Vehicle Thermal Control Unit Cooling With Predictive Power Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle thermal management systems fail to accurately predict and optimize power consumption and heat dissipation of control units based on varying vehicle driving environments, leading to inefficiencies and potential safety issues.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle thermal management device that includes an acquirer, predictor, determiner, and controller to analyze vehicle and surroundings information, predict power consumption and heat dissipation, and optimize these parameters based on safety criteria to maintain optimal performance and safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If thermal management control is performed based on fixed or average thermal characteristics, then the control system is simple to implement, but the accuracy of power consumption and heat dissipation prediction deteriorates under varying driving environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by transitioning from fixed thermal characteristics to dynamic prediction that adapts to varying driving environments. The system uses real-time detection of vehicle operating conditions (engine load, ambient temperature, vehicle speed) to dynamically adjust thermal predictions, ensuring accuracy across different scenarios without requiring an overly complex control architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes thermal prediction parameters based on detected driving conditions. By adjusting prediction models according to engine load, ambient temperature, and vehicle speed parameters, the system maintains high prediction accuracy across varying environments. This parameter adaptation allows the system to optimize thermal management for each specific operating condition.
2Reliability
If thermal management is optimized for maximum heat dissipation, then safety is improved, but power consumption and fuel efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by providing thermal management only to the extent necessary for safety. Rather than continuously maximizing heat dissipation, the system activates cooling measures selectively based on predicted thermal conditions and safety requirements. This partial intervention maintains safety while minimizing unnecessary power consumption and fuel usage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from thermal predictions and actual temperature monitoring to adjust cooling control intensity. When thermal predictions indicate safe operating conditions, cooling is reduced or stopped. When predictions approach safety thresholds, cooling is activated or intensified. This feedback-based control ensures safety while optimizing power consumption by avoiding excessive cooling.
3Temperature
If cooling control is continuously activated to ensure heat dissipation, then thermal safety is maintained, but fuel efficiency and power consumption worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by using thermal prediction to anticipate future thermal conditions before they become critical. The system predicts power consumption and heat dissipation based on current and forecasted driving conditions, allowing proactive thermal management. Cooling is activated in advance when predictions indicate upcoming thermal stress, preventing temperature excursions while avoiding continuous cooling operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle thermal management device includes: a predictor that predicts, based on at least one of the vehicle information or the surroundings information that are acquired by the acquirer, a power consumption of a control unit and a heat dissipation ability of the control unit; a determiner that determines, based on the power consumption of the control unit and the heat dissipation ability of the control unit predicted by the predictor and a safety criteria parameter of the control unit, whether to optimize the power consumption of the control unit and the heat dissipation ability of the control unit, and outputs a result of determination made by the determiner; and a controller that controls the power consumption of the control unit and the heat dissipation ability of the control unit according to the result of determination made by the determiner.