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US 11,230,384 B2Granted
Vehicle cabin thermal management system and method
AssigneeJoby Aero, Inc.
InventorsRobert Lynn, Ernest Villanueva, Nathaniel Martin, JoeBen Bevirt, Jonathan Wagner, Kevin Witt, Brian Uznanski, Austin Newman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The system can include an on-board thermal management subsystem. The system 100 can optionally include an off-board (extravehicular) infrastructure subsystem. The on-board thermal management subsystem can include: a battery pack, one or more fluid loops, and an air manifold. The system 100 can additionally or alternatively include any other suitable components.
Claims19
A system comprising:
- an electric aircraft comprising a cabin defining an interior;
- a plurality of battery cells on-board the electric aircraft;
- a refrigeration system comprising a refrigerant;
- a first fluid loop which is fluidly isolated form the refrigeration system, comprising:
- a working fluid within the first fluid loop;
- a first heat exchanger on-board the electric aircraft, the first heat exchanger configured to transfer heat between the interior of the cabin and the working fluid;
- a condenser thermally coupling the working fluid to the refrigerant and configured to transfer thermal energy from the refrigerant to the working fluid, the condenser selectively fluidly coupled to the first heat exchanger;
- a second heat exchanger thermally coupled to the plurality of battery cells;
- an evaporator thermally coupling the working fluid to the refrigerant and configured to transfer thermal energy from the working fluid to the refrigerant, the evaporator selectively fluidly coupled to the second heat exchanger;
- a first liquid pump configured to circulate the working fluid within the first fluid loop in a liquid state,
- wherein the first fluid loop is configured such that the working fluid flows through the first heat exchanger, the condenser, the second heat exchanger, and the evaporator in the liquid state.
8 more elements
A method comprising:
- flying the electric aircraft, the electric aircraft comprising:
- a cabin and a battery pack;
- venting air out of the cabin through an exhaust nozzle, the venting comprising using a fan positioned at the exhaust nozzle to increase at least one of:
- air pressure at the exhaust nozzle or velocity at the exhaust nozzle;
- cooling the cabin while flying the electric aircraft, comprising:
- transferring, at a first heat exchanger, thermal energy between a first working fluid and the air within the cabin;
- at a second heat exchanger, transferring the thermal energy from the first working fluid to a second working fluid, the second working fluid in thermal communication with the battery pack;
- and
- storing the first portion of thermal energy within a thermal mass of the battery pack.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.