Integrated Fluid Heat Exchange Assembly for Vehicle Thermal Management

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional thermal management systems for vehicles require extensive pipe arrangements, occupying large installation space and leading to inefficiencies in heat exchange due to the separate installation of components.

Innovation Solution

A compact fluid heat exchange assembly integrating a fluid control module and a heat exchange module with a connecting component, allowing for efficient fluid communication and heat exchange while reducing pipe arrangement, featuring a heat exchange core and connecting components fixed by welding, and utilizing separate fluid communication cavities for optimized heat transfer.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If components are installed separately in conventional thermal management systems, then each component can be independently manufactured and maintained, but the installation space occupied is large and many pipes are required

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveIndependent component manufacturingVSAvoidInstallation space
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the heat exchange module and control module into a single integrated heat exchange assembly. The control module is positioned within the heat exchange module, sharing the same housing and fluid passages. This integration eliminates the need for separate component installations and reduces the overall space occupation while maintaining independent manufacturability of the modular assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Ease of manufacture

If components are installed separately in conventional thermal management systems, then each component can be independently manufactured and maintained, but many pipes are required for fluid communication

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveIndependent component manufacturingVSAvoidPipe arrangement
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates fluid passages directly into the housing structure, allowing fluid to flow from the heat exchange module to the control module through internal channels rather than external pipes. This merging of fluid communication paths into the structural housing eliminates complex pipe arrangements while maintaining independent component functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Quantity of substance

If extensive pipe arrangements are used in conventional thermal management systems, then fluid can be transported between components, but pipe-related heat loss increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveFluid transportVSAvoidHeat loss
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the fluid transport function from external pipes and relocates it into the housing structure itself. The housing contains internal passages that guide fluid flow between the heat exchange module and control module, eliminating the thermal losses associated with external pipe connections while maintaining effective fluid transport.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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

The integrated design reduces pipe-related heat loss and minimizes installation space, enhancing the thermal management system's efficiency and compactness.

Implementation Method 1

The connecting component includes a connecting channel, the connecting channel penetrates through the connecting component, and the second flow passage with the first fluid communication cavity are connected by the connecting channel

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid flow through connecting channel:

Implementation Method 2

the fluid heat exchange module includes a heat exchange core and a connecting component fixed by welding

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP3540352B1Fluid heat exchange assembly, and heat management system of vehicle
Publication Date: 2023.05.31 ZHEJIANG SANHUA INTELLIGENT CONTROLS CO LTD
  • EP3540352B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3540352B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3540352B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

Disclosed are a fluid heat exchange assembly (10), and a heat management system of a vehicle. The fluid heat exchange assembly comprises a fluid control module (2) and a fluid heat exchange module (1), wherein the fluid control module (2) comprises a first connecting lateral portion (218); the fluid heat exchange module (1) comprises a second connecting lateral portion (136); the first connecting lateral portion (218) and the second connecting lateral portion (136) are oppositely arranged and arranged in a sealed manner; the fluid heat exchange module (1) comprises a heat exchange core (11) and an adapter (13), which are fixed by welding; the second connecting lateral portion (136) is arranged on the adapter (13); the adapter (13) comprises a third connecting lateral portion (135); the heat exchange core (11) comprises a fourth connecting lateral portion (117); the third connecting lateral portion (135) and the fourth connecting lateral portion (117) are fixed by welding; the fluid control module (2) at least comprises a first fluid passage (2165a) and a second fluid passage (2165b); the first fluid passage (2165a) can be in communication with the second fluid passage (2165b); the fluid heat exchange module (1) comprises a first fluid communication cavity (14); the second fluid passage (2165b) is in communication with the first fluid communication cavity (14); the adapter (13) comprises a connecting channel (1117); the connecting channel (1117) runs through the adapter (13); and the connecting channel (1117) connects the second fluid passage (2165b) with the first fluid communication cavity (14). The fluid heat exchange assembly reduces pipeline arrangement and is of a small and compact integral structure.