Electric vehicle thermal management system

• US 9,533,547 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2015
• Issued: 01/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2015
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thunder Power New Energy Vehicle Development Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Thunder Power Hong Kong Limited (Thunder Power Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Cheng, Ming-Chieh
• Primary Examiner(s): WALTERS, JOHN DANIEL
• Application Number:
  US14/967,371
• Publication Number:
  US 20160272040A1
• Time in Patent Office: 386 Days
• Field of Search: 180/68.1, 180/68.2, 180/68.4
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 15/00 Layered products comprising a layer of metal
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 15/01 all layers being exclusively metallic making layered metal workpieces by pressure cladding B23K20/22; making coatings with a metallic material characterised by its composition C23C30/00
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2605/08 Cars
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2605/18 Aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 3/266 characterised by an apertured layer, the apertures going through the whole thickness of the layer, e.g. expanded metal, perforated layer, slit layer regular cells B32B3/12
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/04 Interconnection of layers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/05 the layers not being connected over the whole surface, e.g. discontinuous connection or patterned connection using interposed adhesives or bonding materials applied in spaced arrangements B32B7/14
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00278 for the battery arrangement of batteries B60R16/04
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00392 for electric vehicles having only electric drive means
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00564 of air ducts
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00885 Controlling the flow of heating or cooling liquid, e.g. valves or pumps B60H1/00899 takes precedence; constructions of valves B60H1/00485
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/143 the heat being derived from cooling an electric component, e.g. electric motors, electric circuits, fuel cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/04 of the electric storage means for propulsion exchanging batteries for electric propulsion of vehicles B60L53/80; for auxiliary purposes only B60R16/04; supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles B60S5/06
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 11/04 Arrangement or mounting of radiators, radiator shutters, or radiator blinds B60K11/085 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 11/085 with adjustable shutters or blinds
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/005 the electric storage means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/006 the electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/64 Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/24 for controlling the temperature of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/27 by heating
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/91 : Electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2306/07 : Heating of passenger cabins
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/112 : Batteries
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 5/00 : Adhesive processes in general; Adhesive processes not provided for elsewhere, e.g. relating to primers
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 11/00 : Connecting constructional elements or machine parts by sticking or pressing them together, e.g. cold pressure welding non-electric welding in general B23K; methods of using adhesives independently of the form of the surfaces joined C09J5/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 11/006 : by gluing gluing of plastics material B29C65/48
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 3/005 : the key being formed by solidification of injected material joining of preformed parts by applying molten plastics B29C65/40; non-disconnectible pipe joints obtained using a hardenable filler F16L13/11
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/04 : by means of riveting rivets F16B19/04
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/486 : for measuring temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/625 : Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/63 : Control systems charging or discharging in response to temperature H01M10/44 , H01M10/443; measurement of temperature H01M10/48 , H01M10/486
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6568 : characterised by flow circuits, e.g. loops, located externally to the cells or cell casings
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/663 : the system being an air-conditioner or an engine
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/20 : Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0018 : using separate charge circuits
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 : Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/88 : Optimized components or subsystems, e.g. lighting, actively controlled glasses
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24347 : From both sides

Abstract

An electric vehicle thermal management system and an electric vehicle using the thermal management system, wherein a passenger cabin is heated by the heat dissipated from a battery and/or a motor, and the battery and the electric motor are connected in different cooling paths. Heat is supplied to the passenger cabin by using the heat absorbed by cooling liquid from the battery and/or the motor, so that the electric power of the electric vehicle can be effectively utilized to increase the endurance mileage of the electric vehicle.

Claims

1. An electric vehicle thermal management system for heating a passenger cabin of an electric vehicle by means of the heat absorbed from a battery and/or an electric motor of the electric vehicle, the system comprising:

a first cooling path, wherein cooling liquid is circulated in the first cooling path, and the cooling liquid passes through the battery and performs heat exchange with the battery;

a second cooling path, wherein the cooling liquid is circulated in the second cooling path, and the cooling liquid passes through the motor and performs heat exchange with the motor;

a third cooling path, wherein the third cooling path comprises an inlet and an outlet, and the inlet and the outlet are in fluid communication; and

a first radiator, wherein the first radiator provides a heat source to the passenger cabin by dissipating the heat absorbed by the cooling liquid, and the first radiator is selectively connected in one path of the first cooling path, the second cooling path or the third cooling path,

wherein, the cooling liquid flows through the first cooling path and the cooling liquid flows through the second cooling path,

wherein the cooling liquid from the first cooling path and the cooling liquid from the second cooling path converge at the inlet of the third cooling path, flow through the third cooling path and then divide at the outlet of the third cooling path to re-flow into the first cooling path and the second cooling path.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a valve device for selectively connecting the first radiator to one path of the first cooling path, the second cooling path and the third cooling path or separating the first radiator from all the first cooling path, the second cooling path and the third cooling path.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein,

the valve device comprises a first switch and a second switch,

the first switch is arranged in the first cooling path, and the cooling liquid flows through the battery and then flows into the first switch,

through the first switch, the cooling liquid in the first cooling path selectively flows into the inlet of the third cooling path after flowing through the first radiator or directly flows into the inlet of the third cooling path,

the second switch is arranged in the second cooling path, and the cooling liquid flows through the motor and then flows into the second switch, and

through the second switch, the cooling liquid in the second cooling path selectively flows into the inlet of the third cooling path after flowing through the first radiator or directly flows into the inlet of the third cooling path.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising:

a control device, wherein the control device controls the state of the first switch according to the temperature of the battery.

