Cooling apparatus and vehicle including the same
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Solution Overview
Problem
In electric and hybrid vehicles, the efficiency of the heat pump system is compromised due to long coolant and refrigerant pipes, which are necessary to supply coolant and refrigerant to various components, including the battery module and electric components, leading to reduced performance.
Innovation Solution
A separate cooling apparatus is provided, comprising a thermoelectric device, electric water pump, coolant channel, heat sinks, and air duct, which operates in two modes to efficiently cool critical components like the autonomous driving controller, reducing the load on the existing heat pump system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate cooling apparatus is provided for critical components, then cooling performance for autonomous driving controller is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is divided into two independent parts: the existing heat pump system for general vehicle interior and battery cooling, and a new separate cooling apparatus specifically for critical components like the autonomous driving controller. This segmentation allows each subsystem to be optimized for its specific function without compromising the other, thereby improving cooling performance for critical components while managing overall system complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The separate cooling apparatus acts as an intermediary system that handles cooling for critical components independently, preventing the heat pump system from being overloaded. This intermediary cooling system includes its own evaporator, condenser, and expansion valve, creating a dedicated thermal management pathway that improves reliability without requiring complete system redesign.
2Device complexity
If the heat pump system cools all components including critical electronics, then system simplicity is maintained, but cooling performance for critical components deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Different cooling strategies are applied to different components based on their specific thermal requirements. The heat pump system continues to handle general vehicle interior and battery cooling, while the separate cooling apparatus provides dedicated cooling for critical components like the autonomous driving controller. This local differentiation ensures that each component receives appropriate cooling performance without requiring complete system complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If long coolant pipes are used to supply coolant to various components, then adaptability to different component positions is improved, but heat loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is segmented into two independent loops: the heat pump system serving general components and the separate cooling apparatus serving critical components. This segmentation allows the separate cooling apparatus to be positioned close to critical components like the autonomous driving controller, minimizing coolant pipe length and reducing heat loss while maintaining adaptability for component positioning.
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 separate cooling apparatus effectively cools critical components, reducing the load on the heat pump system and maintaining the performance of vehicle interior cooling and battery module cooling.
Implementation Method 1
a thermoelectric device including a higher-temperature part heated by being supplied with electrical energy and a lower-temperature part cooled by being supplied with electrical energy. The thermoelectric device may be configured to cool the coolant flowing into the coolant channel by the lower-temperature part
Implementation Method 2
a first heat sink disposed adjacent to the higher-temperature part of the thermoelectric device, a second heat sink disposed adjacent to the coolant channel
Implementation Method 3
a cooling fan provided adjacent to the first heat sink
Data Source
AI summary
A cooling apparatus may include an electric water pump to pump coolant, a coolant channel in fluid communication with a cooling target and the electric water pump, and a thermoelectric device including a higher-temperature part and a lower-temperature part. The thermoelectric device may cool the coolant flowing into the coolant channel. The cooling apparatus may include a first heat sink disposed adjacent to the higher-temperature part, a second heat sink disposed adjacent to the coolant channel, and a cooling fan provided adjacent to the first heat sink. The cooling apparatus may include an air duct forming a first fluid line where air passes through only the first heat sink and is then discharged by operation of the cooling fan and forming a second fluid line where air passes through the first heat sink and the second heat sink and is then discharged by the operation of the cooling fan.