EV Thermal Circuit Switching for Battery and Drivetrain Temperature Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing thermal systems for electric vehicles lack flexibility in managing heat transfer between components, leading to inefficient heating and cooling of high-voltage stores and drive train components.
Innovation Solution
A thermal system with multiple switching states allowing parallel and series connections of coolant circuits to heat sources and chillers, enabling coordinated heat exchange to maintain optimal temperatures in high-voltage stores and drive train components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the thermal system uses a fixed series connection of coolant circuits, then the system structure is simple, but the flexibility in managing heat transfer between components is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal system employs switchable connections that allow the coolant circuits to dynamically reconfigure between series and parallel arrangements. Switches enable the system to adapt the heat transfer pathways based on operational requirements, transforming a static system into a dynamic one that can respond to varying thermal demands of different components.
Solution Approach 2:
The coolant circuit is divided into multiple independent segments with individual switches controlling each pathway. This segmentation allows selective activation of different heat transfer routes, enabling the system to manage heat from multiple sources independently and flexibly reconfigure the thermal management architecture as needed.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the thermal system provides multiple switching states for coolant circuit connections, then the flexibility in heat transfer management is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The switchable connection mechanism serves multiple functions: it can configure series connections for certain components, parallel connections for others, or isolate specific circuits entirely. This single multi-functional switching mechanism replaces what would otherwise require multiple dedicated connection systems, achieving versatility without proportional increases in 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
Enhances the ability to cool or warm high-voltage stores and drive train components efficiently, while allowing direct heating and cooling of the vehicle interior, optimizing temperature control and energy management.
Implementation Method 1
the chiller is also connected to the refrigerant circuit in a heat-transmitting manner for heat transfer from the second coolant circuit to the refrigerant circuit
Implementation Method 2
coolant can flow through the high-voltage store and the heat source in series for heating the high-voltage store by means of the heat source
Implementation Method 3
the heat that is withdrawn from the coolant system by the chiller may be at least partially compensated for by the heat source, so that the high-voltage store is either cooled or warmed by the coolant
Data Source
AI summary
A thermal system for an electric vehicle, including a refrigerant circuit, a first coolant circuit to which a heat source and, upstream from the heat source, an ambient cooler, are connected. A second coolant circuit to which a high-voltage store and a chiller are connected in a heat-transmitting manner. A first switching state is settable in which the second coolant circuit is connected to the first coolant circuit downstream from and upstream from the heat source in such a way that coolant can flow through the high-voltage store and the heat source in series. In addition to the first switching state, a second switching state of the thermal system is settable in which, downstream from the high-voltage store, the second coolant circuit is connected both to the heat source and to the chiller, wherein coolant can flow through the heat source and the chiller, which are connected in parallel.