EV Thermal Management Heat Transfer for Cabin and Battery Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
The energy used by the cabin air conditioning system and traction battery thermal management system in electric vehicles can reduce the driving range, as they consume energy that could be used for propulsion, and there is a need to enhance the energy efficiency of the thermal management system.
Innovation Solution
A method that allows heat transfer from the cabin air conditioning system to the traction battery thermal management system, enabling synergistic operation to enhance cooling capacity and efficiency without hardware changes, using thermal coupling and coolant flow paths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the cabin air conditioning system operates at high cooling performance levels, then the cooling capacity is sufficient, but the energy efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the cabin air conditioning system and the traction battery thermal management system into a unified thermal management architecture. The two systems share common components including a compressor, condenser, evaporator, and coolant circulation pathways. This integration allows the systems to operate synergistically, where the traction battery can act as a thermal sink or source to support cabin cooling demands, enabling the cabin AC to maintain high cooling capacity while operating at lower energy consumption levels through coordinated thermal exchange between the battery and cabin systems
2Ease of manufacture
If the cabin air conditioning system and traction battery thermal management system operate independently, then each system can be optimized separately, but the overall energy efficiency of the thermal management system is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements multi-functionality by designing thermal management components that serve dual purposes. The compressor, condenser, evaporator, and coolant circulation system are configured to simultaneously or alternately serve both the cabin air conditioning function and the traction battery thermal management function. The system can dynamically allocate thermal management resources between cabin cooling and battery temperature control based on real-time operational demands, thereby maximizing overall energy efficiency while maintaining the ability to optimize each function when needed
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 method enlarges the cooling capacity of the cabin air conditioning system and enhances the overall efficiency of the thermal management system by allowing the traction battery thermal management system to support the cabin cooling, even when the cabin air conditioning system's efficiency decreases at high cooling performance levels.
Implementation Method 1
causing a heat transfer from the cabin air conditioning system to the traction battery thermal management system
Implementation Method 2
using thermal coupling and coolant flow paths
Data Source
AI summary
In an aspect the disclosure relates to a method for controlling a thermal management system of an electric vehicle wherein the thermal management system comprises: a cabin air conditioning system configured to control a temperature in a passenger cabin of the electric vehicle; and a traction battery thermal management system configured to control a temperature of a traction battery of the electric vehicle; and the method comprising causing a heat transfer from the cabin air conditioning system to the traction battery thermal management system.