PE-Battery Cooling Control via Valve Switching for Component Failure
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing power electronics (PE)-battery water cooling system for green vehicles loses its cooling function and cannot switch between separate and integrated cooling modes when any component fails, leading to overheating and potential vehicle shutdown.
Innovation Solution
A method is introduced to forcibly switch the three-way valves to allow coolant flow between the PE and battery cooling systems, driving functional components to maximum operation to maintain cooling performance even when components fail, ensuring the systems operate in an integrated cooling mode.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a variable cooling system with integrated PE and battery cooling is used, then cooling efficiency is enhanced, but the system loses cooling function when components fail
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between separate cooling mode and integrated cooling mode based on operational conditions and component status. The controller adjusts the configuration of three-way valves to change coolant flow paths, enabling the system to adapt its structure from integrated to separate cooling when components fail, thus maintaining reliability while preserving cooling efficiency under normal conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling system is segmented into independently controllable PE cooling subsystem and battery cooling subsystem. By using three-way valves to separate or integrate these subsystems, the patent enables the PE cooling system to operate independently when battery cooling components fail, ensuring that critical PE cooling function is maintained even when overall system integration is compromised
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate cooling systems for PE components and battery are constructed, then each component can be cooled independently, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the PE cooling system and battery cooling system into a single variable cooling system that can operate in both separate and integrated modes. By sharing common components (coolant reservoir, pumps, radiators) and using three-way valves to control flow paths, the system achieves independent cooling capability when needed while reducing overall complexity through component sharing during integrated operation
3Ease of operation
If the cooling system cannot switch modes when components fail, then control simplicity is maintained, but overheating and secondary failures occur
Solution Approach 1:
The controller receives feedback signals from temperature sensors and component status detectors to automatically determine the appropriate cooling mode. When component failures are detected, the controller automatically switches the three-way valves to configure the system for separate cooling operation, providing intelligent adaptive control that prevents overheating without requiring manual intervention, thus balancing control simplicity with safety
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 method ensures excellent cooling of PE components and batteries, preventing overheating and secondary failures, thus ensuring safe driving and reducing maintenance costs by maintaining the PE components and battery in good condition.
Implementation Method 1
a first electric water pump (EWP) 12 pumping a coolant to a cooling passage of a PE component 13
Implementation Method 2
a radiator (RAD) 14 cooling the coolant discharged after circulating through the PE component 13
Data Source
AI summary
A method of controlling a PE-battery water cooling system for a green vehicle enables cooling of PE components and a battery by means of a cooperative control between a PE cooling system and a battery cooling system even when a part among the components of the PE-battery water cooling system fails.