1
FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See section 10, rule 13)
TITLE: “THERMAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM OF A VEHICLE”
Name and Address of the Applicant:
TATA MOTORS LIMITED of Bombay House, 24 Homi Mody Street, Hutatma Chowk,
Mumbai. Maharashtra 400001, India
Nationality: INDIAN
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is
to be performed.
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TECHNICAL FIELD OF INVENTION
The present disclosure relates to the field of automobiles. Particularly, but not exclusively, the
present disclosure relates to thermal management of a vehicle. Further, embodiments of the
present disclosure disclose a thermal management system for regulating heating dissipation of
a battery module in the vehicle, and a method of operating thereof.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
Vehicles, in general, employ numerous mechanical components that generally operate under
mechanical friction and may dissipate heat during operation. Such components are generally
cooled by using coolants and/or lubricants to reduce such heat dissipation. In general, for
electric vehicles, heat dissipation may also occur at battery modules, which may require
different configuration for thermal management, as it may not be feasibility of the coolant or
lubricant to physically interact in the battery modules for heat dissipation.
With the advent of technology, attempts have been made to channelize the coolant around the
battery module and circulate such coolant for regulating heat being dissipated during operation
of the vehicle and/or during charging of the battery module in case of the electric vehicles.
However, such circulation may not be efficient during charging condition of the battery
modules, or during an idle or parked condition of the vehicle, as the coolant may not be
conditioned or regulated to requirement temperature for regulating temperature of the battery
module. Alternatively, to support such coolants, additional heaters and cooling sources may be
employed, which may increase bulkiness of the thermal management system in the vehicle,
whereby leading to space constraints. Also, conventional thermal management systems
generally employ additional components such as compressors and condensers, which
inherently increases cooling cost, produces noise, and adds to space constraints in the vehicle.
The present invention is directed at overcoming one or more of aforesaid problems. The aspects
of ‘Background’ should not be construed as a limitation of the present disclosure.The
drawbacks/difficulties/disadvantages/limitations of the conventional techniques/systems
explained in the background section are just for exemplary purpose and the disclosure would
never limit its scope only such limitations. A person skilled in the art would understand that
this disclosure and below mentioned description may also solve other problems or overcome
the other drawbacks/disadvantages of the conventional arts which are not explicitly captured
above.
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SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
One or more shortcomings of the conventional process are overcome by a thermal management
system of a vehicle as claimed. Additional features and advantages are realized through the
techniques of the present disclosure. Other embodiments and aspects of the disclosure are
described in detail herein and are considered a part of the claimed disclosure.
In one non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure, a thermal management system for
an electric component of a vehicle is disclosed. The thermal management system comprises a
heat exchanger, fluidly coupled to the electric component. The heat exchanger is defined by a
heating section and a cooling section. The system further comprises a cooling source fluidly
connectable between the cooling section of the heat exchanger and the electrical component.
The system further comprises a valve circuit configured to selectively regulate flow of a coolant
between the cooling section of the heat exchanger, the cooling source, and the electrical
component. The valve circuit comprising a first valve, configured to selectively regulate flow
of the coolant between an outlet of the cooling section of the heat exchanger, an inlet of the
cooling source and the electric component. The valve circuit further includes a second valve,
configured to selectively regulate flow of the coolant between an inlet of the cooling section of
the heat exchanger, an outlet of the cooling source and the electric component. The valve circuit
further includes a third valve, configured to selectively regulate flow of the coolant between
the outlet of the cooling source and the electric component. The system further comprises a
control unit. The control unit is communicatively coupled with the heat exchanger, the
electrical component and the valve circuit. The control unit is configured to determine the
temperature of the electric component. The control unit is further configured to operate the
cooling source in response to determined temperature of the electric component. The control
unit is further configured to operate the valve circuit to selectively regulate flow of the coolant
from the heat exchanger to the electric component.
In an embodiment, the system comprises a radiator. The radiator is fluidly connectable to the
heating section of the heat exchanger, configured to selectively regulate temperature of the
coolant flowing through the heat exchanger.
In an embodiment, the system comprises the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is a
thermoelectric cooler module. The heat exchanger is defined by the heating section and the
cooling section formed on an electrically conductive base, and wherein the electrically
conductive base being operable by the control unit to selectively supply electric charge to heat
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the coolant at the heating section of the heat exchanger and cool the coolant at the cooling
section of the heat exchanger.
