Thermal management system with dual mode coolant loops
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A dual mode, vehicle thermal management system, comprising:
- a first coolant loop in thermal communication with a battery system, said first coolant loop comprising a first circulation pump for circulating a coolant within said first coolant loop, said first coolant loop further comprising a first coolant reservoir;
a second coolant loop in thermal communication with at least one drive train component, said second coolant loop comprising a second circulation pump for circulating said coolant within said second coolant loop, said second coolant loop further comprising a second coolant reservoir, wherein said coolant is allowed to flow between said first and second coolant reservoirs; and
a dual mode valve system, wherein said first coolant loop operates in parallel with and separate from said second coolant loop when said valve system is configured in a first mode, and wherein said first coolant loop is serially coupled to said second coolant loop when said valve system is configured in a second mode.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A dual mode, thermal management system for use in a vehicle is provided. At a minimum, the system includes a first coolant loop in thermal communication with a battery system, a second coolant loop in thermal communication with at least one drive train component (e.g., electric motor, power electronics, inverter), and a dual mode valve system that provides means for selecting between a first mode where the two coolant loops operate in parallel, and a second mode where the two coolant loops operate in series.
-
Citations
24 Claims
-
1. A dual mode, vehicle thermal management system, comprising:
-
a first coolant loop in thermal communication with a battery system, said first coolant loop comprising a first circulation pump for circulating a coolant within said first coolant loop, said first coolant loop further comprising a first coolant reservoir; a second coolant loop in thermal communication with at least one drive train component, said second coolant loop comprising a second circulation pump for circulating said coolant within said second coolant loop, said second coolant loop further comprising a second coolant reservoir, wherein said coolant is allowed to flow between said first and second coolant reservoirs; and a dual mode valve system, wherein said first coolant loop operates in parallel with and separate from said second coolant loop when said valve system is configured in a first mode, and wherein said first coolant loop is serially coupled to said second coolant loop when said valve system is configured in a second mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A method of managing thermal loads within an electric vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
- selecting between a first mode and a second mode of circulating a coolant through a drive train coolant loop and a battery system coolant loop, wherein in said first mode, the method further comprises the steps of;
circulating said coolant through said drive train coolant loop, said drive train coolant loop in thermal communication with at least one drive train component; and
circulating said coolant through said battery system coolant loop, said battery system coolant loop in thermal communication with a battery system, wherein said step of circulating said coolant through battery system coolant loop is performed in parallel with said step of circulating said coolant through said drive train coolant loop; and
wherein in said second mode, the method further comprises the steps of;
serially circulating said coolant through said drive train coolant loop and said battery system coolant loop. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
- selecting between a first mode and a second mode of circulating a coolant through a drive train coolant loop and a battery system coolant loop, wherein in said first mode, the method further comprises the steps of;
Specification