Integrated Coolant Loop Control for Battery and Cabin Thermal Balance
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing thermal management systems in electric vehicles separately control the temperature of the passenger cabin and the battery, leading to low collaboration efficiency between the loops, resulting in inefficient temperature management and increased complexity.
Innovation Solution
A thermal management system with integrated loops and a valve body assembly that allows coolant to circulate between the battery and the passenger cabin, utilizing multiple valve configurations to optimize cooling capacity and temperature equalization, including three-way and one-way valves to manage coolant flow for both the cooler core and the battery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the thermal management system controls the temperature of the passenger cabin and the battery separately, then each loop can be independently controlled, but the collaboration efficiency between the loops becomes low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the first loop (passenger cabin temperature control) and the second loop (battery temperature control) into an integrated thermal management system. The coolant circulation system is configured such that the coolant can flow through both loops, allowing simultaneous control of passenger cabin and battery temperatures. The valve body assembly enables flexible routing of coolant to achieve coordinated temperature management, improving collaboration efficiency while maintaining independent control capabilities through strategic valve positioning and flow path design.
2Ease of manufacture
If separate loops are used for passenger cabin and battery temperature control, then each component can be optimized independently, but the overall system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The coolant circulation system is designed with multi-functionality to serve both the passenger cabin temperature control and battery temperature control. The same coolant circulation path and pump system can operate in different modes: cooling the passenger cabin through the evaporator, cooling the battery through the battery cooling plate, or both simultaneously. The valve body assembly enables flexible switching between different operational modes, allowing component optimization while reducing overall system complexity through shared infrastructure.
3Productivity
If integrated coolant circulation is implemented, then collaboration efficiency improves, but the control system becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is segmented into modular components: the valve body assembly with multiple valves (first valve, second valve, third valve) that can be independently controlled, the pump assembly with the pump body and pump head, and the heat exchanger assembly with evaporator and battery cooling plate. Each segment can be controlled independently through its associated valve, allowing flexible flow routing without requiring complex centralized control. This segmentation enables high collaboration efficiency while keeping the control logic relatively simple through decentralized valve control.
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
Improves collaboration efficiency between the battery and passenger cabin loops, reducing complexity and cost while enabling flexible temperature control across the vehicle.
Implementation Method 1
a cooler core in an air conditioner box assembly and a first heat exchange pipe are disposed on the first loop
Implementation Method 2
the cooler core is configured to get a coolant output from the first heat exchange pipe
Implementation Method 3
a second water pump, and a second valve body are disposed on the second loop
Implementation Method 4
a valve body assembly... the first valve body is configured to: enable a coolant passing through the third end or the fourth end of the valve body assembly to flow into the battery
Data Source
AI summary
A thermal management system includes a first loop and a second loop, where a cooler core on the first loop gets a coolant output from a first heat exchange pipe, one end of the first loop is connected to a first end of the valve body assembly, and the other end of the first loop is connected to a second end of the valve body assembly. A battery, a second water pump, a first valve body, and a second valve body are disposed on the second loop. One end of the second loop is connected to a third end of the valve body assembly, and the other end of the second loop is connected to a fourth end of the valve body assembly.