Movable Auxiliary Battery Thermal Management for EV Range Extension
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electric vehicles face challenges in installing large-capacity batteries due to space constraints and increased production costs, and existing auxiliary battery systems lack dedicated thermal management for enhanced performance.
Innovation Solution
A movable battery system with an auxiliary vehicle connected to a main vehicle, featuring an independent battery system with thermal management capabilities, including a coolant circulation system and a thermal management module with a chiller and heater, to optimize battery performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If a large-capacity battery is installed to increase the maximal total driving range, then the driving range is improved, but the vehicle space requirement increases and production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The battery system is divided into a main battery mounted on the main vehicle and a movable auxiliary battery mounted on a separate auxiliary vehicle. This segmentation allows the auxiliary battery to be detached and stored separately, solving the space constraint problem while maintaining the option to extend driving range when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The auxiliary battery system is designed to be dynamically connectable and disconnectable from the main vehicle through a power transmission device. This dynamic configuration allows the system to adapt between different driving range requirements, providing flexibility without permanently occupying additional space.
2Duration of action of moving object
If a large-capacity battery is installed to increase the maximal total driving range, then the driving range is improved, but the production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The battery capacity can be segmented and adjusted by attaching or detaching the auxiliary battery based on actual driving needs. This allows the vehicle to maintain basic capacity for normal use (lower cost) while having the option to extend capacity for long-distance trips (higher cost only when needed).
Solution Approach 2:
The effective battery capacity parameter can be changed by adjusting the configuration of the auxiliary battery connection. The system transitions between different capacity states based on driving requirements, optimizing the balance between performance and cost.
3Device complexity
If an auxiliary battery is simply connected to the main vehicle without dedicated thermal management, then the device complexity is reduced, but the battery performance and reliability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal management system is designed with multi-functionality to handle both the main battery and auxiliary battery. The coolant circulation system can selectively provide thermal management to either battery or both simultaneously, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining reliable performance for the auxiliary battery.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermal management system is pre-configured with separate coolant lines and control valves that can be activated when the auxiliary battery is connected. This preliminary preparation ensures that thermal management capability is ready but not actively consuming resources until needed.
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 movable battery system enables independent charging and discharging of the auxiliary battery while providing effective thermal management, thereby increasing the maximal total driving range of the main vehicle and maintaining optimal battery temperatures.
Implementation Method 1
a first coolant line that connects the battery, a power conversion module, a radiator, and a water pump in order to enable circulation of a coolant through the first coolant line
Implementation Method 2
a chiller to cool a coolant through heat exchange with a refrigerant
Implementation Method 3
a water pump in order to enable circulation of a coolant through the first coolant line
Data Source
AI summary
A movable battery system, which is separately configured from a main battery system provided in a main vehicle, performs an independent charging and discharging as well as thermal management of an auxiliary battery to increase a maximal total driving range of the main vehicle. The battery system includes: a battery providing electric power for driving the main vehicle; a first coolant line connecting the battery, a power conversion module, a radiator and a water pump; a second coolant line branching from the first coolant line; and a third coolant line branching from the second coolant line. The battery system includes further includes: a first coolant control valve provided at a branch point of the second coolant line, a second coolant control valve provided at a branch point of the third coolant line, and a controller controlling an operation mode of the first and second coolant control valves.