In an embodiment, the system comprises the thermoelectric cooler. The thermoelectric cooler
module is defined by a plurality of chips being integrally embedded on the electrically
conductive base, and wherein each of the plurality of chips defined with the heating section
and the cooling section, on supplying electric charge to the electrically conductive base.
In an embodiment, the system comprises the cooling source. The cooling source comprising a
first housing. The cooling source further comprises a second housing. The second housing is
enclosed within the first housing. The second housing is adapted to contain a cooling medium.
The cooling source further comprises an insulation layer disposable between the first housing
and the second housing. The cooling source further comprises a coil disposable in the cooling
medium. The coil is configured to receive the coolant from the cooling section of the heat
exchanger, wherein temperature of the coolant in the coil is regulated by the cooling medium.
In an embodiment, the cooling source is defined by an inlet drain fluidly connecting the first
housing and the second housing. The inlet drain is configured to receive and channelize the
cooling medium into the second housing. The cooling source is further defined by an outlet
drain to selectively discharge the cooling medium from the second housing.
In an embodiment, the cooling medium is contained in the cooling source. The cooling medium
is maintained in at least one of a frozen state or in a liquid state.
In an embodiment, the cooling medium is selected from a group selected from at least one of
water, liquid paraffin, ice, and combination thereof.
In an embodiment, the coolant through the cooling section of the heat exchanger, the cooling
source, the valve circuit, and the electric component is pumped by a first pump.
In an embodiment, the coolant goes through the heating section of the heat exchanger and the
radiator is pumped by a second pump.
The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In
addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects,
embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the
following detailed description.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
The novel features and characteristics of the disclosure are set forth in the appended claims.
The disclosure itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives, and
advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description
of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying figures. One
or more embodiments are now described, by way of example only, with reference to the
accompanying figures wherein like reference numerals represent like elements and in which:
Figure 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of a thermal management system, in accordance with
an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figures 2a and 2b illustrate a schematic diagram of a heat exchanger of the thermal
management system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 3a illustrates a cooling source of the thermal management system, in accordance with
an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 3b illustrates an isometric view of a cooling source of the thermal management system,
in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 3c illustrates an exploded view of a cooling source of the thermal management system,
in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 4 illustrates a schematic diagram of a thermal management system with radiator, in
accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 4a illustrates the plot between a water temperature and time for an experimental set-up
employing TEC and heat pipe;
Figure 4b illustrates the plot between a tank temperature and time for an experimental set-up
employing TEC and radiator;
Figure 4c and 4d illustrate the plot between a tank temperature and time for an experimental
set-up employing TEC and radiator with different parameters;
Figure 5 illustrates a schematic diagram of a thermal management system employing 3-way
valve, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
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Figure 6 illustrates a schematic diagram of a thermal management system employing the heat
exchanger coupled with tubes, heat pipes and fins in accordance with an embodiment of the
present disclosure;
Figures 7a-7d illustrate various operating modes of the thermal management system, in
accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figures 8a-8d illustrate embodiment of the thermal management system with variable
configuration of valves and pumps, in accordance with an embodiment of the present
disclosure;
Figures 9a-9b and 10a-10b illustrate embodiment of the thermal management system with
variable configuration of radiator and heat exchanger, in accordance with an embodiment of
the present disclosure.
The figures depict embodiments of the disclosure for purposes of illustration only. One skilled
in the art will readily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of
the method, system, device and apparatus illustrated herein may be employed without departing
from the principles of the disclosure described herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
While the embodiments in the disclosure are subject to various modifications and alternative
forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the figures and
will be described below. It should be understood, however that it is not intended to limit the
disclosure to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the disclosure is to cover all
modifications, equivalents, and alternative falling within the scope of the disclosure.
The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, or any other variations thereof used in the disclosure,
are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a device, assembly, mechanism,
system, method that comprises a list of components does not include only those components
but may include other components not expressly listed or inherent to such system, or assembly,
or device. In other words, one or more elements in a system proceeded by “comprises… a”
does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other elements or additional
elements in the system or mechanism.
For better understanding of this present disclosure, reference would now be made to the
embodiment illustrated in the accompanying Figures and description here below, further, in the
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following Figures, the same reference numerals are used to identify the same components in
various views.
While the present disclosure is illustrated in the context of a thermal management system of a
vehicle, however, such thermal management system may be employed in within a housing of
a battery module for regulating temperature. The vehicle may be referred to commercial
vehicles, passenger vehicles, heavy motor vehicles, light motor vehicles and the like, which
may be interchangeably used throughout the description.
Embodiments of the disclosure are described in the following paragraphs with references to
Figures 1 and 10b. In the figures, the same element or elements which have same functions are
indicated by the same reference signs. It is to be noted that, the vehicle is not illustrated in the
figures for the purpose of simplicity
In the present disclosure, thermal management system (100) of a vehicle is disclosed.
Figure 1 illustrates a block diagram depicting a thermal management system (100) of a vehicle
in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The thermal management system
(100) comprises a heat exchanger (1), fluidly coupled to the electric component (2). The heat
exchanger (1) is defined by a heating section (1a) and a cooling section (1b). The heat
exchanger (1) is a thermoelectric cooler module. A thermoelectric cooler module is operable
by controlled supply of an electric current to create a temperature difference between two or
more sides of said thermoelectric cooler module. When the electric current is adapted to flow
through the module, the thermoelectric cooler module is configured to allow one side to operate
at a cooler temperature and another side to operate at a higher temperature. Here, the
temperature is adjustable based on requirements and/or ambient temperature of surrounding air
of the vehicle. The heat exchanger (1) is configured to selectively regulate temperature of the
electric component, where such electric component (2) may be including but not limited to a
battery module, a control module, sensor module, a display module, and among other electric
and/or electronic components (2) associated with the vehicle and being fluidly connectable to
the system (100).
The system (100) further comprises a cooling source (3) which is fluidly connectable between
the cooling section (1b) of the heat exchanger (1) and the electrical component (2). The system
(100) includes a supply tank in order to selectively supply the coolant to the radiator (5) and/or
the cooling source (3) to selectively maintain a predefined volume of the coolant therein. The
system (100) further comprises a valve circuit (V) configured to selectively regulate flow of a
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coolant between the cooling section (1b) of the heat exchanger (1), the cooling source (3), and
the electrical component (2). The valve circuit (V) comprises a first valve (V1), configured to
selectively regulate flow of the coolant between an outlet (6a) of the cooling section (1b) of the
heat exchanger (1), an inlet (6b) of the cooling source (3) and the electric component (2). The
valve circuit further comprises a second valve (V2), configured to selectively regulate flow of
the coolant between an inlet (6b) of the cooling section (1b) of the heat exchanger (1), an outlet
(6a) of the cooling source (3) and the electric component (2). The valve circuit further
comprises a third valve (V3), configured to selectively regulate flow of the coolant between
the outlet (6a) of the cooling source (3) and the electric component (2). The system (100)
further comprises a control unit (4). The control unit (4) is communicatively coupled with the
heat exchanger (1), the electrical component (2), and the valve circuit. The control unit (4) is
configured to determine the temperature of the electric component (2). The control unit (4) is
further configured to operate the cooling source (3) in response to determined temperature of
the electric component (2). The control unit (4) is further configured to operate the valve circuit
to selectively regulate flow of the coolant from the heat exchanger (1) to the electric component
(2).
Figures 2a and 2b illustrate a schematic diagram of a heat exchanger (1) of the thermal
management system (100), in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The
construction of the heat exchanger (1) in Figure 2a depicts the cooling portion of the heat
exchanger (1) being at a centre, while Figure 2b depicts the cooling portion of the heat
exchanger (1) being at a periphery. The structural adjustment in configuration of the heat
exchanger (1) have been done according to the requirements of heating or cooling of the battery
module.
The heat exchanger (1) is a thermoelectric cooler module. The heat exchanger (1) is defined by
the heating section (1a) and the cooling section (1b) formed on an electrically conductive base,
and wherein the electrically conductive base being operable by the control unit (4) to
selectively supply electric charge to heat the coolant at the heating section (1a) of the heat
exchanger (1) and cool the coolant at the cooling section (1b) of the heat exchanger (1). The
thermoelectric cooler module is defined by a plurality of chips being integrally embedded on
the electrically conductive base, and wherein each of the plurality of chips defined with the
heating section (1a) and the cooling section (1b), on supplying electric charge to the electrically
conductive base.
