ELECTRIFIED DRIVE TRAIN HAVING A HEAT EXCHANGER ARRANGEMENT

Abstract

An electrified drive train for a motor vehicle, having a heat generator, includes at least one electrical drive machine, and a heat dissipation circuit which has at least one first heat exchanger and one second heat exchanger for dissipating heat from a cooling circuit which is routed through the heat generator. During operation, a fluid used in the heat dissipation circuit flows through the first heat exchanger and, parallel thereto, through the second heat exchanger.

Claims

1. An electrified drive train for a motor vehicle, comprising: a heat generator, comprising at least one electrical drive machine, and a heat dissipation circuit which has at least one first heat exchanger and one second heat exchanger for dissipating heat from a cooling circuit which is routed through the heat generator, wherein, during operation, a fluid used in the heat dissipation circuit flows through the first heat exchanger and, parallel thereto, through the second heat exchanger.

2. The electrified drive train according to claim 1, wherein a volume flow of the heat dissipation circuit is divided at a node into a first partial volume flow, which is routed through the first heat exchanger, and into a second partial volume flow, which is routed through the second heat exchanger.

3. The electrified drive train according to claim 2, wherein the heat dissipation circuit has a hydraulic resistance by which a distribution of the volume flow to the first partial volume flow and the second partial volume flow can be adjusted.

4. The electrified drive train according to claim 3, wherein the hydraulic resistance is designed as a passive control element.

5. The electrified drive train according to claim 3, wherein the hydraulic resistance is designed as an active control element.

6. The electrified drive train according to claim 4, wherein the control element is designed as a seat, sieve or rotary slide valve.

7. The electrified drive train according to claim 2, further comprising, two electrical drive machines, each having a power electronics and an electric motor, wherein a heat exchanger for the power electronics is arranged upstream of the node in the volume flow.

8. The electrified drive train according to claim 2, further comprising: two electrical drive machines, each having a power electronics and an electric motor, wherein a heat exchanger for one power electronics is arranged after the node in the first partial volume flow and a heat exchanger for the other power electronics is arranged after the node in the second partial volume flow.

9. The electrified drive train according to claim 7, wherein the heat exchanger for the power electronics is arranged upstream of the heat exchanger for the electric motor in the flow direction of the fluid.

10. An electric vehicle comprising: an electrified drive train having a heat generator, comprising at least one electrical drive machine, and a heat dissipation circuit which has at least one first heat exchanger and one second heat exchanger for dissipating heat from a cooling circuit which is routed through the heat generator, wherein, during operation, a fluid used in the heat dissipation circuit flows through the first heat exchanger and, parallel thereto, through the second heat exchanger.

11. An electrified drive train for a motor vehicle, comprising: a heat generator, comprising two electrical drive machines each having a power electronics and an electric motor; and a heat dissipation circuit having a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger arranged in parallel with each other and configured for dissipating heat from a cooling circuit which is routed through the heat generator, wherein a volume flow of the heat dissipation circuit is divided at a node into a first partial volume flow routed through the first heat exchanger, and into a second partial volume flow routed through the second heat exchanger.

12. The electrified drive train according to claim 11, wherein a heat exchanger for the power electronics of the two electrical drive machines is arranged upstream of the node in the volume flow.

13. The electrified drive train according to claim 12, wherein the heat exchanger for the power electronics is arranged upstream of a heat exchanger for the electric motor in the flow direction of fluid.

14. The electrified drive train according to claim 11, wherein a heat exchanger for one power electronics is arranged after the node in the first partial volume flow and a heat exchanger for the other power electronics is arranged after the node in the second partial volume flow.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] The disclosure is explained below with the aid of drawings. In the figures:

[0032] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a part of a cooling circuit according to the disclosure in a first embodiment,

[0033] FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of another part of the cooling circuit according to the disclosure,

[0034] FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of a heat dissipation circuit according to the disclosure in a first embodiment,

[0035] FIG. 4 shows a schematic representation of a heat dissipation circuit according to the disclosure in a second embodiment

[0036] FIG. 5 shows a schematic representation of a heat dissipation circuit according to the disclosure in a third embodiment,

[0037] FIG. 6 shows a schematic representation of an exemplary heat dissipation circuit, and

[0038] FIG. 7 shows an exemplary basic configuration of a cooling system having a cooling circuit and a heat dissipation circuit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] The figures are only schematic in nature and serve only for understanding the disclosure. The same elements are provided with the same reference symbols. The features of the individual embodiments can be interchanged.

