Thermal management system with dual mode coolant loops
First Claim
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;
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;
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; and
a coolant reservoir, wherein said coolant within said second coolant loop is coupled to said coolant reservoir when said valve system is configured in either said first mode or said second mode, wherein said coolant within said first coolant loop is coupled to said coolant reservoir when said valve system is configured in said second mode, and wherein said coolant within said first coolant loop is not coupled to said coolant reservoir when said valve system is configured in said first mode.
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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), 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, and a coolant reservoir that is coupled to both coolant loops when the two coolant loops are operating in series and only coupled to the drive train coolant loop when the two coolant loops are operating in parallel.
121 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A dual mode, vehicle thermal management system, comprising:
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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; 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; 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; and a coolant reservoir, wherein said coolant within said second coolant loop is coupled to said coolant reservoir when said valve system is configured in either said first mode or said second mode, wherein said coolant within said first coolant loop is coupled to said coolant reservoir when said valve system is configured in said second mode, and wherein said coolant within said first coolant loop is not coupled to said coolant reservoir when said valve system is configured in said first mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of managing thermal loads within an electric vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
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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, wherein said drive train coolant loop is coupled to a coolant reservoir; 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 said battery system coolant loop is performed in parallel with said step of circulating said coolant through said drive train coolant loop, and wherein said battery system coolant loop is not coupled to said coolant reservoir; 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, wherein said drive train coolant loop and said battery system coolant loop are both coupled to said coolant reservoir. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification