Parallel Valve Assembly for Cabin Battery Thermal Loop Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle thermal management systems lack sufficient cooling capacity to simultaneously cool both the vehicle cabin and the high-voltage battery under certain operating conditions, leading to thermal management inefficiencies and potential performance degradation.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle thermal management system that includes a cabin thermal loop, a battery thermal loop, a parallel or series valve assembly, and a controller, which selectively links the loops to distribute cooling capacity between the cabin and the high-voltage battery, utilizing a first and second chiller to maintain optimal temperatures during high load conditions, such as trailer mode or heavy cargo, by redirecting excess cooling capacity from the cabin loop to the battery loop.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single chiller is used to cool the vehicle cabin, then the cooling system is simple, but the cooling capacity is insufficient to cool both the cabin and high-voltage battery simultaneously under high load conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two separate cooling loops (cabin thermal loop and battery thermal loop) into a unified system that can operate independently or together. The parallel valve assembly enables both chillers to work simultaneously under high load conditions, providing sufficient cooling capacity for both cabin and battery while maintaining system simplicity through intelligent control.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermal management system is designed with multi-functionality to handle different operating conditions. The first chiller can serve both cabin cooling and battery cooling needs when necessary, while the second chiller provides dedicated battery cooling. The parallel valve assembly enables the system to adapt between single-chiller and dual-chiller modes, making the cooling system universally applicable across various load conditions.
2Reliability
If cooling capacity is distributed between cabin and battery, then both components can be cooled simultaneously, but the system complexity increases with additional valves and control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The parallel valve assembly is designed with dynamic switching capability, allowing the system to transition between different operational modes based on real-time cooling demands. The valve can dynamically redirect refrigerant flow to connect or disconnect the first and second chillers, enabling flexible cooling capacity distribution without requiring a permanently complex valve structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The parallel valve assembly acts as an intermediary component that mediates between the cabin thermal loop and battery thermal loop. It controls the connection and disconnection between the two chillers and thermal loops, enabling smooth transitions and flexible cooling capacity allocation while maintaining system modularity and reducing overall complexity.
3Ease of operation
If the first chiller operates at high capacity to meet cabin cooling demand, then cabin comfort is maintained, but insufficient cooling capacity remains for the high-voltage battery under high load conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The system ensures continuous and sufficient cooling action for both cabin and battery by deploying two chillers that can operate simultaneously. When the first chiller is working at high capacity for cabin cooling, the second chiller continues to provide dedicated cooling for the battery, ensuring that both cooling functions are continuously satisfied without capacity conflicts.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses partial action from the first chiller for cabin cooling while the second chiller provides additional cooling capacity specifically for the battery. This partial deployment of cooling capacity from two sources ensures that neither the cabin nor the battery suffers from insufficient cooling, with each chiller contributing appropriately to its primary function.
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 solution ensures that both the vehicle cabin and high-voltage battery are maintained within desired temperature ranges, even under high load conditions, by optimizing cooling capacity distribution, reducing wear and tear, and conserving energy by operating compressors at lower speeds during lower load requirements.
Implementation Method 1
The cabin thermal loop may further include a condenser, a compressor, and an evaporator in fluid communication with the first chiller to define a cooling capacity.
Implementation Method 2
The cabin thermal loop may further include a condenser, a compressor, and an evaporator in fluid communication with the first chiller to define a cooling capacity.
Implementation Method 3
The cabin thermal loop may further include a condenser, a compressor, and an evaporator in fluid communication with the first chiller to define a cooling capacity.
Implementation Method 4
The cabin thermal loop may further include an electronic expansion valve disposed between a condenser and a chiller.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle thermal management system includes a cabin thermal loop, a battery thermal loop, a parallel valve assembly, and a controller. The cabin thermal loop includes a first chiller in fluid communication with a vehicle cabin. The battery thermal loop includes a second chiller in fluid communication with a high-voltage battery. The parallel valve assembly selectively links the cabin and battery thermal loops and includes a three-way valve and a conduit system arranged with one another to selectively link the first chiller and the second chiller to deliver cooling capacity to the battery. The controller is programmed to, responsive to detection of an available amount of cabin thermal loop cooling capacity exceeding a detected passenger vehicle cabin cooling capacity request, output a command to the parallel valve assembly to release the excess cooling capacity from the cabin thermal loop to cool the HV battery.