Shared Liquid Cooling for EV Fast Charging and Edge Data Centers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electric vehicle recharging stations and data centers face inefficiencies in thermal management and energy use, with high cooling demands and security challenges in data transfer and processing for autonomous vehicles, particularly in decentralized systems.

Innovation Solution

Integration of a thermal management system that provides liquid coolant for both electric vehicle batteries and data centers, enabling high-rate recharging and efficient cooling, while also supporting decentralized data processing and security through distributed ledgers and localized data transfer.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by stationary object

If separate thermal management systems are used for electric vehicle recharging stations and data centers, then each system can be independently optimized, but energy consumption increases and operational costs rise

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidsystem integration

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the thermal management systems of the electric vehicle recharging station and data center into a single integrated system. The coolant circulation system serves both the battery charging equipment and data center servers simultaneously, allowing heat generated by batteries during fast charging to be transferred to data center servers for cooling, thereby reducing overall energy consumption and operational costs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated thermal management system performs multiple functions: it cools batteries during fast charging, cools data center servers, and enables waste heat recovery. The single coolant circulation system replaces what would traditionally require separate cooling systems, achieving multi-functionality while reducing energy consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Productivity

If high-rate recharging is implemented for electric vehicles, then charging speed increases, but thermal management demands and energy consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecharging speedVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful heat generated by fast charging into a beneficial resource. The thermal management system captures excess heat from batteries during high-rate charging and transfers it to data center servers that require cooling, thereby enabling fast charging without proportionally increasing energy consumption for thermal management

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated coolant circulation system acts as an intermediary that transfers thermal energy from the battery charging system to the data center servers. This mediator enables high-rate recharging by providing an efficient heat transfer pathway that prevents energy waste

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If decentralized data centers are distributed across multiple nodes, then security and data transfer efficiency improve, but system complexity and coordination requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesecurityVSAvoidnetwork architecture

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the data center into multiple decentralized nodes distributed across the recharging station network. Each node operates semi-independently, processing and storing data locally, which enhances security through distribution while maintaining manageable complexity through standardized node architecture and protocols

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 integration reduces energy consumption, enhances security, and enables cost-effective, efficient thermal management for both electric vehicle recharging and data center operations, with potential for waste heat reuse and improved security through decentralized control.

Implementation Method 1

a thermal management system... configured for providing liquid coolant from the coolant source to the battery of the electric vehicle while charging the electric vehicle

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 2

The thermal management system is configured for providing liquid coolant from the coolant source to the servers

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentUS12128778B2Thermally control integrated high rate recharging station combined with data center and networking

Publication Date: 2024.10.29 LIGHTENING ENERGY

AI summary

An electric vehicle recharging station for recharging a battery of an electric vehicle includes a thermal management system including a coolant source of liquid coolant; a power source; an electric vehicle recharger configured for providing the liquid coolant from the coolant source to the battery of the electric vehicle while charging the electric vehicle via the power source; and a data center including a plurality of servers. The thermal management system is configured for providing liquid coolant from the coolant source to the servers.