Heat-Activated Multiphase Fluid Pump for Battery and Motor Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cooling and heating systems for electric vehicle batteries and motors are inefficient, bulky, and prone to failure due to the use of mechanical pumps, which increase weight, size, and operational costs, and lack redundancy, affecting battery life and motor performance.
Innovation Solution
A heat-activated multiphase fluid-operated pump (HAMFOP) system that utilizes heat to convert a working fluid into vapor, which displaces the fluid to be pumped, eliminating the need for mechanical pumps and allowing for efficient temperature regulation through a thermodynamic cycle, including an evaporator, pressure-control valve, liquid-piston chamber, and condenser.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If mechanical pumps are used for cooling and heating batteries and motors, then temperature control is achieved, but weight, size, and operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical pumps with a thermodynamic cycle system consisting of an evaporator, compressor, condenser, and expansion device. This refrigeration cycle system uses phase change of refrigerant to transfer heat, eliminating the need for mechanical pumping components while achieving the same temperature control function for batteries and motors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes phase transitions of refrigerant (liquid to vapor in evaporator, vapor to liquid in condenser) to enable heat absorption and release. This phase change mechanism provides the driving force for heat transfer without requiring mechanical pumps, thereby reducing system weight and complexity.
2Temperature
If mechanical pumps are used for cooling and heating batteries and motors, then temperature control is achieved, but device complexity and operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical pumps with a thermodynamic cycle system consisting of an evaporator, compressor, condenser, and expansion device. This refrigeration cycle system uses phase change of refrigerant to transfer heat, eliminating the need for mechanical pumping components while achieving the same temperature control function for batteries and motors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs a unified thermal management system that can provide both cooling and heating functions for different components (batteries and motors) using a single refrigeration cycle. The system can switch between cooling mode and heating mode, eliminating the need for separate systems and reducing overall device complexity.
3Temperature
If AC compressor is used for battery cooling, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but system size and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs a unified thermal management system that can provide both cooling and heating functions for different components (batteries and motors) using a single refrigeration cycle. The system can switch between cooling mode and heating mode, eliminating the need for separate systems and reducing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes phase transitions of refrigerant (liquid to vapor in evaporator, vapor to liquid in condenser) to enable heat absorption and release. This phase change mechanism provides the driving force for heat transfer without requiring mechanical pumps, thereby reducing system weight and complexity.
4Temperature
If water/glycol cooling system is used for motor cooling, then temperature control is achieved, but pump weight and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical pumps with a thermodynamic cycle system consisting of an evaporator, compressor, condenser, and expansion device. This refrigeration cycle system uses phase change of refrigerant to transfer heat, eliminating the need for mechanical pumping components while achieving the same temperature control function for batteries and motors.
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 HAMFOP system provides efficient temperature control for batteries and motors by reducing weight, size, and operational costs, enhancing performance and longevity by leveraging heat to drive the pumping mechanism, ensuring reliable operation and energy efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
One or more fluid passageways collectively form an evaporator in thermal contact with heat generating elements of the motor, the passageways containing a working fluid and receptive of heat from the motor to convert the working fluid into vapor
Implementation Method 2
receptive of heat from the motor to convert the working fluid into vapor
Implementation Method 3
The received vaporized working fluid expands adiabatically and displaces liquid within the liquid-piston chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A heat-activated pump regulates the temperature of a battery or motor. For a battery, an evaporator has fluid passageways arranged in a serpentine path or multiple parallel paths, in direct contact with battery cells. For a motor, the passageways wrap around its casing or within. Working fluid in the passageways is converted to vapor. Whenever a target pressure is exceeded, a pressure-control valve allows vaporized working fluid to escape into a liquid-piston chamber, where it expands adiabatically and displaces pumped liquid, expelling it in a pumping stage from the liquid-piston chamber through a check valve into a condenser. Another check valve allows the pumped liquid to return in a suction stage to the chamber. An injector valve between the liquid-piston chamber and the evaporator returns jets of condensed working fluid to the evaporator in successive brief spurts responsive to periodic pressure pulses in the liquid-piston chamber.