Hybrid Vehicle Cooling System with Segmented Hydraulic Circuits
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hybrid vehicle cooling systems are complex and inefficient, failing to effectively cool all components across various operating modes.
Innovation Solution
A hydraulic cooling system with a main branch for the internal combustion engine and a secondary branch for the electric machine and electronic power converter, featuring a mechanically operated pump and an electrically operated pump, respectively, along with a bypass valve and heat pipes for efficient heat transfer and management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a cooling system is designed for hybrid vehicles with multiple operating modes, then cooling effectiveness for all components is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is divided into two separate hydraulic circuits: a primary circuit for the heat engine with a mechanically driven pump, and a secondary circuit for the electric machine and power converter with an electrically driven pump. This segmentation allows each circuit to be optimized for its specific component's cooling requirements while operating independently, thus improving overall cooling effectiveness without requiring a single complex integrated system.
2Productivity
If a mechanically operated pump is used in the main branch, then cooling efficiency during engine operation is improved, but cooling capability is lost when the engine is switched off
Solution Approach 1:
The primary cooling circuit uses a mechanically operated pump driven by the heat engine itself, making the system self-sufficient during engine operation. The secondary cooling circuit uses an electrically operated pump that can function independently when the engine is off, allowing the system to serve itself in different operating modes without external intervention.
3Adaptability or versatility
If separate cooling circuits are used for different components, then cooling adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
While maintaining separate primary and secondary cooling circuits for different components, the system merges them through a common radiator and shared cooling fluid reservoir. This allows independent operation of each circuit while sharing common infrastructure, thus achieving cooling adaptability for different operating modes without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
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 system provides efficient cooling of all components in hybrid vehicles, optimizing heat management across different operating conditions while being cost-effective and compact.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling system for a vehicle with hybrid propulsion, which comprises: a hydraulic circuit, inside which a cooling fluid flows
Implementation Method 2
a radiator which is hit by air when the vehicle is moving
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A cooling system (16) for a vehicle (1) with hybrid propulsion; the cooling system (16) is provided with a hydraulic circuit (17), inside which a cooling fluid flows, and has: a main branch (18), which carries out the cooling of a heat engine (5) and comprises at least a first pump (21) mechanically operated by the heat engine (5), and at least one radiator (20) which is hit by air when the vehicle (1) is moving; and a secondary branch (19), which is connected in parallel to the main branch (18) by means of a starting offtake (30) and an arrival offtake (31), has no heat exchangers of the water/air type, carries out the cooling of a reversible electric machine (8) which may be mechanically connected to the driving wheels (3), and of a first electronic power converter (13) which controls the electric machine (8), and comprises at least a second pump (32) electrically operated.