Vehicle Thermal Circuit Switching for Battery Self-Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing thermal management systems in electrified vehicles do not effectively utilize heat generated by drive devices like inverters and motors for efficient self-heating of electrical storage devices, leading to inefficient heating and performance issues.
Innovation Solution
A thermal management system with dedicated flow paths and switching devices (like five-way or eight-way valves) isolates heat from drive devices to efficiently heat electrical storage devices, allowing heat accumulation and usage for self-heating, and includes a chiller device for air conditioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If heat from drive device is used for self-heating of electrical storage device, then heating efficiency is improved, but heat loss to radiator and other components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal management system is divided into multiple independent flow paths: a first flow path for the electrical storage device, a second flow path for the drive device, a third flow path for the radiator, and a fourth flow path for the chiller device. This segmentation allows heat to be selectively transferred only where needed, preventing unwanted heat loss to other components while maintaining heating efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
A heat medium serves as an intermediary substance that transfers heat between components. The heat medium circulates through controlled flow paths, absorbing heat from the drive device and delivering it to the electrical storage device, while the switching device controls which components are connected to the heat medium at any given time, thereby preventing heat loss to the radiator or chiller when not needed.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple flow paths are connected for thermal management, then system versatility is improved, but heat isolation and efficiency are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The switching device dynamically changes the connection configuration of the flow paths based on operational requirements. It can connect or disconnect the first, second, third, and fourth flow paths from each other, allowing the system to adapt between different operational modes (heating, cooling, isolation) while maintaining reliable heat isolation when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermal management system is designed with multi-functionality to handle various operational scenarios: self-heating of the electrical storage device, cooling of the drive device, radiator operation, and chiller device operation. The switching device enables a single heat medium circulation system to serve multiple functions by selectively connecting different flow paths based on the current operational mode.
3Reliability
If heat medium flows through all flow paths simultaneously, then comprehensive thermal management is improved, but self-heating efficiency is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The flow paths are segmented into distinct circuits that can be independently controlled. During self-heating operation, the switching device isolates the first flow path (electrical storage device) from the second flow path (drive device), third flow path (radiator), and fourth flow path (chiller device), ensuring that heat generated by self-heating remains confined to the electrical storage device and is not dissipated elsewhere.
Solution Approach 2:
The unwanted heat transfer paths are extracted or removed from the active circulation during self-heating operation. The switching device disconnects the heat medium flow from the drive device, radiator, and chiller device, effectively taking out these potential heat sinks from the system during self-heating, thereby maximizing heating efficiency.
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
Enables efficient self-heating of electrical storage devices, enhancing vehicle performance and charging efficiency by effectively utilizing heat from drive devices and integrating air conditioning needs.
Implementation Method 1
an electrical storage device configured to exchange heat with the heat medium in the first flow path
Implementation Method 2
a first flow path, a second flow path, a third flow path, and a fourth flow path, each configured to allow a heat medium to flow through
Implementation Method 3
a drive device configured to exchange heat with the heat medium in the second flow path
Implementation Method 4
a second flow path, configured to allow a heat medium to flow through
Implementation Method 5
a radiator provided on the third flow path
Implementation Method 6
a third flow path, configured to allow a heat medium to flow through
Implementation Method 7
a chiller device provided on the fourth flow path
Implementation Method 8
a fourth flow path, configured to allow a heat medium to flow through
Implementation Method 9
a switching device configured to switch a connection state among the first flow path, the second flow path, the third flow path, and the fourth flow path
Implementation Method 10
the connection flow path, the second flow path, and the third flow path are disconnected from and independent of each other
Data Source
AI summary
A thermal management system includes: an electrical storage device configured to exchange heat with a first flow path; a drive device configured to exchange heat with a second flow path; a radiator provided on a third flow path; a chiller device provided on a fourth flow path; and a switching device. In the thermal management system, during heating control for the electrical storage device, the switching device are controlled so that a connection flow path connecting the first flow path and the fourth flow path is formed and that the connection flow path, the second flow path, and the third flow path are disconnected from and independent of each other.