Method for operating a cooling system of a motor vehicle with cooling capacity control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cooling systems in electric or hybrid vehicles face challenges in regulating cooling power due to highly dynamic temperature changes in components like power electronics, leading to increased energy requirements and component loading, including vibrations and potential failures.
Innovation Solution
Regulating the cooling power of the refrigerant circuit based on the return temperature and temporal development of the coolant, rather than the component temperature, to provide a more stable and energy-efficient cooling solution, using a coolant circuit with a conveying device and a heat exchanger, and incorporating temperature sensors for feedback control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If cooling power is regulated based on component temperature, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but energy consumption and system vibration increase due to highly dynamic temperature changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces the coolant as an intermediary between the component and the refrigerant circuit. Instead of directly regulating cooling power based on component temperature, the system regulates based on coolant temperature, which acts as a buffer that smooths out dynamic temperature variations. This intermediary approach reduces the frequency and amplitude of cooling power adjustments, thereby lowering energy consumption and system vibration while maintaining effective cooling.
2Temperature
If cooling power is regulated based on component temperature, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but system reliability deteriorates due to increased loading and vibrations
Solution Approach 1:
The coolant serves as a mediator that decouples the direct link between component temperature and refrigerant circuit regulation. By using coolant temperature as the regulation basis, the system experiences reduced dynamic loading and vibrations in the refrigerant circuit components (compressor, expansion valve, heat exchangers), thereby improving overall system reliability and reducing the risk of component failures.
3Speed
If cooling power is regulated based on component temperature, then cooling responsiveness is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional sensors and control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the temperature measurement point from the component itself and relocates it to the coolant. This simplification reduces the complexity of the control system by eliminating the need for direct component temperature sensors and their associated wiring and signal processing, while still maintaining effective cooling control through coolant temperature monitoring.
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 reduces the dynamic nature of cooling power adjustments, protects refrigerant circuit components, and prevents overpressure and underpressure issues, ensuring robust and efficient cooling while minimizing energy consumption and component stress.
Implementation Method 1
The refrigerant circuit and the coolant circuit are coupled thermally via a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger serves for extracting heat from the coolant in the coolant circuit and for feeding said heat to the refrigerant.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for operating a cooling system of a motor vehicle for cooling at least one component, a cooling system of a motor vehicle for cooling at least one component, and a motor vehicle having such a cooling system. The cooling system has a coolant circuit and a refrigerant circuit. The coolant circuit serves for cooling the at least one component and the refrigerant circuit and the coolant circuit are coupled thermally to one another via a heat exchanger. The coolant circuit has a conveying device for conveying a coolant in the coolant circuit. A cooling power of the refrigerant circuit can be regulated. The regulation of the cooling power of the refrigerant circuit is realized in a manner dependent on a return temperature of the coolant and/or on a temporal development of the return temperature of the coolant.