EV Thermal Loop Preheating for Low-Temperature Compressor Start
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Solution Overview
Problem
In electric vehicles, the compressor of the air conditioning system fails to operate normally in low-temperature environments due to excessively low temperatures and pressures of the cooling medium at the compressor inlet, preventing heating functionality.
Innovation Solution
A thermal management system with a valve body, water pipelines, coolers, and a heating unit that allows for direct or indirect heating of the compressor, increasing its temperature and pressure, and includes various loop configurations for heat exchange to ensure compressor operation in low temperatures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the air conditioning system operates in a low-temperature environment, then the compressor cannot work normally due to excessively low temperature and pressure, but the system needs to provide heating function
Solution Approach 1:
The heating unit is activated before the compressor starts operating in low-temperature environments. The heating unit pre-heats the cooling medium and increases the temperature at the compressor inlet to a level suitable for compressor operation, thereby enabling the compressor to work normally in cold conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The heating unit acts as an intermediary component between the low-temperature environment and the compressor. It mediates the temperature and pressure conditions by heating the cooling medium before it enters the compressor, allowing the compressor to operate reliably without direct exposure to excessively low temperatures
2Reliability
If the compressor inlet temperature and pressure are increased through heating, then the compressor can operate normally, but the system complexity increases with additional heating components
Solution Approach 1:
The heating unit is integrated into the existing thermal management system and serves multiple functions: it heats the cooling medium for compressor operation, provides cabin heating, and can work in conjunction with the cooling system. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components and minimizes overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The heating unit is merged with the existing thermal management components such as the water pipeline and cooler system. By combining the heating function with existing structures, the patent avoids adding completely separate systems, thereby reducing overall device complexity while still achieving the required temperature and pressure increases for compressor operation
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
Enables the compressor to function normally in low-temperature conditions, allowing the air conditioning system to heat the passenger compartment effectively.
Implementation Method 1
the heating unit may directly heat the first liquid cooling loop in which the compressor is located, or may heat the second path of the cooler or the water pipeline, to indirectly heat the compressor
Implementation Method 2
the first valve body may be configured to switch between different connection states. Different connection states may include connecting the second path of the cooler and the water pipeline, to form a first water loop, so that the first water loop and the first liquid cooling loop perform heat exchange
Data Source
AI summary
A thermal management system includes a thermal system loop, a battery heat exchange loop, an electric-drive heat dissipation loop, and a heater. The heater may be disposed in any one of the thermal system loop, the battery heat exchange loop, and the electric-drive heat dissipation loop. The heater is configured to heat a first cooling medium flowing through a compressor in the thermal system loop, to increase a temperature and a pressure of the first cooling medium entering the compressor. An electric vehicle is provided, including a controller and the thermal management system. In this way, in a low-temperature environment, the compressor can also be turned on normally, so that the thermal management system can heat a passenger compartment of the electric vehicle.