Battery & Electrification Technology - May/June 2024 - 20

Thermal Management
should be mounted in a place where the
heatsink is cooled by the airstream.
If adding a heatsink is not enough, a cold
plate solution with liquid cooling would be
the next step. A cold plate offers high flexibility,
can be integrated into an existing
controlled cooling system, and functions in
a wide range of ambient environmental
conditions. It also can be applied where a
cooling circuit already exists, although
there are some higher costs and design
efforts required with this solution.
A project Deutronic executed for an industrial
street sweeper manufacturer required
a relocation. The converters were
initially installed on the chassis between
the steering axle and first drive axle. Due
to the chassis heat capacity, contact cooling
was the choice as the converters were
mounted directly on the chassis.
Later, after the converters were installed,
In a recent EV thermal-management partnership, Modine and Bosch Rexroth will collaborate
on thermal management for off-highway vehicles. Highlighted components represent Modine
EVantage (green), which is a liquid-cooled thermal-management
Rexroth's eLION portfolio (blue). (Image: Bosch Rexroth AG)
system inside Bosch
the manufacturer decided to use that space
for other components. The converters had
to be moved and installed in a more compact
volume between the cab and the body,
therefore preventing contact cooling. For
this reason, cooling via heatsinks was initially
considered in a " floating " manner.
However, since no fan could provide
the necessary air circulation in the installation
space, it was ultimately decided to
Modine Targets Off-Highway EVs with 'Plug-and-Play' BTMS
Deutronic is not alone in developing and integrating thermal-management
solutions to meet the specific demands of off-highway EVs.
Modine, for example, in 2023 launched a new edition of its EVantage
battery thermal-management system with a liquid-cooled condenser
(L-CON BTMS) that combines proprietary heat-exchanger technology
with smart controls and electronics. The system is designed to withstand
harsh environments found in mining, construction, agriculture,
specialty and transportation applications, according to Mike Kis,
Director of Advanced Thermal Systems at Modine.
" The L-CON BTMS gives our customers tremendous flexibility
to meet their performance demands and space constraints and
deliver industry-leading reliability for off-highway EVs, " Kis said in
a statement. " EV battery-cooling systems used in particularly dirty
environments have historically been vulnerable to clogging from
debris, and this new design provides significant mitigation. "
Modine's L-CON BTMS features plug-and-play integration and
is adaptable to fit into diverse chassis layouts. It regulates EV
battery temperature using both heating and cooling circuits, and
the liquid-cooled condenser allows the BTMS to be positioned
anywhere on the chassis. Coupled with a master thermal-control
unit running proprietary firmware, the L-CON BTMS can optimize
20
the temperature range for an entire bank of batteries with a
single unit, according to Gina Maria Bonini, VP and General
Manager of Modine's Advanced Thermal Systems.
In January 2024, Bosch Rexroth and Modine announced a partnership
to integrate EVantage thermal-management systems
with Bosch Rexroth's eLion products for electrified off-highway
machinery worldwide. The liquid-cooled thermal management
system from Modine is said to work seamlessly with the eLion
portfolio - including a permanent-magnet synchronous electric
motor, electric inverter, onboard charger, DC-DC converter, power-distribution
unit, high-voltage cables with plugs, and a controller
- to maintain optimal battery temperature, efficiently cool
power electronics and ensure passenger comfort.
Modine also was selected to integrate its EVantage L-CON BTMS
in Komatsu's new 20-ton electric excavators that feature a 123-kW
electric powertrain and a 451-kWh lithium-ion battery pack supplied
by California-based Proterra. Komatsu introduced the PC200LCE-11
and 210LCE-11 as rental machines in the Japanese and European
markets beginning in late 2023. The manufacturer plans to expand
the electric models in Asia, North America, and Australia.
Ryan Gehm, Editor, SAE Media Group
Battery & Electrification Technology, May/June 2024
Name/Shutterstock.com
Battery & Electrification Technology - May/June 2024

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