[0040] FIG. 1 schematically shows a first part of a drive train 1 according to the disclosure for a motor vehicle, in particular an electric vehicle. The drive train 1 is electrified. The drive train 1 has a heat generator 2. The heat generator 2 comprises at least one electrical drive machine 3. The drive train 1 has a cooling circuit 4 that runs through the electrical drive machine 3. The cooling circuit 4 has a heat exchanger 5 for dissipating heat from the cooling circuit 4.

[0041] According to the disclosure, the heat exchanger 5 in the cooling circuit 4 is arranged downstream of the heat generator 2 to be cooled in the direction of flow of the fluid used in the cooling circuit 4, in particular oil. In the cooling circuit 4 shown in FIG. 1, the heat exchanger 5 is arranged downstream of the electrical drive machine 3. As a result, a large part of the heat generated by the electrical drive machine 3 can be used as waste heat for heating a passenger compartment.

[0042] The drive train 1 also has one or more secondary units. A secondary unit can be power electronics 6 (see FIG. 2), for example. A secondary unit can be a first clutch 7 or a second clutch 8, for example. A secondary unit can also be a transmission 9, for example. The drive train 1 therefore generally has multiple heat generators 2 to be cooled. According to the disclosure, the heat exchanger 5 is arranged in particular downstream of the heat generator 2 to be cooled with the greatest heat generation, such as the drive machine 3. In addition, the heat exchanger 5 can be arranged in front of, in particular directly in front of, the heat generators 2 to be cooled, apart from the heat generator 2 with the greatest heat generation, i.e., the drive machine 3 here. As a result, sufficient cooling energy can be made available to the other heat generators 2.

[0043] In the illustrated embodiment, a volume flow 10 of the cooling circuit 4 is divided into partial volume flows that run parallel to one another. The oil is thus sucked in from an oil sump 11, preferably via a suction filter 12, by a cooling pump 13. Then the oil of the volume flow 10 is conveyed through the drive machine 3 by the cooling oil pump 13. In the direction of flow downstream, the heat exchanger 5 is flooded. The volume flow 10 is divided downstream. A first partial volume flow 14 branches off from the volume flow 10 at a first node 15, which has a lower flow rate than the volume flow 10. Downstream, the volume flow is divided at a second node 16 into a second partial volume flow 17 and a third partial volume flow 18. The first partial volume flow 17 can be designed for cooling the first clutch 7 and/or the second clutch 8, for example. The first partial volume flow 17 can be designed for cooling the transmission 9, for example. Preferably, the throughflow of the first partial volume flow 14 and the throughflow of the second partial volume flow 17 and the third partial volume flow 18 together are essentially the same magnitude.

[0044] In the volume flow 10, a hydraulic resistance 19 is arranged to adjust the flow of the partial volume flows. In the embodiment shown, a hydraulic resistance 19 is arranged in each of the three partial volume flows 14, 17, 18. In the embodiment shown, the hydraulic resistance 19 is designed as a passive control element 20. The hydraulic resistance 19 can also be designed as an active control element, even if this is not shown in FIG. 1.

[0045] According to the disclosure, the drive train 1 thus has the cooling circuit 4 which runs through the electrical drive machine 3 and in which the heat exchanger 5 of the cooling circuit 4 is arranged downstream of the electrical drive machine 3.

[0046] FIG. 2 shows another part of the drive train 2. FIG. 2 shows a second cooling circuit 21 routed by the power electronics 6. A heat exchanger 22 of the second cooling circuit 21 is arranged downstream of, preferably directly downstream of, the power electronics 6 in the flow direction of the cooling fluid. As a result, the waste heat from the power electronics can be used. In the second cooling circuit 21, the oil is sucked in from the oil sump 11, preferably via a suction filter 23, by a cooling pump 24. The oil is then conveyed through the power electronics 6 by the cooling oil pump 24. In the direction of flow downstream, the heat exchanger 22 is flooded.

