Vehicle cabin air conditioning and battery cooling system
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery cooling systems integrated with vehicle cabin air conditioning systems face challenges such as reduced cabin cooling capacity and initial temperature spikes when the chiller starts, due to the degradation of chiller capacity and inefficient heat management.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle cooling arrangement that includes a common chiller connecting an air conditioning loop and a battery cooling loop, with a 3-way proportional control valve to manage chiller capacity and coolant flow, allowing for variable coolant flow rates and bypass options to optimize battery cooling while maintaining cabin temperature, eliminating the need for separate compressor, condenser, and refrigerant lines.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a standalone battery cooling system with separate compressor and condenser is used, then battery cooling capacity is sufficient, but vehicle weight and system cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the battery cooling function with the existing cabin air conditioning system by integrating a single chiller and sharing the compressor, condenser, and refrigerant lines. This consolidation provides sufficient battery cooling capacity while eliminating duplicate components, thereby reducing vehicle weight and system cost
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated chiller serves multiple functions: it cools both the battery and the cabin air conditioning system through the proportional control valve. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated battery cooling components, reducing overall system weight while maintaining adequate cooling capacity for the battery
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 solution enhances battery cooling efficiency, reduces vehicle weight and costs, and prevents cabin temperature spikes by dynamically controlling chiller capacity and coolant flow, ensuring effective heat management and comfortable cabin conditions.
Implementation Method 1
Heat from the battery is rejected into the chiller using a cooling loop that is integrated with a refrigeration system via the chiller
Implementation Method 2
air flow from the vehicle cabin air conditioning refrigerant system is utilized to cool such batteries
Implementation Method 3
A coolant three-way proportional control valve is connected to the chiller and the battery. The control valve is configured to operatively control a capacity of the chiller for the battery
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle includes a cooling arrangement that includes an air conditioning loop and a battery cooling loop connected together by a common chiller and arranged to cool each of cabin air and a battery. A coolant three-way proportional control valve is connected to the chiller and the battery. The control valve is configured to operatively control a capacity of the chiller for the battery.