Vehicle Thermal Management with Split Fans for Hybrid Cooling Loads
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Solution Overview
Problem
In hybrid vehicles, a single electronic fan struggles to meet the cooling requirements of multiple components, leading to high energy consumption and poor heat dissipation due to the need to operate at the highest speed for all components simultaneously, resulting in inefficient thermal management.
Innovation Solution
A thermal management system with separate fans for the engine cooling and low-temperature cooling systems, allowing independent control of fan speeds to optimize cooling for each component, reducing energy consumption and improving heat dissipation efficiency by arranging fans and radiators oppositely to enhance integration and reduce temperature interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single electronic fan is used to cool multiple components (intercooler, high-temperature radiator, low-temperature radiator, and condenser), then the system structure is simple, but the fan must operate at high speed to meet the largest cooling requirement, resulting in high energy consumption and poor heat dissipation efficiency for other components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single fan system into multiple independent fans: a first electronic fan for cooling the intercooler and high-temperature radiator, and a second electronic fan for cooling the low-temperature radiator and condenser. Each fan operates independently based on the specific cooling requirements of its assigned components, avoiding the energy waste of running one fan at maximum speed for all components.
2Reliability
If a single electronic fan operates at the largest rotation speed requirement to avoid overheating, then all components are prevented from overheating, but the heat dissipation effect is poor and energy consumption is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic speed control for each fan based on real-time temperature monitoring and cooling requirements. The first fan controls rotation speed according to the cooling needs of the intercooler and high-temperature radiator, while the second fan adjusts speed based on the low-temperature radiator and condenser requirements. This dynamic adjustment ensures reliable overheating prevention while minimizing energy consumption by avoiding constant high-speed operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operating parameters (rotation speed) of the fans from a single fixed high speed to variable speeds optimized for each component's cooling requirements. By adjusting the rotation speed parameter dynamically, the system maintains reliable heat dissipation while reducing energy waste from excessive fan speed.
3Use of energy by moving object
If multiple fans are used for different cooling zones, then energy consumption is reduced and heat dissipation efficiency is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the cooling system into two independent zones with dedicated fans, achieving energy efficiency through targeted cooling. The first fan serves the engine cooling zone (intercooler and high-temperature radiator), while the second fan serves the low-temperature zone (low-temperature radiator and condenser). This segmentation reduces energy consumption by avoiding unnecessary high-speed operation while maintaining manageable system complexity through clear functional division.
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 enables precise control of thermal management, reducing energy consumption and extending the service life of components by optimizing fan speeds and coolant flow, ensuring efficient cooling of the engine, intercooler, and air conditioning system.
Implementation Method 1
a fan, the fan is configured to dissipate heat from the radiator
Implementation Method 2
a radiator, the radiator is connected to the engine
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle includes a thermal management system. The thermal management system of the vehicle comprises an engine cooling system, an air conditioning system, and a low-temperature cooling system. The engine cooling system comprises an engine, an intercooler, a first heat dissipation device, and a first fan. An air outlet end of the intercooler is in communication with an air inlet manifold, and an air inlet end of the intercooler is in communication with a supercharger. The first fan is used for dissipating heat for the intercooler and the first heat dissipation device. The low-temperature cooling system comprises a second heat dissipation device and a second fan, and the second fan is used for dissipating heat for the second heat dissipation device and a condenser.