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Figure 3a, 3b and 3c illustrate the cooling source (3). The cooling source (3) comprises a first
housing (3a). The cooling source (3) further comprises a second housing (3b). The second
housing (3b) is enclosed within the first housing (3a). The second housing (3b) is adapted to
contain a cooling medium. The cooling source (3) further comprises an insulation layer (3c)
disposable between the first housing (3a) and the second housing (3b). The cooling source (3)
further comprises a coil (3d) disposable in the cooling medium. The coil (3d) is configured to
receive the coolant from the cooling section (1b) of the heat exchanger (1), wherein temperature
of the coolant in the coil (3d) is regulated by the cooling medium. The cooling source (3) is
defined by an inlet drain (3e) fluidly connecting the first housing (3a) and the second housing
(3b). The inlet drain (3e) is configured to receive and channelize the cooling medium into the
second housing (3b). The cooling source (3) is further defined by an outlet drain (3f) to
selectively discharge the cooling medium from the second housing (3b). The cooling medium
is contained in the cooling source (3). The cooling medium is maintained in at least one of a
frozen state or in a liquid state. The cooling medium is selected from a group selected from at
least one of water, liquid paraffin, ice, and combination thereof. The system (100) wherein the
coolant goes through the cooling section (1b) of the heat exchanger (1), the cooling source (3),
the valve circuit, and the electric component (2) is pumped by a first pump (P1). The system
(100) wherein the coolant goes through the heating section (1a) of the heat exchanger (1) and
the radiator (5) is pumped by a second pump (P2).
Figure 4 illustrates a block diagram depicting a thermal management system (100) of a vehicle
in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The heat exchanger (1) in Figure
4 may also be associated with a blower unit such as a radiator (5) to provide substantially
similar cooling performance. The thermoelectric cooler module may be employed with a fan
or may be externally coupled to the fan for regulating heat. The radiator (5) is fluidly
connectable to the heating section (1a) of the heat exchanger (1), configured to selectively
regulate temperature of the coolant flowing through the heat exchanger (1). The system (100)
further comprises a cooling source (3) fluidly connectable between the cooling section (1b) of
the heat exchanger (1) and the electrical component (2). The system (100) further comprises a
valve circuit (V) configured to selectively regulate flow of a coolant between the cooling
section (1b) of the heat exchanger (1), the cooling source (3), and the electrical component (2).
The valve circuit comprises a first valve (V1), configured to selectively regulate flow of the
coolant between an outlet (6a) of the cooling section (1b) of the heat exchanger (1), an inlet
(6b) of the cooling source (3) and the electric component (2). The valve circuit (V) further
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comprises a second valve (V2), configured to selectively regulate flow of the coolant between
an inlet (6b) of the cooling section (1b) of the heat exchanger (1), an outlet (6a) of the cooling
source (3) and the electric component (2). The valve circuit (V) further comprises a third valve
(V3), configured to selectively regulate flow of the coolant between the outlet (6a) of the
cooling source (3) and the electric component (2). The system (100) further comprises a control
unit (4). The control unit (4) is communicatively coupled with the heat exchanger (1), the
electrical component (2), and the valve circuit. The control unit (4) is configured to determine
the temperature of the electric component (2). The control unit (4) is further configured to
operate the cooling source (3) in response to determined temperature of the electric component
(2). The control unit (4) is further configured to operate the valve circuit (V) to selectively
regulate flow of the coolant from the heat exchanger (1) to the electric component (2).
In an embodiment, for selective operation of the thermal management system (100) and
regulating temperature of the at least one battery module, various configuration of the valves
may be employed which may reduce space constraints and may also minimize requirement of
hoses for fluid connection between components of the thermal management system (100) in
the present disclosure. Also, based on type of the valve being employed, number of pumps
required for selectively channelizing the coolant between the heat exchanger (1), the at least
one battery module and the coolant may be regulated. Referring to Figure 5, for operating in
the plurality of modes of the thermal management system (100), the first valve (V1) and the
second valve (V2) may be operated as a 3-way valve, which may eliminate requirement of the
third valve (V3).
