Integrated Vehicle Thermal Module for Low-Resistance Coolant Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electric vehicles and fuel cell vehicles face challenges in utilizing waste heat due to the absence of an engine, leading to complex cooling/heating circuits with multiple components, which increases weight, cost, and reduces efficiency.
Innovation Solution
An integrated thermal management module that integrates a chiller, reservoir portions, pumps, and valves to form a compact assembly, allowing for efficient circulation and control of cooling water and refrigerant, reducing resistance and enhancing cooling/heating efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple components (valves, pumps, reservoirs) are separately mounted in electric vehicles for cooling/heating, then the system can provide comprehensive thermal management, but the device complexity increases and weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple thermal management components (first reservoir, second reservoir, chiller, first pump, second pump, first valve, second valve) into a single integrated thermal management module. This merging of previously separate components reduces device complexity and improves adaptability by providing comprehensive cooling and heating functions through a unified system architecture.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple components are separately mounted in electric vehicles, then the system can provide comprehensive thermal management, but the weight increases and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
By combining multiple thermal management components into one integrated module, the patent reduces the overall weight compared to mounting separate components throughout the vehicle. The integration allows for optimized material usage and reduced redundant structures while maintaining comprehensive thermal management capabilities.
3Device complexity
If components are integrated into an assembly, then the device complexity is reduced and weight is reduced, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The integration of multiple components into a single module requires precise manufacturing and assembly to ensure proper fluid flow paths, thermal exchange efficiency, and component coordination. The patent addresses this by designing the integrated module with carefully engineered internal passages and component arrangements that maintain performance while reducing overall system complexity.
4Productivity
If cooling water and refrigerant pathways are integrated, then the cooling/heating efficiency increases by reducing resistance, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the cooling water pathways and refrigerant pathways into a unified integrated module, allowing for optimized fluid flow routes that reduce resistance and improve thermal exchange efficiency. The direct connection between the chiller, reservoirs, and pumps within the integrated assembly minimizes flow path length and resistance compared to separate component mounting.
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
The module achieves a compact design that increases cooling/heating efficiency by reducing the resistance of cooling water and refrigerant, thereby improving energy efficiency and reducing weight and costs in vehicle thermal management systems.
Implementation Method 1
a chiller (200) through which refrigerant and cooling water pass to exchange heat with each other
Data Source
AI summary
An integrated thermal management module for a vehicle may include a chiller; a first reservoir portion through which electric part-cooling water passes, and a second reservoir portion through which high-voltage battery-cooling water passes; a first pump that circulates the electric part-cooling water through an electric portion, and a first valve that controls cooling water that has passed through the chiller or cooling water of the first reservoir portion to be selectively circulated through the electric portion by the first pump; and a second pump that circulates the high-voltage battery-cooling water through a high-voltage battery, and a second valve that controls the cooling water that has passed through the chiller or cooling water of the second reservoir portion to be selectively circulated through the high-voltage battery by the second pump.