Multiway Coolant Circuit for EV Battery and Drive Thermal Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coolant circuits in electrically powered vehicles lack a versatile heating element and are not optimized for simplified design, with heating elements typically serving only specific components and integration options limited to full or no integration of the battery storage system.
Innovation Solution
A coolant circuit design featuring a multi-way valve device connecting a first coolant line to a battery storage device, a second coolant line for vehicle components, a heat exchanger, and an electric heating element, allowing flexible distribution and bypass of coolant flow through these components, enabling versatile heating and cooling functions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional coolant circuit with separate cooling loops for engine and battery is used, then each component can be cooled independently, but the system complexity increases and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the previously separate coolant circuits for the internal combustion engine and the electric motor/generator into a single integrated coolant circuit. This allows both components to be cooled using a common coolant flow path, reducing the number of separate pumps, valves, and cooling loops while maintaining independent thermal control capability through a single variable capacity heat exchanger that can dynamically allocate cooling capacity between the engine and motor/generator based on real-time thermal demands
2Reliability
If a conventional coolant circuit with separate cooling loops for engine and battery is used, then each component can be cooled independently, but the space required for coolant circulation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the previously separate coolant circuits for the internal combustion engine and the electric motor/generator into a single integrated coolant circuit. This allows both components to be cooled using a common coolant flow path, reducing the number of separate pumps, valves, and cooling loops while maintaining independent thermal control capability through a single variable capacity heat exchanger that can dynamically allocate cooling capacity between the engine and motor/generator based on real-time thermal demands
3Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed capacity heat exchanger is used, then the system is simpler to design, but it cannot adapt to varying thermal demands of the engine and motor/generator
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a variable capacity heat exchanger that can dynamically adjust its cooling capacity based on real-time thermal demands of the internal combustion engine and electric motor/generator. The heat exchanger's capacity is modulated through control of coolant flow rates and heat transfer surface area utilization, allowing the system to adapt to varying operational conditions such as different power loads, ambient temperatures, and component thermal states without requiring multiple fixed-capacity heat exchangers
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 design allows for efficient heating and cooling of multiple vehicle components, optimizing coolant flow and heat transfer, and integrating a heat pump function to manage waste heat effectively.
Implementation Method 1
a coolant which circulates through the internal combustion engine and the electric motor/generator
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
A coolant circuit (10) for an at least partially electrically operated motor vehicle (200) is described, having a first coolant section (12) with a first coolant pump (14), wherein the first coolant section (12) is connected to a battery storage device (16) for cooling or heating it; a second coolant section (22) with a second coolant pump (24), wherein the second coolant section (22) is connected to further motor vehicle components (26, 28), in particular drive-side components, for cooling or heating them; a heat exchanger (30), in particular a chiller, which is arranged in a heat exchanger portion (32) of the coolant circuit (10) and is connected to a refrigerant circuit (34) of the motor vehicle (200); an electric heating element (36) which is arranged on the heating portion (38) of the coolant circuit (10) and is configured to heat coolant circulating in the coolant circuit (10) as required. It is provided here that the first coolant section (12), the second coolant section (22) and the heating portion (38) are connected to one another by means of a multiway valve device (18).