Thermal management system with dual mode coolant loops

US8402776B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Tesla Motors, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Vincent George Johnston · Rue de l'Église, US
• Andrew David Baglino · San Francisco, US
• Scott Ira Kohn · Menlo Park, US
• Vineet Haresh Mehta · Boston, US
• Christopher Gadda · Palo Alto, US
• Curt Raymond O'Donnell · Sunnyvale, US
• Wulfer Adrijan de Bruijn · Redwood City, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 23, 2012
• Grant date: Mar 26, 2013
• Expiry date: Mar 23, 2032

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02T90/16
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

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.