Thermal management systems for electric vehicle platforms
Vehicle platforms and thermal management systems, subsystems, and components for use therewith are described. Thermal management architectures and systems incorporate thermal management cycles for one or more of drive train, energy storage and passenger cabin systems. Thermal manage architectures are provided such that the flow of heating and cooling fluids through such thermal management cycles may be combined in various configurations. Systems having thermal management cycles for drive train (e.g., motor, transmission, etc.) and energy storage (e.g., battery) that may be operated through a combined heating/cooling fluid loop are also provided. Embodiments are also directed to systems having thermal management cycles for the HVAC that is fluidly isolated, but thermally coupled to one or both of the drivetrain and energy storage components. Heating/cooling loops for these thermal management cycles may be functionally linked through one or more valves such that the fluid flow through such cycles may be combined together, isolated from each other or mixed in various desired configurations.
1 . An integrated thermal management system comprising:
a drivetrain cooling loop comprising a drivetrain fluid conduit fluidly interconnecting at least a first cooling element and one or more heat producing drivetrain components such that drivetrain coolant fluid flows therebetween;
an energy storage system heating and cooling loop comprising an energy storage fluid conduit fluidly interconnecting one or more energy storage elements such that energy storage coolant fluid flows therebetween;
a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) heating and cooling loop comprising an HVAC fluid conduit fluidly interconnecting at least a compressor, a condenser, a first expansion valve interconnected with an evaporator, and a second expansion valve interconnected with a chiller such that a HVAC refrigerant may flow therebetween, wherein the chiller is disposed in thermal communication with the energy storage fluid conduit;
a heater core disposed in thermal communication with the evaporator;
a mode valve fluidly interconnecting the drivetrain fluid conduit and energy storage fluid conduit such that drivetrain coolant fluid and/or energy storage coolant fluid may be directed between the drivetrain cooling loop and energy storage system heating and cooling loop; and
a blend valve fluidly interconnecting the drivetrain fluid conduit, the heater core, the first cooling element, and a bypass conduit configured to bypass the first cooling element and the heater core,
wherein the second expansion valve is configured such that thermal cooling from the HVAC heating and cooling loop is transferred into the energy storage coolant fluid through the chiller, and
wherein the blend valve is configured to perform at least one of:
transfer heat waste from the drivetrain cooling loop into the energy storage coolant fluid through the bypass conduit, and/or
transfer heat waste from the drivetrain cooling loop or the energy storage system heating and cooling loop into the heater core.
2 . The integrated thermal management system of claim 1 , wherein the first cooling element is a radiator.
3 . The integrated thermal management system of claim 1 , further comprising at least a drivetrain pump in fluid communication with the drivetrain fluid conduit, and an energy storage pump in fluid communication with the energy storage fluid conduit.
4 . The integrated thermal management system of claim 1 , wherein the blend valve is configured to transfer all expelled waste heat from the drivetrain cooling loop into the energy storage coolant fluid through the bypass conduit.
5 . The integrated thermal management system of claim 1 , wherein the blend valve is configured to transfer all expelled waste heat from the drivetrain cooling loop into the HVAC heating and cooling loop through the heater core.
6 . The integrated thermal management system of claim 1 , wherein the blend valve is configured to transfer all expelled waste heat from the drivetrain cooling loop into the first cooling element.
7 . The integrated thermal management system of claim 1 , wherein the blend valve outputs the drivetrain coolant fluid to two or more of the heater core; the first cooling element; and the bypass conduit.
8 . The integrated thermal management system of claim 1 , wherein the blend valve is configured to transfer heat waste from the drivetrain cooling loop and the energy storage system heating and cooling loop into the heater core.
9 . An electric vehicle comprising:
a vehicle cabin; and
the integrated thermal management system of claim 1 ,
wherein the heater core and the evaporator are in thermal connection with the vehicle cabin.