Integrated Vehicle Thermal Loop for Battery-Motor Heat Sharing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle thermal management systems operate independently, leading to inefficient energy use, increased component count, and higher costs due to unreasonable heat collection planning.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle thermal management system integrating a coolant loop with multiple flow paths, heat exchangers, and three-way valves to facilitate heat exchange between the air conditioning system, battery pack, and motor, allowing for efficient heat transfer and energy utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the air conditioner thermal management system, motor thermal management system, and battery thermal management system operate independently, then each system can be designed and controlled separately, but the heat collection planning becomes unreasonable resulting in energy waste and increased quantities of pipelines, valves, joints and other components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the air conditioner thermal management system, motor thermal management system, and battery thermal management system into a unified thermal management system. The integrated system uses a single coolant circulation system with heat exchangers that can simultaneously or selectively serve multiple thermal management functions, eliminating the need for separate independent systems and enabling optimized heat collection planning across all components.
Solution Approach 2:
The coolant circulation system is designed with multi-functionality to serve multiple purposes: cooling the motor, cooling the battery pack, providing cabin heating, and supporting air conditioner operation. The system can dynamically allocate coolant flow to different components based on real-time thermal demands, allowing one system to perform multiple thermal management functions that previously required separate dedicated systems.
2Ease of operation
If the air conditioner thermal management system, motor thermal management system, and battery thermal management system operate independently, then each system can be designed and controlled separately, but the quantities of pipelines, valves, joints and other components increase resulting in increased cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple independent thermal management systems into a single integrated system, significantly reducing the total quantity of pipelines, valves, joints, and other components. Instead of having separate circulation loops for each system (air conditioner, motor, battery), the integrated design uses a shared coolant circulation infrastructure that routes fluid through various heat exchangers as needed, thereby reducing component redundancy and overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The unified thermal management system employs universal components that can serve multiple functions. For example, a single coolant circulation pump can supply coolant to different heat exchangers serving the motor, battery, and cabin heating systems at different times. The system uses multi-port valves and junctions that can direct coolant flow to various destinations based on thermal demands, replacing what would otherwise require separate dedicated components for each system.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the air conditioner thermal management system, motor thermal management system, and battery thermal management system operate independently, then each system can be designed and controlled separately, but the heat collection planning becomes unreasonable
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated thermal management system incorporates feedback mechanisms through a control unit that continuously monitors thermal conditions of the motor, battery pack, and cabin environment. Based on this real-time feedback, the control unit dynamically adjusts coolant flow distribution, heat exchanger operation, and circulation rates to optimize heat collection and thermal management efficiency, ensuring reasonable heat collection planning that adapts to changing operational conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs dynamic control of coolant circulation, allowing the flow paths, flow rates, and heat exchange processes to be continuously adjusted based on real-time thermal demands. The integrated architecture enables the system to switch between different operational modes (e.g., prioritizing motor cooling during high load, battery cooling during charging, or cabin heating during cold conditions) and to optimize heat collection planning by dynamically allocating thermal resources across all components.
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
Ensures the battery pack and motor operate within suitable temperature ranges, enhances air conditioning heating capacity in low temperatures, and reduces energy waste by optimizing heat exchange among components.
Implementation Method 1
a first heat exchanger is simultaneously disposed on the third coolant flow path and an air conditioning system of the vehicle thermal management system
Implementation Method 2
the second heat exchanger is simultaneously disposed on the coolant loop and the air conditioning system
Implementation Method 3
a first water pump is disposed on the third coolant flow path, a second water pump is disposed on the coolant loop
Data Source
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AI summary
The disclosure relates to a vehicle thermal management system and a vehicle. The system includes a coolant loop, a first coolant flow path, a second coolant flow path, a third coolant flow path, a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger; a first end of the first coolant flow path, a first end of the second coolant flow path and a first end of the third coolant flow path are connected with each other, and a second end of the third coolant flow path is selectively connected with a second end of the first coolant flow path or a second end of the second coolant flow path; and a motor is disposed on the first coolant flow path or the second coolant flow path, a battery pack is disposed on the second coolant flow path, a first water pump is disposed on the third coolant flow path, the first heat exchanger is simultaneously disposed on the third coolant flow path and an air conditioning system of the vehicle thermal management system, the second heat exchanger is simultaneously disposed on the coolant loop and the air conditioning system, and a second water pump and a warm air core are further disposed on the coolant loop.