Figure 6 illustrates another configuration of the thermal management system (100) of a vehicle
in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. As seen in Figure 6, the heat
exchanger (1) may be coupled with tubes and heat pipes to redirect air blown by the radiator
(5) to provide substantially enhanced cooling performance. The fins are also provided to
enhance the heat transfer to the ambient.
Referring back to Figure 1, the thermal management system (100) may be operated in various
modes as depicted in Figures 7a to 7d. Figure 7a depicts the thermal management system (100)
being operated in a battery charging mode, where the at least one battery module may not be
cooled by the coolant, rather the coolant in the cooling source (3) may be cooled by
channelizing the coolant the cold portion of the heat exchanger (1) to the cooling source (3).
For such operation, the first valve (V1) and the second valve (V2) may be closed, and the third
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valve (V3) may be open by the control unit (4), to circulate the coolant from the cold portion
of the heat exchanger (1) to the cooling source (3). Further, the thermal management system
(100) is operable in various states when the first valve (V1) may be open by the control unit
(4) to channelize the coolant from the cold portion of the heat exchanger (1) to the at least one
battery module, as seen in Figure 7b. Some of such various states may include battery charging
and battery cooling state, recirculation of the coolant state, discharging state of the at least one
battery module when the heat exchanger (1) may be cooled, and charging/discharging state of
the at least one battery module when the heat exchanger (1) may be heated. Referring to Figure
7c, the thermal management system (100) may be employed when the at least one battery
module may be required to be cooled by the heat exchanger (1). For such operation, the second
valve (V2) may be opened by the control unit (4) and selectively pumping the coolant through
the second pump (P2) to draw the coolant from the cold portion of the heat exchanger (1). Such
operation may also be performed during running state of the vehicle. Figure 7d refers to the
vehicle being in a parked condition, where the coolant from the heat exchanger (1) or the
cooling source (3) may be cut-off from supply, as cooling of the at least one battery module
may not be necessary. Such state of the thermal management system (100) may also be referred
to as thermal insulation state.
In an embodiment, for selective operation of the thermal management system (100) and
regulating temperature of the at least one battery module, various configuration of the valves
may be employed which may reduce space constraints and may also minimize requirement of
hoses for fluid connection between components of the thermal management system (100) in
the present disclosure. Also, based on type of the valve being employed, number of pumps
required for selectively channelizing the coolant between the heat exchanger (1), the at least
one battery module and the coolant may be regulated. For instance, in Figure 8a, the third valve
(V3) of Figures 7a-7d may be considered to be eliminated, while the first valve (V1) and the
second valve (V2) may be considered to a 3-way valve and 4-way valve, respectively. Also, in
Figure 8b, interaction between the hot portion of the heat exchanger (1) and the radiator (5)
along with interaction between the cold portion of the heat exchanger (1) with the at least one
battery module may be regulated by a fourth valve (V4), which is depicted to be a 4-way valve.
Such configuration of the fourth valve (V4) may also allow reversing of flow of the coolant so
that, in case of requirement, at least one battery module may be heated by supplying the coolant
being channelized from the hot portion of the heat exchanger (1). Additionally, Figure 8c
depicts that the third valve (V3) may be compensated by interchanging position of the first
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valve (V1) with the fourth valve (V4), and the second valve (V2) with the first valve (V1) of
Figure 8b, where each of the first valve (V1) and the second valve (V2) are 4-way valves. Also,
referring to Figure 8d, alternatively, for continuous supply of the coolant from the cooling
source (3), the first valve (V1) may be 4-way valve, which may communicatively couple the
heat exchanger (1) with the at least one battery module via the second pump (P2).
In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the radiator (5) may be replaced by other elements,
where one of such elements may be a chassis (7a) and a cool tube (7b) being provided on the
chassis (7a), as seen in Figure 9a. Such configuration may allow the chassis (7a) to act as the
heat transfer medium in the thermal management system (100). Also, in another embodiment,
the radiator (5) and the heat exchanger (1) may be associated with a refrigeration cycle, where
the heat exchanger (1) may be in fluid communication with a chiller (8a) fluidly coupled with
the at least one battery module, as seen in Figure 9b. Due to such configuration, the thermal
management system (100) may be configured to cool the at least one battery module through a
refrigerant in the refrigeration cycle flowing through a compressor (8b), a condenser (8c) and
a throttle valve (V4). On the other hand, the at least one battery module may be cooled by the
cooling source (3) when a demand arises for excessive cooling and/or when temperature of the
refrigerant increases.
