providing different cooling conditions to different components within the same common cooling circuit. Each component receives cooling tailored to its specific thermal requirements through localized heat exchangers and flow control mechanisms, ensuring that the engine, battery, power electronics, and air conditioning system each operate in their optimal temperature ranges despite sharing a common coolant circuit
4Loss of energy
If waste heat from activated components is dissipated into the cooling circuit, then heat transfer efficiency is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts waste heat from activated components (such as the engine and power electronics) into a beneficial resource by dissipating it into the cooling circuit for use in air conditioning and heating functions. This heat recovery approach improves overall system energy efficiency by utilizing otherwise wasted thermal energy, and the integrated cooling circuit design manages this heat flow without significantly increasing system complexity
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 integrated heat system achieves efficient air-conditioning for various components by optimizing heat transfer and distribution, reducing costs and structural space, while allowing for flexible operation and efficient cooling and heating modes.
Implementation Method 1
a refrigeration circuit, having a condenser and having an evaporator, which are each designed for exchanging heat with the cooling circuit
Implementation Method 2
a refrigeration circuit, having a condenser and having an evaporator, which are each designed for exchanging heat with the cooling circuit
Implementation Method 3
a heating heat exchanger for the purposes of interior compartment heating
Implementation Method 4
a cooler and, for the purposes of interior compartment heating, a heating heat exchanger
Data Source
AI summary
A heat system for an electric or hybrid vehicle may be operated in multiple operating modes. The heat system includes a cooling circuit having a cooling unit and a heating heat exchanger for heating the interior. The heating heat exchanger is parallel connected to the cooling unit, for forming a heating circuit. At least one heat source is arranged in the cooling circuit for heat output to the cooling circuit. The heat system may also include a refrigeration circuit for heat exchange with the cooling circuit by way of a capacitor, and an evaporator circuit, which can introduce heat to the refrigeration circuit by way of the evaporator.