Tom Corrigan表示,Prestone 的電動(dong)車(che)技術研發團隊正在研究下一(yi)代低導電性(xing)電動(dong)汽車(che)熱管理液體(ti)。(Prestone)
電動車冷卻(que)液供應(ying)商一直在(zai)測(ce)試(shi)其(qi)產品的電導率水平,以符合中國(guo)新(xin)國(guo)標的規定。(Prestone)
SAE電池標準委員會(hui)主(zhu)席Brian Engle認為,電動(dong)車(che)冷(leng)卻液配方的(de)重大變(bian)化(hua)旨(zhi)在提高(gao)電動(dong)汽車(che)電池的(de)安全性(xing)。(Brian Engle)
Prestone電(dian)動車技術總監Tom Corrigan博士指出,“直到近期,電(dian)動車冷卻液才開始受到重視。”他牽頭的(de)科學家和工程師團(tuan)隊(dui)負責研發面向OEM和終端客(ke)戶的(de)下一代(dai)冷卻液。Corrigan指出,下一代(dai)冷卻液不僅需要能(neng)(neng)夠實現高效(xiao)熱傳遞,還(huan)要與(yu)其(qi)接觸的(de)每個組件(jian)和材料(如聚合物密(mi)封件(jian))兼容(rong),同時具備與(yu)傳統內燃(ran)機防(fang)凍劑相(xiang)同的(de)防(fang)腐蝕性能(neng)(neng)。最重要的(de)是,它必(bi)須能(neng)(neng)有(you)效(xiao)遏制熱失(shi)控等(deng)極端故障蔓延至(zhi)整個電(dian)池(chi)組。
不僅如此,監管壓(ya)力也正在(zai)(zai)逼近。中(zhong)國政府已(yi)經起草了一項針對電(dian)動車冷(leng)(leng)卻(que)液的(de)法(fa)規(GB 29743.2),旨在(zai)(zai)降低(di)冷(leng)(leng)卻(que)液電(dian)導(dao)率(lv)以(yi)減少(shao)電(dian)池火(huo)災。SAE電(dian)池標(biao)準指導(dao)委(wei)員會主席Brian Engle表示,預計該法(fa)規將于(yu)2026年(nian)7月生效,屆(jie)時(shi)所有在(zai)(zai)華銷(xiao)售車輛都必須符合該法(fa)規要求。
Engle解釋道,“該(gai)法規規定,新型冷卻(que)液(ye)(ye)電(dian)導率不得高(gao)于100μS/cm,即使考慮老化效應,其電(dian)導率也不得高(gao)于300μS/cm。這(zhe)(zhe)就(jiu)要(yao)求(qiu)(qiu)未來電(dian)動車(che)冷卻(que)液(ye)(ye)設定明確的使用壽(shou)命,而非無限期使用。這(zhe)(zhe)一要(yao)求(qiu)(qiu)將改變冷卻(que)液(ye)(ye)的配方(fang)。”
請關注有關中國 GB 法規和 SAE 正在進行的電動汽車熱管理液標(biao)準工作的單獨報告(gao)。
Managing the heating and cooling of electric vehicle propulsion systems may seem to be an easy task compared with combustion engines. After all, ICEs run much hotter—the thermal optimum for a gasoline engine is around 100-degC. By comparison, EV batteries normally generate (as a function of current during charge/discharge cycles) a relatively cool 15- to 30-degC. And while motors and power electronics operate hotter, typically 60- to 80-degC, they still run cooler than ICEs.
But among the myriad complexities of EV thermal management are batteries’ dislike for temperature extremes, new cell chemistries, heat-generating high-voltage electrical architectures and 800V fast charging. All are putting greater focus on maintaining stable EV battery thermal performance and safety. Experts note that compatibility among the cell chemistry, hardware, and coolant fluid is the key to a balanced systems solution.
“EV liquid coolant has kind of been an afterthought until recently,” noted Tom Corrigan, Ph.D, director of EV Technology at Prestone Products Corp. His team of scientists and engineers is responsible for developing next-generation thermal-management fluids for OEM and, eventually, consumer customers. Corrigan said that beyond their vital role in enabling efficient heat transfer, fluid formulations must be compatible with every component and material they contact, such as polymeric seals. They also must provide internal corrosion protection (as does traditional ICE antifreeze). And perhaps fluids’ most vital role: Helping to prevent an extreme failure mode, i.e., thermal runaway, from spreading throughout the battery pack.
“Low electrical conductivity is a must for thermal-management fluids which could potentially come into direct contact with high voltage electronics,” Corrigan asserted.
