Dynamic Heat Transfer Fluid Flow Control for Electric Traction Chain Thermal Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current heat treatment systems for vehicles face challenges in simultaneously dissipating heat from electric traction chain elements, such as electric storage devices, and cooling the passenger compartment during fast charging, while minimizing consumption, size, and noise pollution.

Innovation Solution

A method for controlling a heat treatment system that regulates energy supply between a refrigerant fluid circuit and a heat transfer fluid circulation loop by adjusting the flow rate of the heat transfer fluid in the heat exchanger based on the temperature of the refrigerant fluid at the outlet of the first heat exchanger, using a bypass mechanism to adapt the flow rate and prevent overheating of the electric traction chain components during rapid charging.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If the heat treatment system is dimensioned to cool both the electric storage device during fast charging and the passenger compartment simultaneously, then the thermal management capability is improved, but the system size and energy consumption increase beyond acceptable limits for current vehicles

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling capabilityVSAvoidsystem size
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic control of the heat transfer fluid flow rate through the heat exchanger, adjusting it based on real-time temperature conditions of the refrigerant fluid. The flow rate is increased when the refrigerant temperature exceeds the threshold to maximize cooling efficiency, and reduced when the threshold is met, allowing the system to adapt its cooling capacity dynamically rather than operating at fixed capacity throughout

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the operational parameters of the heat treatment system by monitoring the refrigerant fluid temperature and adjusting the heat transfer fluid flow rate accordingly. When the refrigerant temperature at the outlet of the first heat exchanger exceeds the threshold, the system increases heat transfer fluid flow through the heat exchanger to enhance cooling of the electric storage device, and reduces flow when the threshold is met, optimizing system performance under varying thermal loads

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Temperature

If the heat treatment system is dimensioned to cool both the electric storage device during fast charging and the passenger compartment simultaneously, then the thermal management capability is improved, but the energy consumption increases beyond acceptable limits for current vehicles

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling capabilityVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the heat transfer fluid flow rate based on real-time temperature conditions, increasing flow only when the refrigerant temperature exceeds the threshold and reducing it when the threshold is met. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to consume energy only when necessary for effective cooling, rather than operating continuously at high capacity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system optimizes energy consumption by changing operational parameters - specifically adjusting the heat transfer fluid flow rate through the heat exchanger based on refrigerant temperature measurements. The flow rate is increased to maximize cooling efficiency only when the refrigerant temperature exceeds the threshold, and reduced when the threshold is met, thereby minimizing energy consumption while maintaining adequate cooling performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Temperature

If the heat treatment system is dimensioned to cool both the electric storage device during fast charging and the passenger compartment simultaneously, then the thermal management capability is improved, but the noise pollution increases beyond acceptable limits for current vehicles

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling capabilityVSAvoidnoise pollution
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically controls the heat transfer fluid flow rate through the heat exchanger based on real-time temperature conditions. By increasing flow rate only when the refrigerant temperature exceeds the threshold and reducing it when the threshold is met, the system minimizes the operation time of high-power cooling components, thereby reducing noise pollution while maintaining cooling capability when needed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system reduces noise pollution by changing operational parameters - specifically by adjusting the heat transfer fluid flow rate based on refrigerant temperature. The flow rate is increased to provide effective cooling only when the refrigerant temperature exceeds the threshold, and reduced when the threshold is met, thereby limiting the duration and intensity of high-noise operation while preserving thermal management effectiveness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 approach effectively maintains the electric traction chain components below a critical temperature and cools the passenger compartment, ensuring thermal comfort while avoiding excessive noise and energy consumption, by dynamically adjusting the heat transfer fluid flow rate in response to changing thermal demands.

Implementation Method 1

a heat exchanger able to implement a heat exchange between the refrigerant fluid and the heat transfer fluid

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 2

at least one coolant fluid circuit comprising at least one coolant fluid compression device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Data Source

PatentEP3746316B1Method for controlling a system for heat treatment of a component of an electric traction chain of a vehicle
Publication Date: 2022.01.05 VALEO SYST THERMIQUES SAS
  • EP3746316B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3746316B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3746316B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention concerns a method for controlling a heat treatment system (1) of a vehicle, the heat treatment system (1) comprising coolant (FR) circuit (3) and a first heat exchanger (8) configured to heat treat a passenger compartment of the vehicle, a circulation loop (4) for heat-transfer fluid (FC) comprising a second heat exchanger (30) configured to heat treat at least one component of an electric traction chain (42), a bi-fluid (FC)/(FR) heat exchanger (33), the circulation loop (4) comprising a bypass-means (9) configured to adapt a flow rate (Mw_e) of heat-transfer fluid (FC) in the heat exchanger (33), characterised in that said method comprises a step of controlling the flow rate (Mw_e) in the heat exchanger (33) that at least depends on a temperature (Treo) of the coolant (FR) at the outlet of the first heat exchanger (8). Said invention is applicable to motor vehicles.