Thermal management assembly and battery thermal management system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery thermal management systems in automobiles have a complex structure due to the distant arrangement of heat exchange plates and intermediate heat exchangers, leading to increased manufacturing and installation costs, as well as reduced efficiency and higher energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
A thermal management assembly is designed with a heat exchange plate, a fluid guide block, an intermediate heat exchanger, and an expansion valve arranged adjacent to each other, utilizing a fluid guide block with openings and an installation chamber to simplify the fluid communication pathway and reduce unnecessary heat exchange.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the heat exchange plate and intermediate heat exchanger are arranged far away from each other in different parts of the motor vehicle, then the thermal management assembly can be distributed to meet spatial requirements, but the fluid communication pipeline becomes long and complicated, increasing manufacturing cost and reducing efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the heat exchange plate and intermediate heat exchanger into a closely integrated arrangement, with the heat exchange plate positioned adjacent to the intermediate heat exchanger. This integration is achieved through a shared fluid communication pipeline structure where the pipeline directly connects the heat exchange plate to the intermediate heat exchanger, eliminating the need for long, complicated piping. The merging reduces structural complexity while maintaining spatial adaptability through the compact design.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the heat exchange plate and intermediate heat exchanger are arranged far away from each other, then installation flexibility is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases and installation becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the heat exchange plate and intermediate heat exchanger into a compact integrated unit with direct fluid communication. This merging reduces the number of separate components and connection points, thereby simplifying the manufacturing process and reducing production costs. The integrated design also facilitates easier installation as a single unit, while the compact structure maintains flexibility for installation in various spatial configurations.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the heat exchange plate and intermediate heat exchanger are arranged far away from each other, then spatial distribution is improved, but the efficiency of thermal management assembly is reduced and energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the heat exchange plate adjacent to the intermediate heat exchanger with direct fluid communication between them. This merging minimizes the distance heat transfer fluid must travel, reducing unnecessary heat exchange with the surrounding environment and minimizing thermal losses. The compact integrated structure maintains spatial adaptability while significantly improving thermal management efficiency by ensuring rapid and direct heat transfer between components.
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 configuration reduces the length of the heat transfer fluid path, improves thermal management efficiency, decreases energy consumption, and lowers manufacturing and installation costs by minimizing the required installation space.
Implementation Method 1
a heat transfer fluid flows in a flow channel of the heat exchange plate and exchanges heat with the outside
Implementation Method 2
the heat transfer fluid in the first fluid path and that in the second fluid path exchange heat
Data Source
AI summary
A thermal management assembly, including: a heat exchange plate, with a heat transfer fluid flowing in a flow channel of the heat exchange plate and exchanges heat with the outside; a fluid guide block installed on the heat exchange plate; an intermediate heat exchanger installed on the fluid guide block and having a first fluid path and a second fluid path, the heat transfer fluid in the first fluid path and that in the second fluid path exchanging heat; an expansion valve installed on a fluid guide block. The fluid guide block is further provided with a first opening, a second opening, and an installation chamber; the first opening is in fluid communication with the first fluid path; the installation chamber is in fluid communication with the first and second openings respectively; the expansion valve is installed in the installation chamber.