Parallel Cooling Circuit for Vehicle Battery and High-Voltage Equipment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle power supply systems face challenges in effectively cooling batteries due to their lower temperature control requirements compared to high-voltage system equipment, leading to potential inadequate cooling of batteries and increased pressure loss when both are cooled using a single cooling circuit with a series configuration.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle power supply system with a cooling circuit that connects battery module cooling units in parallel, featuring a branching portion upstream and a merging portion downstream of the battery modules, with the high-voltage system equipment cooling unit positioned downstream, and includes a bypass flow path and a three-way solenoid valve for flow path selection, allowing for independent control of refrigerant supply to battery and high-voltage system equipment cooling units.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If battery cooling portion is disposed on downstream side of high-voltage system equipment cooling portions in series configuration, then single cooling circuit can cool both battery and high-voltage system equipment, but battery cannot be cooled properly due to influence from high-voltage system equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling circuit is segmented into parallel branches: one branch for high-voltage system equipment cooling portions and another branch for battery cooling portion. This segmentation allows independent cooling control for each component, ensuring the battery receives adequate cooling without being influenced by the thermal state of high-voltage system equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a flow rate control device that dynamically adjusts the refrigerant flow distribution between parallel branches based on thermal conditions. This dynamic control enables the system to prioritize battery cooling when needed while maintaining versatility to cool both components simultaneously.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple battery module cooling portions are connected in series, then single cooling circuit can cool multiple battery modules, but great pressure loss is generated requiring high delivery capacity cooling pump
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple battery module cooling portions are arranged in parallel rather than in series, segmenting the cooling paths. This parallel arrangement significantly reduces the cumulative pressure loss that would occur in series configuration, while still enabling the single cooling circuit to cool multiple battery modules through the parallel branches.
Solution Approach 2:
Flow rate control devices are installed in each parallel branch to dynamically regulate refrigerant distribution. This allows the system to optimize flow rates across parallel paths, minimizing pressure loss while maintaining effective cooling coverage for all battery modules.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple battery module cooling portions are connected in series, then single cooling circuit can cool multiple battery modules, but difference in temperature between upstream and downstream battery modules becomes great
Solution Approach 1:
Battery module cooling portions are arranged in parallel branches rather than in series, creating multiple independent cooling paths. This segmentation ensures that all battery modules receive refrigerant at similar temperatures, eliminating the progressive temperature increase that would occur in downstream modules in a series configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
Flow rate control devices in each parallel branch dynamically balance refrigerant distribution, ensuring uniform temperature conditions across all battery modules while maintaining the ability to cool multiple modules through the parallel architecture.
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 ensures effective cooling of batteries and high-voltage system equipment while reducing pressure loss, enabling the use of a smaller and lighter cooling pump, and allows for precise control of refrigerant flow to meet the distinct cooling needs of different components.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling circuit having a plurality of battery module cooling units for cooling the plurality of battery modules, and a high-voltage system equipment cooling unit for cooling the high-voltage system equipment
Implementation Method 2
a three-way solenoid valve for flow path selection, allowing for independent control of refrigerant supply to battery and high-voltage system equipment cooling units
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle power supply system includes: a plurality of battery modules; a high-voltage system equipment and a cooling circuit having a plurality of battery module cooling units for cooling the plurality of battery modules, and a high-voltage system equipment cooling unit for cooling the high-voltage system equipment. In the cooling circuit, the plurality of battery module cooling units are disposed in parallel, a branching portion is provided on an upstream side of the plurality of battery module cooling units, a merging portion is provided on a downstream side of the plurality of battery module cooling units, and the high-voltage system equipment cooling unit is provided on a downstream side of the merging portion.