Vehicle Electrical Conditioning System with Direct Heat Exchanger Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing conditioning systems for electrical equipment in vehicles, particularly in public passenger transport, face inefficiencies and increased energy consumption due to the use of electrical resistors for heating, which reduces the overall efficiency and increases vehicle energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
A conditioning system that employs electromagnetic heating means, such as infrared radiation emitters, to directly heat the walls of a heat exchanger without affecting air flow, combined with a fluid heat exchanger and ventilation means to manage temperature, allowing for efficient cooling and heating of electrical equipment while minimizing energy loss and consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If electrical resistors are used to heat the air in the heat exchanger, then the electrical equipment can be heated, but the energy consumption increases and system efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the electrical resistor heating system with a thermal coupling system that utilizes waste heat from the battery. The heat exchanger is thermally coupled to the battery housing, allowing direct heat transfer from the battery to the heat exchanger without requiring additional energy input. This substitution eliminates the need for electrical resistors and reduces energy consumption while maintaining the ability to heat the electrical equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a fluid medium as an intermediary to transfer heat from the battery to the heat exchanger. The fluid circulates between the battery housing and the heat exchanger, facilitating efficient thermal coupling. This intermediary approach enables heat transfer without direct thermal contact, allowing the system to utilize waste heat effectively while maintaining system efficiency.
2Temperature
If electrical resistors are used to heat the air, then heating function is provided, but the heating efficiency is reduced due to air heating losses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the heating function from the air heating process and transfers it directly to the electrical equipment through thermal coupling. Instead of heating the air and relying on convection to warm the equipment, the system directly couples the heat exchanger to the battery housing, extracting waste heat and transferring it directly to the electrical equipment. This eliminates energy loss through air heating while maintaining effective heating of the target components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a one-dimensional air heating approach to a direct thermal coupling approach by implementing a heat exchanger that is thermally coupled to the battery housing. This dimensional change in heat transfer methodology allows direct thermal contact or close thermal coupling between the heat source (battery) and the heat recipient (electrical equipment), eliminating the intermediate air heating step and reducing energy losses.
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 the efficiency of the conditioning system by preventing energy loss through air heating, maintaining optimal temperature ranges for electrical equipment, and reducing vehicle energy consumption, thus extending the service life of batteries.
Implementation Method 1
a heat exchanger (3) configured to promote heat exchange of a conditioning fluid flowing in a circuit (4) that passes in contact with the box containing the electrical equipment E
Implementation Method 2
heat exchange of a conditioning fluid flowing in a circuit that passes in contact with the box containing the electrical equipment
Implementation Method 3
heating means (10) for directly heating at least one wall of the radiator (7) with electromagnetic radiation means, in particular with infrared radiation emitters (11)
Implementation Method 4
ventilation means (6) configured to selectively generate and direct an air flow (F) to the heat exchanger (3) to improve the latter's heat exchange with the environment
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
A conditioning system (2) for electrical equipment (E) of a vehicle (1), comprising a heat exchanger (3) inside of which a conditioning fluid of a conditioning circuit (4), configured to exchange heat with the electrical equipment (E), circulates, and heating means (10) configured to directly heat at least one of the walls (7', 7") of the heat exchanger (3). The system has been developed in particular for the circuit for maintaining the temperature of the high-voltage battery and its heating when the outside temperature is low.