[0047] FIGS. 3 to 6 show schematic representations of a heat dissipation circuit 25 of the drive train 1 according to the disclosure. In particular in FIGS. 3 to 5, the structure of the heat dissipation circuit 25 according to an aspect of the disclosure with regard to a heat exchanger arrangement is illustrated.

[0048] The drive train 1 has the heat generator 2 comprising the at least one electrical drive machine 3. In order to be able to dissipate the heat from a cooling circuit routed through the heat generator 2, the drive train 1 has the heat dissipation circuit 25. The heat dissipation circuit 25 has at least a first heat exchanger 26 and a second heat exchanger 27 for dissipating heat from the cooling circuit. The cooling circuit can, for example, be formed by the first cooling circuit 4 and the second cooling circuit 21 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. However, the cooling circuit can also be designed differently. An exemplary configuration of a cooling system having a cooling circuit and a heat dissipation cycle will be explained with reference to FIG. 7.

[0049] According to the disclosure, the heat dissipation circuit 25 is designed such that during operation a fluid used in the heat dissipation circuit 25, such as water, flows through the first heat exchanger 26 and parallel thereto through the second heat exchanger 27. This means that a volume flow 28 of the heat dissipation circuit 25 is at least partially parallelized, i.e., divided into at least two partial volume flows. The volume flow 28 is divided into a first partial volume flow 30 and a second partial volume flow 31 at a node 29. At least one heat exchanger is arranged in each of the partial volume flows 30, 31, so that the heat exchangers are flooded in parallel.

[0050] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the drive train 1 has two electrical drive machines 3. In addition, the drive train 1 has the power electronics 6, the first clutch 7 and/or the second clutch 8 and the transmission 9 for each drive machine 3.

[0051] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the drive train 1 has two heat exchangers for cooling the components of each drive machine 3. A heat exchanger for cooling the power electronics 6 and a heat exchanger for cooling the drive machine 3, the first clutch 7, the second clutch 8 and/or the transmission 9 are designed for each drive machine 3. The first heat exchanger 26 for cooling the (first) drive machine 3 (with the first clutch 7, the second clutch 8 and/or the transmission 9) is arranged in the first partial volume flow 30. The second heat exchanger 27 for cooling the (second) drive machine 3 (with the first clutch 7, the second clutch 8 and/or the transmission 9) is arranged in the second partial volume flow 31. A third heat exchanger 32 for cooling the (first) power electronics 6 is arranged in the first partial volume flow 30. A fourth heat exchanger 33 for cooling the (second) power electronics 6 is arranged in the second partial volume flow 31. The first partial volume flow 30 and the second partial volume flow 31 combine at a second node 34 to form the common volume flow 28. A first hydraulic resistance 35 is arranged in the first partial volume flow 30. The first hydraulic resistance 35 is designed as a passive control element 36. A second hydraulic resistance 37 is arranged in the second partial volume flow 31. The second hydraulic resistance 37 is designed as a passive control element 38. The distribution of the volume flow 28 to the partial volume flows 30, 31 can be set initially by the passive control elements 36, 38.

[0052] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the drive train 1 has a heat exchanger for cooling the (first and second) electronic power units 6 and a heat exchanger for cooling the two drive machines 3. The first heat exchanger 26 for cooling the (first) drive machine 3 (with the first clutch 7, the second clutch 8 and/or the transmission 9) is arranged in the first partial volume flow 30. The second heat exchanger 27 for cooling the (second) drive machine 3 (with the first clutch 7, the second clutch 8 and/or the transmission 9) is arranged in the second partial volume flow 31. The third heat exchanger 32 for cooling the (first and second) electronic power units 6 is arranged in the volume flow 28. The first partial volume flow 30 and the second partial volume flow 31 combine at the second node 34 to form the common volume flow 28. A hydraulic resistance 39 is arranged at the node 29. The hydraulic resistance 39 is designed as an active control element 40. The distribution of the volume flow 28 to the partial volume flows 30, 31 can be regulated continuously by the active control element 40.

