Power Supply Unit Thermal Management for EV
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The configuration of temperature adjustment structures for dual power supplies in electric vehicles is complex due to the need for independent cooling or heating systems for high-voltage and low-voltage power supplies.
Innovation Solution
A power supply unit design where the drive power supply, electrical component power supplies, step-down converters, and distribution units are accommodated in a single unit, allowing for shared cooling and potential heat transfer between components, thereby simplifying the temperature adjustment structure and reducing the need for separate heating units.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If independent temperature adjustment structures are provided for each power supply, then each power supply can be kept at appropriate temperature, but the configuration becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple power supplies (drive power supply and electrical component power supply) into a single accommodating unit, enabling them to share common temperature adjustment structures such as cooling plates and heating elements, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining effective temperature control for each power supply
Solution Approach 2:
The temperature adjustment structures (cooling plates, heating elements) are designed to serve multiple power supplies simultaneously within the accommodating unit, allowing a single cooling or heating system to manage thermal conditions for both the drive power supply and electrical component power supply, thus eliminating the need for separate independent systems
2Temperature
If separate cooling units are provided for each power supply, then each power supply can be cooled effectively, but the system requires more components and space
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple cooling plates are integrated within the accommodating unit to cool different power supplies simultaneously, with cooling media flowing through shared passages, thereby achieving effective cooling for each power supply while using a single unified cooling system rather than multiple separate cooling units
3Temperature
If independent heating units are provided for each power supply, then each power supply can be heated when needed, but the system complexity and capacity requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Heating elements are integrated into the accommodating unit structure to provide heating capability for power supplies when needed, sharing common heating infrastructure rather than requiring independent heating units for each power supply, thus reducing system complexity while maintaining heating functionality
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 design simplifies the temperature adjustment configuration by enabling shared cooling and heat transfer between components, reducing the complexity and capacity requirements of the cooling system, while maintaining redundancy for vehicle operation in case of failures.
Implementation Method 1
the cooling unit for cooling the drive power supply and the electrical component power supply can be shared
Implementation Method 2
when one of the drive power supply and the electrical component power supply is low in temperature, the heat generated by another of the power supply, the step-down converter and the distribution unit can be easily transmitted to the low temperature power supply
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a power supply unit capable of simplifying a structure of a temperature adjustment mechanism. Electric component power supplies and DC/DC converters and a junction box are accommodated in the same accommodating unit as a drive power supply, and thus the drive power supply and the box and the electrical component power supplies are arranged close to each other. As a result, a cooling unit for cooling the drive power supply and the electrical component power supplies can be made common. Further, heat can be transferred between parts housed in the accommodating unit, omitting the heating unit and lowering the capacity thereof.