Cooling device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling apparatuses for vehicle batteries incur high product costs due to the need for individual detection devices for each heat exchange unit to adjust refrigerant flow volumes, which is necessary to prevent superheat and ensure efficient cooling.
Innovation Solution
A cooling apparatus design with a refrigerant distribution and convergence system that adjusts refrigerant flow volumes across multiple heat exchange units by using a single downstream detection device, minimizing the need for individual detectors by varying flow path cross-sectional areas and utilizing an ECU to control the expansion valve based on detected refrigerant conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a detection device is provided for each of the plurality of heat exchange units to detect refrigerant state, then the refrigerant flow can be precisely controlled to prevent superheat, but the product cost of the cooling apparatus increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the detection function from multiple heat exchange units into a single detection location. Specifically, the refrigerant state is detected at one point in the refrigerant circuit (either at the inlet or outlet of the heat exchange units) rather than providing separate detection devices for each heat exchange unit. This consolidation reduces the number of detection devices while still enabling effective control of refrigerant flow to prevent superheat in all heat exchange units.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces the refrigerant distribution device as an intermediary component that receives refrigerant from the expansion valve and distributes it to multiple heat exchange units. By placing the detection device in the refrigerant circuit at a strategic location and using the distribution device as a mediator, the system can infer the refrigerant state in all heat exchange units from a single detection point, eliminating the need for multiple detection devices.
2Productivity
If the valve opening degree of the expansion valve is adjusted based on refrigerant state detection to prevent superheat, then cooling efficiency is improved, but the system requires complex detection and control mechanisms for multiple heat exchange units
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple detection functions into a single detection device located at one point in the refrigerant circuit. This single detection point provides information that is used to control the expansion valve, which in turn regulates refrigerant flow to all heat exchange units. This approach maintains cooling efficiency by preventing superheat while significantly simplifying the detection and control mechanism compared to having separate detection and control systems for each heat exchange unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The detection device performs a universal function by monitoring the refrigerant state at a strategic location that reflects the conditions in all heat exchange units. The control system uses this single detection input to universally control refrigerant distribution to multiple heat exchange units through the expansion valve and distribution device, achieving multi-functionality with minimal components.
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 design effectively adjusts refrigerant flow to prevent superheat while reducing product costs by minimizing the number of detection devices, ensuring efficient cooling of vehicle batteries without compromising compressor performance.
Implementation Method 1
an expansion device which expands the refrigerant led in from the refrigerant lead-in portion
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of heat exchange units which, being connected respectively to the plurality of upstream refrigerant flow paths, carry out heat exchange between the refrigerants flowing through the respective heat exchange units and the corresponding batteries
Implementation Method 3
a refrigerant distribution device which, having an expanded refrigerant inflow portion into which the refrigerant having expanded in the expansion device flows and a plurality of distributed refrigerant outflow portions, distributes the refrigerant having flowed in from the expanded refrigerant inflow portion to the plurality of distributed refrigerant outflow portions
Data Source
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AI summary
[Problem] To provide a cooling apparatus which, while lowering the product cost thereof, can appropriately adjust the flow volume of refrigerant. [Solution] A cooling apparatus (10) includes an expansion device (14) which expands a refrigerant, a refrigerant distribution device (16), a plurality of upstream refrigerant flow paths (20a, 20b), a plurality of heat exchange units (30a, 30b), a plurality of downstream refrigerant flow paths (22a, 22b), and a refrigerant converging device (24) which converges the refrigerants having flowed through the plurality of downstream refrigerant flow paths, wherein the flow volume of refrigerant in one heat exchange unit (30a) is smaller than the flow volume of refrigerant in another heat exchange unit (30b), and the downstream refrigerant flow path (22a) connected to the one heat exchange unit (30a) is provided with a downstream detection device (40) which detects the temperature of the refrigerant in the said downstream refrigerant flow path (22a).