PHEV Valve Routing for Cabin Heating and Fuel Economy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) and Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) face challenges in heating the passenger compartment without relying on engine waste heat, as the engine may not always be running, necessitating alternative and efficient heating solutions to maintain comfort and optimize fuel economy.
Innovation Solution
A hybrid vehicle system that includes an engine, an electric heater, a heater core, and a valve to route coolant between the engine and electric heater, allowing for independent operation of the electric heating loop and enabling the engine to be started when necessary to supplement heating, with a controller managing the system to optimize heating modes and component redundancy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the engine is started to provide waste heat for the passenger compartment, then heating capability is improved, but fuel economy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the engine's own waste heat to heat the passenger compartment, allowing the engine to be turned off when not needed for propulsion, thus improving fuel economy while maintaining heating capability when the engine is running
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operating parameters by using an electric heater element to heat coolant when the engine is off, replacing the traditional waste-heat-only approach with a flexible system that can switch between engine heat and electric heating based on engine status and heating demand
2Use of energy by moving object
If an electric heater is used to heat the passenger compartment when the engine is off, then fuel economy is improved, but heating capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses coolant as an intermediary heat transfer medium, heating it with an electric heater element when the engine is off, and then using the heated coolant to warm the passenger compartment through the existing heater core, thereby maintaining heating capability without requiring the engine to run
3Reliability
If the engine and radiator loops are operated independently from the electric heating loop, then system reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the heating function into two independent loops: an engine-radiator loop and an electric heating loop with an electric heater element. This segmentation allows each loop to operate independently, improving reliability while using a single valve to manage the increased complexity of coolant routing
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 system provides robust and efficient heating capabilities, improving passenger compartment comfort by utilizing both engine and electric heat sources, reducing reliance on engine waste heat, and maintaining fuel efficiency even during faults in system components.
Implementation Method 1
A hybrid vehicle system includes an engine, an electric heater, a heater core, and a valve to route coolant between the engine and electric heater
Implementation Method 2
a heater core and a valve arranged to route coolant through at least one of the engine and the electric heater
Implementation Method 3
The illustrative system includes the capability to run an electric heater and electric heating loop independent from the engine and radiator loops
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle is disclosed that has multiple coolant paths selected by control of a valve. A valve system is configured to direct coolant from an engine to a heat exchanger according to a difference between a temperature associated with the engine and a temperature associated with the heat exchanger. The valve system is also configured to direct coolant from the engine to an electric heater and to, in response to a heat demanded from the heat exchanger being greater than a heat capability of the electric heater, request the engine to run. A method is disclosed for controlling a valve to change from an isolation position in which the valve isolates coolant circulating through an electric heater and the valve from coolant circulating through an engine to a non-isolation position in which the valve directs coolant from the engine to the electric heater.