Low-conductivity coolants taking over
The ‘first wave’ of EV adoption established the electric-vehicle market before coolant suppliers had time to develop bespoke thermal-management products, Corrigan explained. “Most EVs on the road today are using the same fluids that are used in ICE vehicles, he said. “We’re [Prestone] long established with many OEM customers, so when those OEMs started producing EVs, they installed the coolant fluids they trust for corrosion protection.”
Corrigan sees a shift in the industry’s thinking, mainly driven by EV safety concerns. For motor cooling, two main strategies are being used today: Indirect and direct cooling. Indirect cooling uses the same water-glycol-based fluid, with corrosion inhibitors, that is used for the battery pack. The motor housing serves as a coolant jacket, allowing the fluid to flow through it and extract heat indirectly from the motor system.
“The issue with the current additive packages and their proprietary blend of corrosion inhibitors, is that the industry had, for a long time, moved towards ionic corrosion inhibitors for ICEs,” Corrigan explained. Ionic additives include silicate, organic acid, and phosphate technologies, all of which increase electrical conductivity.
“With high electrical conductivity, if that fluid were to come in contact with the high-voltage electronics, 400V or 800V systems, you’ll have a pretty violent, catastrophic reaction,” he said, citing studies that show that submerging a lithium-ion battery in traditional ICE coolant results in high heat generation. “There’s a good chance that [heat generation] will cause the coolant to boil with potential for fire and thermal runaway.”
Such risks, combined with increased thermal performance, have spurred over 50 percent of EV manufacturers to adopt direct cooling strategies for the motor, according to Corrigan. This method uses an oil-based ‘dielectric’ fluid, with very low or zero conductivity, depending on the formula. The fluid flows directly over the motor coils. Dielectric fluids are also entering battery thermal management; with direct (also known as immersion) cooling, the battery cells are submerged in the dielectric coolant.
“By moving to the low-conductivity coolants we’re developing, you can mitigate those issues. The opportunity for my team, the formulators, is to find synergies that maintain low electrical conductivity while ensuring sufficient corrosion protection for the OEMs,” Corrigan said. “The anti-corrosion function aims to eliminate a build-up of materials or intermission of heat transfer or, worse-case scenario, a build-up of materials to the point it causes a fluid leak into areas of the battery where it’s not supposed to be.”
The Prestone R&D team’s developments include new performance additives formulated to enhance the thermal properties of the fluids themselves to provide a more efficient heat exchange between two components. Corrigan claims that will benefit any type of cell chemistry and may help “level the playing field” for NMC versus LFP in terms of cell chemistry safety, he said. OEMs are expected to transition to the new EV thermal fluids “over the next couple years,” according to Corrigan
New China regulation
Is EV fluid maintenance by the vehicle owner—fluid changes—coming? The standard coolants used in most EVs today are “life of vehicle” and do not require a fluid change. “But as we move to low-conductivity fluids, we’re seeing a ‘creep’ in conductivity over time,” Corrigan observed. As the coolant degrades and picks up impurities in the system, it forms ionic species. Conductivity increases, and by the time it reaches 300 μS/cm [microsiemens per centimeter, a unit used to measure electrical conductance], safety concerns start to emerge. That’s where we would recommend a fluid change.”
A regulatory push is also looming. The Chinese government has drafted an EV-coolant-specific rule, GB 29743.2, focused on reducing electrical conductivity to mitigate battery fires. The regulation is expected to go into effect July 2026, and all vehicles sold in China must comply, according to Brian Engle, chair of SAE’s Battery Standards Steering Committee and director of business development at Amphenol, a connectivity provider.
“They’re basically setting a maximum limit of 100 microsiemens per centimeter dielectric measurement for new coolants with basically an aging effect allowing for up to 300 microsiemens/centimeter [300 μS/cm],” Engle explained. “Moving forward, it’s going to require a service life for EV coolants, as opposed to being in the vehicle indefinitely. It’s going to change the makeup of the coolants.”
Prestone’s Corrigan said the China GB threshold of 100 μS/cm “is a pretty safe value if there was an accident involving accidental contact of that fluid with the high-voltage electronics. But that’s where the challenge comes in. The conductivity comes from the additives we put in to protect against corrosion. If we pull those out, we can reduce conductivity but now we compromise on corrosion. Our R&D team has done a lot of development work on technologies that allow us to pass the corrosion requirements in that [China] GB specification while maintaining low conductivity. Our fluids are around 75 μS/cm.”
Watch for a separate report coming on the China GB regulation and SAE’s ongoing Standards work on EV thermal management fluids.
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- 作者:Lindsay Brooke
- 行業:汽車
- 主題:材料零部件質量、可靠性與耐久性