Phase change material energy storage for electric vehicle thermal management system and method

A method comprising:

• coupling an electric drive unit with a battery system and a power conversion system;
• containing at least one phase change material in an energy storage unit configured to manage thermal energy;
• extending a fluid system through the electric drive unit, the battery system, the power conversion system;
• and the energy storage unit;
• collecting, by the fluid system, heat from the electric drive unit, the battery system and the power conversion system;
• selectively storing the heat in the energy storage unit in the at least one phase change material;
• and
• selectively supplying heat from the energy storage unit to the battery system.

A system comprising:

• a drive system of an aircraft having electric drive unit coupled with a battery system and a power conversion system;
• an energy storage unit containing at least one phase change material and configured to manage thermal energy;
• a cooling unit configured to exchange heat;
• and
• a fluid system extending through the electric drive unit, the battery system, the power conversion system;
• the energy storage unit, and the cooling unit;
• and
• a controller coupled with the fluid system, the controller and the fluid system configured to:
• collect heat from the electric drive unit, the battery system and the power conversion system;
• selectively expel the heat through the cooling system;
• selectively store the heat in the energy storage unit in the at least one phase change material;
• and
• selectively supply heat from the energy storage unit to the battery system.