In an embodiment, the heat exchanger (1) of the thermal management system (100) may be
replaced by a heat sink as depicted in Figures 10 and 10b. The heat sinks may be associated
with a fan, configured to blow air and cool the coolant by way of convection. Moreover, the
heat sink may also include multiple water boxes, which may be coupled by way of the valve-
4, which is 3-way valve, as seen in Figure 10b.
Experimental Analysis:
Experiments have been performed based on the system configuration of the thermal
management system as illustrated in the Figure 1 and Figure 4. It is to be understood that the
experimentation is not limited to the mentioned system configuration and modifications can be
appropriately made thereto within the spirit and scope of the invention. The first experiment is
performed based on the system configuration of a thermal management system as illustrated in
the Figure 1. Figure 4a illustrates the plot between the coolant water temperature and time. The
cooling source comprises 700 ml of water as coolant. The coolant water is circulated in the
system with the help of the valves. The amount of the coolant is regulated by the control unit
based on the requirements. Referring to Figure 4a, it is observed that the coolant water
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temperature decreases as it exchanges heat with the thermoelectric module and after some time,
thermal equilibrium exists between the thermoelectric module and the coolant water as the
curve flattens after considerable amount of the time.
The second experiment is performed based on the system configuration of a thermal
management system as illustrated in the Figure 4. Figure 4b illustrates the plot between a tank,
cold block, hot block temperature and time. The cooling medium inside the cooling source is
selected from a group selected from at least one of water, liquid paraffin, ice, and combination
thereof. Based on the requirement of the system, one of the fluids among them is selected and
the coolant is circulated throughout the system with the help of the valves and the control unit.
As the heat is liberated from the electric component, the transfer of heat takes place between
the thermoelectric module and the coolant. The coolant is supplied to the thermal management
system from the tank. Referring to Figure 4b, it can be observed that with the passage of time,
tank temperature and cold block temperature decrease and after some time, they almost overlap
each other, and hot block temperature increases first and then the curve flattens out after some
time since the steady state has been achieved.
The third experiment is also performed based on the configuration of a thermal management
system as illustrated in Figure 4. The experiment is performed at an ambient temperature of
29°C for a time period of 2.5 hours. The results obtained from experiments and simulations are
illustrated in Figure 4c and 4d.
While few embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it is to be
understood that the invention is not limited to the above embodiments and modifications may
be appropriately made thereto within the spirit and scope of the invention.
While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the particular features of this invention,
it will be appreciated that various modifications can be made, and that many changes can be
made in the preferred embodiments without departing from the principles of the invention.
These and other modifications in the nature of the invention or the preferred embodiments will
be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein, whereby it is to be distinctly
understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of
the invention and not as a limitation.
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EQUIVALENTS
With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singular terms herein, those having
skill in the art can translate from the plural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural
as is appropriate to the context and/or application. The various singular/plural permutations
may be expressly set forth herein for sake of clarity.
It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially
in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as “open”
terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” the
term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be
interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.). It will be further understood by those within
the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent
will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is
present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain
usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim
recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the
introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular
claim containing such introduced claim recitation to inventions containing only one such
recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at
least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be
interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite
articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an
introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such
recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare
recitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations,
or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to
“at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense
one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one
of A, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C
alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together,
etc.). In those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is
used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would
understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, or C” would include but
not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C
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together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by
those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more
alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to
contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both
terms. For example, the phrase “A or B” will be understood to include the possibilities of “A”
or “B” or “A and B.”
In addition, where features or aspects of the disclosure are described in terms of Markush
groups, those skilled in the art will recognize that the disclosure is also thereby described in
terms of any individual member or subgroup of members of the Markush group.
While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and
embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The various aspects and embodiments
disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the
true scope being indicated by the following claims.