[0053] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the drive train 1 has a heat exchanger for cooling the (first and second) electronic power units 6 and a heat exchanger for cooling the two drive machines 3. The first heat exchanger 26 for cooling the (first) drive machine 3 is arranged in the first partial volume flow 30. The second heat exchanger 27 for cooling the (second) drive machine 3 is arranged in the second partial volume flow 31. The third heat exchanger 32 for cooling the (first and second) electronic power units 6 is arranged in the volume flow 28. The first hydraulic resistance 35 embodied as the passive control element 36 is arranged in the first partial volume flow 30. The second hydraulic resistance 37 embodied as the passive control element 38 is arranged in the second partial volume flow 31. The distribution of the volume flow 28 to the partial volume flows 30, 31 can be set initially by the passive control elements 36, 38.

[0054] The embodiment shown in FIG. 6 shows a heat dissipation circuit 41, in which a heat exchanger 42 for the (first and second) power electronics 6, a heat exchanger 43 for cooling the (first) drive machine 3 (with the first clutch 7, the second clutch 8 and/or the transmission 9) and a heat exchanger 44 for cooling the (second) engine 3 (with the first clutch 7, the second clutch 8 and/or the transmission 9) are arranged sequentially, one downstream of the other.

[0055] FIG. 7 shows an exemplary basic structure of a cooling system 45. The cooling system 45 has a heat dissipation circuit/water cooling circuit 46 and multiple cooling circuits/cooling oil circuits 47. The structure of the heat dissipation circuit 46 corresponds to that of the heat dissipation circuit 41 shown in FIG. 6, in which a first heat exchanger 48, a second heat exchanger 49 and a third heat exchanger 50 are arranged in series one downstream of the other. A cooling pump 51 pumps the fluid, here water, through the heat dissipation circuit 46.

[0056] The first heat exchanger 48 exchanges heat with a first cooling circuit 52. In the first cooling circuit 52, fluid, here oil, is conveyed by a cooling pump 53 to the first power electronics 6 and to the second power electronics 6. The second heat exchanger 49 exchanges heat with a second cooling circuit 54. In the second cooling circuit 54, fluid, here oil, is conveyed by a cooling pump 55 to the first drive machine 3, the first clutch 7 and the second clutch 8 of a double clutch and the transmission 9. The third heat exchanger 50 exchanges heat with a third cooling circuit 56. In the third cooling circuit 56, fluid, here oil, is conveyed by a cooling pump 57 to the second drive machine 3, the first clutch 7 and the second clutch 8 of a double clutch and the transmission 9.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0057] 1 Drive train [0058] 2 Heat generator [0059] 3 Drive machine [0060] 4 Cooling circuit [0061] 5 Heat exchanger [0062] 6 Power electronics [0063] 7 First clutch [0064] 8 Second clutch [0065] 9 Transmission [0066] 10 Volume flow [0067] 11 Oil sump [0068] 12 Suction filter [0069] 13 Cooling oil pump [0070] 14 First partial flow [0071] 15 First node [0072] 16 Second node [0073] 17 Second partial flow [0074] 18 Third partial flow [0075] 19 Hydraulic resistance [0076] 20 Passive control element [0077] 21 Second cooling circuit [0078] 22 Heat exchanger [0079] 23 Suction filter [0080] 24 Cooling oil pump [0081] 25 Heat dissipation circuit [0082] 26 First heat exchanger [0083] 27 Second heat exchanger [0084] 28 Volume flow [0085] 29 Node [0086] 30 First partial flow [0087] 31 Second partial flow [0088] 32 Third heat exchanger [0089] 33 Fourth heat exchanger [0090] 34 Second node [0091] 35 Hydraulic resistance [0092] 36 Passive control element [0093] 37 Hydraulic resistance [0094] 38 Passive control element [0095] 39 Hydraulic resistance [0096] 40 Active control element [0097] 41 Heat dissipation circuit [0098] 42 First heat exchanger [0099] 43 Second heat exchanger [0100] 44 Third heat exchanger [0101] 45 Cooling system [0102] 46 Heat dissipation circuit [0103] 47 Cooling circuit [0104] 48 First heat exchanger [0105] 49 Second heat exchanger [0106] 50 Third heat exchanger [0107] 51 Cooling pump [0108] 52 First cooling circuit [0109] 53 Cooling pump [0110] 54 Second cooling circuit [0111] 55 Cooling pump [0112] 56 Third cooling circuit [0113] 57 Cooling pump