Predictive Cooling Control for Rail Vehicle Energy Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicles with energy storage devices face challenges in preventing overheating, particularly during variable or intermittent loads, which can lead to thermal overload without efficient predictive cooling mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A control device predicts cooling requirements based on load data and triggers the cooling system before actual load occurs, using Peltier elements for efficient and space-efficient cooling, with adjustable capacity based on ambient and load conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the cooling device is operated continuously or prophylactically, then the energy store is protected from overheating, but energy is consumed unnecessarily
Solution Approach 1:
The control device activates the cooling device in advance before the energy store actually heats up, based on predicted cooling demand from route data and ambient temperature. This allows the energy store to be pre-cooled, creating a thermal buffer that prevents overheating during subsequent high-load operations without requiring continuous cooling
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of continuous operation, the cooling device is activated periodically based on predicted cooling demand. The control device determines when cooling is actually needed by analyzing route data, ambient temperature, and energy store state, activating the cooling device only during periods when cooling demand is predicted
2Use of energy by moving object
If the cooling device is activated only after the energy store heats up, then energy is not consumed unnecessarily, but the energy store may overheat before cooling starts
Solution Approach 1:
The control device predicts cooling demand based on route data and ambient temperature before the energy store actually heats up. This allows the cooling device to be activated in advance, creating a thermal buffer that prevents temperature rise during subsequent high-load operations
3Device complexity
If a simple cooling control system is used, then device complexity is reduced, but cooling efficiency and ability to prevent overheating deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The control device continuously monitors the state of the energy store, ambient temperature, and route conditions, using this feedback to dynamically adjust cooling device activation. This closed-loop control optimizes cooling efficiency by activating the cooling device based on actual and predicted conditions rather than simple on/off control
Solution Approach 2:
The control device uses route data and ambient temperature to predict future cooling demand and activates the cooling device in advance, creating a thermal buffer that prevents overheating during subsequent high-load operations
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 approach prevents overheating by creating a cooling buffer, reducing energy consumption and maintaining efficient operation of energy storage devices under varying loads.
Implementation Method 1
the cooling device comprises at least one Peltier element or is formed by one
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates, among other things, to a vehicle, in particular a rail vehicle (10), with an energy storage device (15) and a cooling device (16) suitable for cooling the energy storage device (15). According to the invention, a control device (17) is provided for controlling the cooling device (16), which is configured to predict a cooling requirement based on load data describing a load expected during further travel or a load that may become necessary during further travel on the energy storage device (15), and to control the cooling device (16) depending on the predicted cooling requirement.