REFERENCE NUMERALS
Particulars Referral numeral
Heat exchanger 1
Heating section 1a
Cooling section 1b
Electrical component 2
Cooling source 3
First housing 3a
Second housing 3b
Insulation layer 3c
Coil 3d
Inlet drain 3e
Outlet drain 3f
Control unit 4
Radiator 5
Outlet of the cooling source 6a
Inlet of the cooling source 6b
Chassis 7a
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Cool tube 7b
Chiller HX 8a
Compressor 8b
Condenser 8c
System 100
Valve circuit V
First valve V1
Second valve V2
Third valve V3
Fourth valve V4
First pump P1
Second pump P2
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We claim:
1. A thermal management system (100) for an electric component of a vehicle, the system
(100) comprising:
a heat exchanger (1), fluidly coupled to the electric component (2), the heat
exchanger (1) being defined by a heating section (1a) and a cooling section (1b);
a cooling source (3) fluidly connectable between the cooling section (1b) of the
heat exchanger (1) and the electrical component (2);
a valve circuit (V) configured to selectively regulate flow of a coolant between
the cooling section (1b) of the heat exchanger (1), the cooling source (3), and the
electrical component (2), the valve circuit (V) comprising:
a first valve (V1), configured to selectively regulate flow of the coolant
between an outlet (6a) of the cooling section (1b) of the heat exchanger (1), an inlet
(6b) of the cooling source (3) and the electric component (2);
a second valve (V2), configured to selectively regulate flow of the
coolant between an inlet (6b) of the cooling section (1b) of the heat exchanger (1), an
outlet (6a) of the cooling source (3) and the electric component (2); and
a third valve (V3), configured to selectively regulate flow of the coolant
between the outlet (6a) of the cooling source (3) and the electric component (2); and
a control unit (4), communicatively coupled with the heat exchanger (1), the
electrical component (2) and the valve circuit (V), the control unit (4) configured to:
determine temperature of the electric component (2);
operate the cooling source (3) in response to determined temperature of
the electric component (2); and
operate the valve circuit (V) to selectively regulate flow of the coolant
from the heat exchanger (1) to the electric component (2).
2. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, comprises a radiator (5) fluidly connectable to
the heating section (1a) of the heat exchanger (1), configured to selectively regulate
temperature of the coolant flowing through the heat exchanger (1).
3. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger (1) is a
thermoelectric cooler module being defined by the heating section (1a) and the cooling
section (1b) formed on an electrically conductive base, and wherein the electrically
conductive base being operable by the control unit (4) to selectively supply electric
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charge to heat the coolant at the heating section (1a) of the heat exchanger (1) and cool
the coolant at the cooling section (1b) of the heat exchanger (1).
4. The system (100) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the thermoelectric cooler module is
defined by a plurality of chips being integrally embedded on the electrically conductive
base, and wherein each of the plurality of chips defined with the heating section (1a)
and the cooling section (1b), on supplying electric charge to the electrically conductive
base.
5. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cooling source (3) comprising:
a first housing (3a);
a second housing (3b) being enclosed within the first housing (3a), the second
housing (3b) adapted to contain a cooling medium;
an insulation layer (3c) disposable between the first housing (3a) and the second
housing (3b); and
a coil (3d) disposable in the cooling medium, the coil (3d) being configured to
receive the coolant from the cooling section (1b) of the heat exchanger (1), wherein
temperature of the coolant in the coil (3d) is regulated by the cooling medium.
6. The system (100) as claimed in claim 5, wherein the cooling source (3) is defined by:
an inlet drain (3e) fluidly connecting the first housing (3a) and the second
housing (3b), the inlet drain (3e) configured to receive and channelize the cooling
medium into the second housing (3b); and
an outlet drain (3f) to selectively discharge the cooling medium from the second
housing (3b).
7. The system (100) as claimed in claim 5, wherein the cooling medium being contained
in the cooling source (3) is maintained in at least one of a frozen state or in a liquid
state.
8. The system (100) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the cooling medium is selected from
a group selected from at least one of water, liquid paraffin, ice, and combination thereof.
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9. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the coolant through the cooling section
(1b) of the heat exchanger (1), the cooling source (3), the valve circuit (V), and the
electric component (2) is pumped by a first pump (P1).
10. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the coolant through the heating section
(1a) of the heat exchanger (1) and the radiator (5) is pumped by a second pump (P2).