Rotary Disc Valve Layout for Compact Coolant Circuit Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing thermal systems in electric and hybrid vehicles require a complex network of coolant circuits with numerous valves and lines, leading to high manufacturing, maintenance, and operating costs, as well as increased space requirements, due to insufficient port and flow channel configurations in conventional valves.
Innovation Solution
A device with a housing containing parallel disc elements and a rotatable valve body, allowing for a minimum number of components to connect multiple heat sources and sinks, featuring a housing with port elements, disc elements, and a valve body that enables multiple flow paths and switching positions using a single drive element.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional valves with limited port configurations are used, then the device structure is simple, but the number of valves and lines required increases, leading to higher device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple port elements and flow channels into a single valve body, integrating functions that would traditionally require multiple separate valves. The valve body houses multiple disc elements, each with passage openings that can be selectively positioned to control different fluid paths, thereby reducing the total number of valves and connecting lines needed in the thermal management system.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve body is designed as a universal component that can perform multiple functions through the selective positioning of disc elements. Each disc element can be rotated to different angular positions to enable various flow configurations, allowing a single valve to replace multiple specialized valves and adapt to different thermal management requirements.
2Ease of manufacture
If multiple separate valves are used to control different flow paths, then each valve can be simple, but the installation space required increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple valve functions are merged into a single compact valve body, reducing the space required for installation. The parallel disc elements are arranged within the same housing, sharing common port elements and flow channels, which eliminates the need for multiple separate valve assemblies and their associated mounting spaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The disc elements are nested within the valve body in a parallel arrangement, with each disc element containing passage openings that align with port elements. This nested configuration allows multiple flow control functions to be packed into a single valve housing, significantly reducing the overall installation footprint compared to using multiple external valves.
3Device complexity
If a single drive element controls multiple disc elements, then the device complexity is reduced, but the control precision for each flow path may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The valve body is segmented into multiple disc elements that can be independently positioned, with each disc element controlling specific flow paths. The segmentation allows the single drive element to rotate each disc to precise angular positions, enabling independent control of different coolant flows to various thermal management components while maintaining overall system simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
A device for regulating a flow and distributing a fluid in a fluid circuit. The device has a housing with port elements and at least two disc elements, which are each formed with at least one passage opening. The disc elements are arranged at a distance from each other in a direction of a longitudinal axis of the device. A valve body, which has at least one passage opening, is formed between the disc elements. The at least one passage opening of the disc elements and the at least one passage opening of the valve body each are formed with the arrangement of the valve body relative to the disc elements and to the housing to control at least one flow cross section of a flow path through the housing with the port elements and through the disc elements and the valve body.