Integrated Selector Valve With Thermal Isolation for EV Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing selector valves in cooling systems for hybrid and electric vehicles suffer from increased size and cost due to complex configurations, and they inefficiently manage heat transfer between fluids of different temperatures, leading to higher power consumption.
Innovation Solution
A selector valve with integrated valve elements and housings, featuring a hollow space and heat insulating materials to minimize heat transfer between the valve elements and housings, and a drive unit to actuate these elements, reducing the size and cost while suppressing heat exchange between fluids.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If an integrated valve structure is used to reduce size and cost, then device complexity is reduced, but heat transfer between high-temperature and low-temperature fluids increases
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated valve structure is segmented into separate first and second valve elements with independent flow passages. The first valve element handles low-temperature fluid while the second valve element handles high-temperature fluid, physically separating the temperature zones to prevent heat transfer while maintaining integration through shared actuation mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
A heat insulating unit is introduced as an intermediary between the first and second valve elements. This heat insulating unit prevents thermal conduction from the high-temperature fluid passage to the low-temperature fluid passage, allowing the integrated structure to function without harmful heat transfer.
2Loss of energy
If multiple control valves are used to manage different temperature fluids, then heat transfer between fluids is suppressed, but device complexity and system size increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple control valves are merged into a single integrated valve body with separate flow passages for different temperature fluids. The first and second valve elements are housed within a common housing structure, reducing the number of discrete components while maintaining the functional separation needed to prevent heat transfer.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated valve structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it controls flow for both low-temperature and high-temperature fluids, provides heat insulation between passages, and enables selective switching of flow paths. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated valves for each function.
3Loss of energy
If heat insulation structures are added to the valve, then heat transfer between fluids is suppressed, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heat insulating unit is nested within the integrated valve body structure, positioned between the first and second valve elements. This nesting approach incorporates the insulation function into the existing valve architecture without requiring separate assembly steps or external insulation components, simplifying manufacturing.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve structure utilizes composite construction with heat insulating materials integrated into the valve body or valve elements. This allows the heat insulation function to be built-in during manufacturing rather than added as a separate component, reducing assembly complexity while maintaining thermal separation.
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 solution effectively reduces the size and cost of the selector valve while minimizing heat exchange between fluids, thereby lowering power consumption and maintaining efficient cooling performance.
Implementation Method 1
a valve element heat insulating unit provided between the first valve element and the second valve element, the valve element heat insulating unit being configured to suppress transfer of heat between the first valve element and the second valve element
Implementation Method 2
a housing heat insulating unit provided between the first housing and the second housing, the housing heat insulating unit being configured to suppress transfer of heat between the first housing and the second housing
Data Source
AI summary
A selector valve includes: a first valve element having a through-hole; a first housing having a radial hole through which fluid flowing though the through-hole passes, the first housing accommodating the first valve element; a second valve element having a through-hole; a second housing having radial holes through which fluid flowing through the through-hole passes, the second housing accommodating the second valve element; and a motor configured to integrally actuate the first valve element and the second valve element. A hollow space configured to suppress transfer of heat between the first valve element and the second valve element is formed between the first valve element and the second valve element. A hollow space configured to suppress transfer of heat between the first housing and the second housing is formed between the first housing and the second housing.