5. The system of claim 3, further comprising:

a control device, wherein the control device controls the state of the second switch according to the temperature of the motor.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a control device;

a refrigerator, wherein through the control device, the refrigerator is selectively connected in the first cooling path to perform heat exchange with the cooling liquid in the first cooling path or separated from the first cooling path.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a control device; and

a pump arranged in the first cooling path,

wherein, when the temperature of the battery reaches a first preset temperature, the control device controls the pump in the first cooling path to speed up so as to increase the flow rate of the cooling liquid in the first cooling path.

8. The system of claim 6, further comprising:

a pump connected in the second cooling path;

when the temperature of the battery reaches or exceeds a second preset temperature, the control device controls the refrigerator to perform heat exchange with the first cooling path and controls the pump in the second cooling path to slow down or stop so as to slow down or stop the flow of the cooling liquid in the second cooling path.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a second radiator, wherein the second radiator is selectively connected in the third cooling path or separated from the third cooling path.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a control device;

a heater, wherein the cooling liquid in the first cooling path flows through the heater; and

the control device selectively starts or stops the heater.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a cooling liquid source, wherein the cooling liquid source is connected in the third cooling path for supplementing the cooling liquid in the first cooling path and the cooling liquid in the second cooling path to the electric vehicle thermal management system.

12. An electric vehicle, comprising:

a passenger cabin;

a battery;

an electric drive motor; and

a thermal management system configured to heat the passenger cabin by means of the heat absorbed from at least one of the battery or the electric motor, the thermal management system including;

a first cooling path, wherein a cooling liquid is circulated in the first cooling path, and the cooling liquid passes through the battery and performs heat exchange with the battery;

a second cooling path, wherein the cooling liquid is circulated in the second cooling path, and the cooling liquid passes through the motor and performs heat exchange with the motor;

a third cooling path, wherein the third cooling path comprises an inlet and an outlet, and the inlet and the outlet are in fluid communication; and

a first radiator, wherein the first radiator provides a heat source to the passenger cabin by dissipating the heat absorbed by the cooling liquid from the first cooling path and/or the cooling liquid from the second cooling path, and the first radiator is selectively connected in one path of the first cooling path, the second cooling path or the third cooling path,

wherein the cooling liquid from the first cooling path and the cooling liquid from the second cooling path converge at the inlet of the third cooling path, flow through the third cooling path and then divide at the outlet of the third cooling path to re-flow into the first cooling path and the second cooling path.

13. The vehicle of claim 12, further comprising:

a valve device for selectively connecting the first radiator to one path of the first cooling path, the second cooling path and the third cooling path or separating the first radiator from all the first cooling path, the second cooling path and the third cooling path.

14. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein,

the valve device comprises a first switch and a second switch,

the first switch is arranged in the first cooling path, and the cooling liquid flows through the battery and then flows into the first switch,

through the first switch, the cooling liquid in the first cooling path selectively flows into the inlet of the third cooling path after flowing through the first radiator or directly flows into the inlet of the third cooling path,

the second switch is arranged in the second cooling path, and the cooling liquid flows through the motor and then flows into the second switch, and

through the second switch, the cooling liquid in the second cooling path selectively flows into the inlet of the third cooling path after flowing through the first radiator or directly flows into the inlet of the third cooling path.

15. The vehicle of claim 14, further comprising:

a control device, wherein the control device controls the state of the first switch according to the temperature of the battery.

16. The vehicle of claim 14, further comprising:

a control device, wherein the control device controls the state of the second switch according to the temperature of the motor.

17. The vehicle of claim 12, further comprising:

a control device;

a refrigerator, wherein through the control device, the refrigerator is selectively connected in the first cooling path to perform heat exchange with the cooling liquid in the first cooling path or separated from the first cooling path.

18. The vehicle of claim 17, further comprising:

a pump connected in the second cooling path,

wherein, when the temperature of the battery reaches or exceeds a second preset temperature, the control device controls the refrigerator to perform heat exchange with the first cooling path and controls the pump in the second cooling path to slow down or stop so as to slow down or stop the flow of the cooling liquid in the second cooling path.

19. The vehicle of claim 12, further comprising:

a control device; and

a pump arranged in the first cooling path,

wherein, when the temperature of the battery reaches a first preset temperature, the control device controls the pump in the first cooling path to speed up so as to increase the flow rate of first cooling liquid in the first cooling path.

20. The vehicle of claim 12, further comprising:

a second radiator, wherein the second radiator is selectively connected in the third cooling path or separated from the third cooling path.