EV Thermal Loop for Motor Heat Recovery and Battery Heating

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Solution Overview

Problem

Pure electric vehicles face limitations in endurance due to high energy consumption for temperature control, especially in low-temperature environments, as existing heating systems like PTC heaters have low efficiency and fail to meet the demands of both passenger compartments and power batteries.

Innovation Solution

A thermal management loop system that integrates a driving motor cooling pipe system, power battery temperature control system, and passenger compartment temperature control system, allowing for series and parallel operations, thermal coupling, and reversing functions to optimize energy usage and reduce consumption by utilizing heat generated by the motor for battery heating and passenger compartment heating.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If PTC heater is used for heating in low-temperature environment, then heating source is provided for passenger compartment and power battery, but heating energy consumption is high which reduces vehicle endurance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheating temperatureVSAvoidheating energy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the motor cooling system and battery temperature control system into an integrated thermal management loop. The motor cooling liquid, after cooling the motor, flows into the battery cooling system to provide cooling or heating to the battery depending on temperature conditions. This combined system recovers waste heat from the motor to reduce the need for additional heating energy consumption in low-temperature environments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the waste heat from the motor, which would otherwise be dissipated through the radiator, into a useful resource for heating the battery and passenger compartment in low-temperature environments. By redirecting the motor cooling liquid through the battery system and utilizing its thermal energy, the system transforms what was previously a loss into a beneficial heating source, reducing overall energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Ease of operation

If independent cooling loops are used for motor and battery, then each component can be controlled separately, but system complexity increases and energy efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindependent control capabilityVSAvoidpipe system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic thermal management system where the pipe configuration can switch between different connection modes based on real-time temperature conditions. The system dynamically adjusts whether the motor and battery cooling loops are connected in series or parallel, or whether they operate independently, allowing flexible control while simplifying the overall system architecture through conditional integration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Use of energy by moving object

If motor cooling liquid is used to cool battery, then energy consumption is reduced, but cooling capacity may be insufficient when both motor and battery require cooling simultaneously

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidcooling capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically switches between series and parallel connection modes based on thermal demands. When both motor and battery require cooling, the system transitions to parallel connection mode, allowing independent cooling of each component. When only one component needs cooling or heating is required, the system uses series connection to optimize energy efficiency by utilizing waste heat recovery.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 system effectively reduces energy consumption by using heat recovery and efficient temperature control, improving battery endurance and vehicle performance while meeting cooling and heating demands.

Implementation Method 1

a battery cooler (23), and a power battery (24) connected in sequence... the battery cooler comprises a first flow channel (231) and a second flow channel (232)... the first flow channel (231) is connected in series to the second pipe system

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Convection

Implementation Method 2

the heat exchange pipe (46) passing through the battery cooler (23) to realize heat exchange with the power battery temperature control pipe system

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 3

a first water pump (12), a driving motor (13), and a low-temperature radiator (14) connected in sequence... a second water pump (21), a battery cooler (23), and a power battery (24) connected in sequence

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid circulation: Pump

Data Source

PatentEP4197832B1Electric vehicle thermal management loop, control method, and pure electric vehicle
Publication Date: 2024.10.09 ZHIJI AUTOMOTIVE TECH CO LTD
  • EP4197832B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4197832B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4197832B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The present invention belongs to a technical field of thermal management of new energy vehicles, in particular to, an electric vehicle thermal management loop, a control method, and a pure electric vehicle. The thermal management loop includes a heat pump refrigerant loop, a driving motor cooling pipe system, and a power battery temperature control pipe system. The present invention realizes series and parallel operations of an electric vehicle driving motor cooling loop and a power battery cooling loop, which not only enables a power battery (24) to be cooled or heated separately, but also uses heat generated by a motor to heat a power battery (24), realizes energy recovery and utilization, and reduces vehicle energy consumption.