Parallel Cooling Circuit for Vehicle Power Source
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle power source cooling circuits face challenges in efficiently cooling high-voltage batteries and system equipment with different refrigerant flow rate requirements, leading to increased pressure loss and complex circuit configurations that raise costs and control complexity.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle power source system with a single cooling circuit that includes high-voltage battery, DC-DC converter, and charger cooling units, where the DC-DC converter and charger cooling units are disposed in parallel, and a flow path selector like a three-way solenoid valve is used to control refrigerant flow, reducing pressure loss and allowing for precise temperature control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If two high-voltage system equipment cooling units are disposed in series to cool multiple components, then the cooling coverage is improved, but the pressure loss increases and pump delivery capacity requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is segmented into multiple parallel cooling circuits, each dedicated to specific equipment. The high-voltage battery has its own cooling circuit, the DC-DC converter has its own cooling circuit, and the charger has its own cooling circuit. This segmentation allows each circuit to be optimized independently, reducing overall pressure loss while maintaining comprehensive cooling coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a series arrangement (one-dimensional flow path) to a parallel arrangement (multi-dimensional flow paths). By disposing cooling units in parallel on the downstream side of the high-voltage battery cooling unit, the system creates multiple simultaneous flow paths, reducing pressure loss while maintaining cooling effectiveness for multiple components.
2Measurement precision
If flow path selectors are added to enable selective cooling of high-voltage battery modules, then temperature control precision is improved, but circuit complexity and control complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The high-voltage battery is divided into multiple battery modules, each with its own cooling unit. This segmentation enables independent temperature control of each module without requiring complex flow path switching mechanisms. The simplified circuit structure reduces both device complexity and control complexity while maintaining the ability to control temperatures accurately.
3Productivity
If refrigerant flow rate is increased to match the greatest requirement in series cooling, then all equipment can be cooled simultaneously, but pressure loss increases and pump capacity requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs parallel cooling circuits that allow refrigerant to flow through multiple paths simultaneously. Each cooling unit receives an optimized flow rate appropriate to its specific cooling requirements, rather than forcing all units to operate at the highest flow rate. This dimensional change from series to parallel architecture reduces pressure loss while maintaining high cooling efficiency for all equipment.
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 pressure loss, allows for efficient matching of refrigerant flow rates to individual components, and simplifies control, ensuring effective cooling of both high-voltage batteries and system equipment while minimizing pump delivery capacity and circuit complexity.
Implementation Method 1
a high-voltage battery cooling unit (130) for cooling the high-voltage battery, a DC-DC converter cooling unit (122) for cooling the DC-DC converter, and a charger cooling unit (121) for cooling the charger
Implementation Method 2
the DC-DC converter cooling unit and the charger cooling unit are disposed in parallel on a downstream side of the high-voltage battery cooling unit
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle power source system includes: a high-voltage battery; a high-voltage system equipment having a DC-DC converter and a charger; and a cooling circuit having a high-voltage battery cooling unit for cooling the high-voltage battery, a DC-DC converter cooling unit for cooling the DC-DC converter, and charger cooling unit for cooling the charger. In the cooling circuit, the DC-DC converter cooling unit and the charger cooling unit are disposed in parallel on a downstream side of the high-voltage battery cooling unit.