Underbody Cooling Module With Tangential Fan for Grille-Free EV Airflow

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electric vehicles without traditional grilles or cooling bays face challenges in maintaining effective airflow through the cooling module, leading to reduced performance.

Innovation Solution

A cooling module design featuring a fairing with an internal duct and tangential turbomachine, along with a collector housing and heat exchangers, ensures airflow circulation without a grille, using fixing means to secure the module to the vehicle chassis and adjustable closure devices to regulate airflow.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the vehicle is equipped with traditional grilles and cooling bays, then airflow to the cooling module is improved, but aerodynamic characteristics and vehicle range deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling performanceVSAvoidvehicle range
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling module is repositioned from the traditional front grille location to the underbody of the vehicle, changing the spatial dimension of air intake. This allows the vehicle to maintain cooling functionality while eliminating the need for front grilles, thereby improving aerodynamics and reducing energy loss without compromising cooling performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If the vehicle operates at stationary or low driving speed, then natural airflow through the cooling module is insufficient, but adding a tangential turbomachine increases device complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling effectivenessVSAvoidventilation system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The tangential turbomachine is designed to be driven by the vehicle's own exhaust gases, which naturally flow through the turbocharger during engine operation. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for an external power source or complex control systems, providing reliable cooling enhancement while maintaining relatively simple device architecture

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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

Enhances airflow through the cooling module, maintaining performance even without a grille, thereby improving aerodynamics and vehicle range.

Implementation Method 1

a tangential turbomachine itself configured to generate the air flow intended to be evacuated by the air outlet

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTangential flow turbomachine: Turbine

Implementation Method 2

at least one heat exchanger intended to be crossed by the air flow

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Data Source

PatentEP4341116B1Cooling module for an electric or hybrid motor vehicle, having a tangential-flow turbomachine
Publication Date: 2025.06.25 VALEO ELECTRIFICATION
  • EP4341116B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4341116B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3

AI summary

Disclosed is a cooling module (22) for a motor vehicle (10), the module being intended to have an air flow (F) circulating between an air inlet (22a) and an air outlet (22b) pass therethrough and comprising: - a fairing (40) forming an inner duct inside which a heat exchanger (24, 26, 28) is arranged and comprising a front face (400) wherein the air inlet (22a) is provided; - a manifold housing (41) configured to receive a turbomachine (30) for generating the air flow (F); - an attachment means (25) arranged on either side of the fairing (40) for attaching the heat exchanger (24, 26, 28) to the cooling module (22) and attaching the module (22) and the heat exchanger (24, 26, 28) to a chassis (17) of the vehicle (10) such that the front face (400) of the fairing (40) is arranged opposite an underbody (100) of the motor vehicle (10).