Vehicle Temperature Control Circuit Pressure Holding
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Solution Overview
Problem
In vehicles with electric motors and heat exchangers that exchange heat between non-conductive and conductive temperature-control media, damage to the heat exchanger can allow conductive media to flow into non-conductive media paths, potentially causing short circuits and system failures, especially when the vehicle is stopped and liquid pressure is reduced.
Innovation Solution
A temperature-control circuit that includes a heat exchanger for exchanging heat between non-conductive and conductive media, a pump driven by the vehicle's operation to circulate the non-conductive medium, and liquid pressure holding units, such as check valves or electrically-actuated valves, to maintain liquid pressure equal to or higher than a predetermined level, preventing conductive media from entering non-conductive paths even when the heat exchanger is damaged.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the vehicle is stopped and the pump is not operating, then power consumption is reduced, but liquid pressure in the non-conductive temperature-control medium flow path decreases, allowing conductive temperature-control medium to leak into the non-conductive flow path through damaged portions
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid pressure holding unit is activated before the vehicle stops to maintain liquid pressure in the non-conductive temperature-control medium flow path. This preliminary action ensures that even when the pump stops and power consumption reduces, the pressure differential prevents conductive medium from leaking into the non-conductive flow path through any damaged portions of the heat exchanger.
2Temperature
If a diaphragm or separator in the heat exchanger is damaged, then heat exchange efficiency may improve due to better thermal contact, but conductive temperature-control medium flows into the non-conductive flow path causing short circuit risks
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid pressure holding unit acts as an intermediary protective mechanism between the conductive and non-conductive temperature-control medium flow paths. By maintaining positive liquid pressure in the non-conductive flow path, it creates a pressure barrier that prevents conductive medium from crossing into the non-conductive path, even when the heat exchanger diaphragm or separator is damaged.
Solution Approach 2:
The system converts the potential harm of heat exchanger damage into a detectable condition. The liquid pressure holding unit maintains pressure that prevents leakage, and the control unit monitors pressure changes to detect when damage occurs, allowing the system to alert operators while continuing safe operation.
3Reliability
If the liquid pressure holding unit continuously operates to maintain pressure, then prevention of medium leakage is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid pressure holding unit operates dynamically rather than continuously. It activates selectively based on vehicle operating conditions (such as when the vehicle stops or when pressure drops are detected), maintaining reliability while minimizing power consumption by not running unnecessarily.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit monitors liquid pressure in the non-conductive temperature-control medium flow path and provides feedback to the liquid pressure holding unit. When pressure drops below a threshold (indicating potential leakage or system issues), the holding unit activates to restore pressure. This feedback-based control ensures reliability while optimizing power consumption by operating only when needed.
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 effectively prevents conductive media from entering non-conductive media paths, even when the heat exchanger is damaged, ensuring safe operation and preventing potential short circuits, while maintaining a simple configuration and minimizing power consumption.
Implementation Method 1
a heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between the non-conductive temperature-control medium and a conductive temperature-control medium
Implementation Method 2
a liquid pressure holding unit configured to hold liquid pressure of the non-conductive temperature-control medium in the heat exchanger equal to or higher than a predetermined pressure
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle includes: an electric motor; and a temperature-control circuit through which a non-conductive temperature-control medium for temperature control for the electric motor circulates. The temperature-control circuit includes: a heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between the non-conductive temperature-control medium and a conductive temperature-control medium; and a pump driven in accordance with driving of the vehicle to circulate the non-conductive temperature-control medium. The temperature-control circuit further includes a liquid pressure holding unit configured to hold liquid pressure of the non-conductive temperature-control medium in the heat exchanger equal to or higher than a predetermined pressure.