Aptera Aerodynamic Thermal Management System With Independent Drivetrain Loop | Patent

[@andremcamara3120]

This is excellent information Thank you Raj.

[@DemaGeek]

I agree with what others have said, this is excellent cooling/heating information to go through, thank you Raj!

[@richardryley3660]

I find it interesting that the HVAC is going to be part of the coolant flow. I was expecting it to be separate, but apparently it will just dissipate its heat along with the battery. Makes sense, since the coolant can be chilled by the HVAC if needed. I believe most of the heat is going to be coming from the motors, the second highest amount from the battery when fast charging, and AC should be the least. Having a loop just for the motors and inverters seems like a good idea.

[@theresjer]

Interesting.. this explains why gamma slowed down on that hill.... It wasn't a drive train failure, but a sophisticated vehicle protection system functioning properly!

[@RajGiandeep]

Exactly :D

[@netscrooge]

I would like to hear more details about how the air from the intake under the windshield gets to the exhaust vents in the tail. Are the vents in the tail only for that cooling system air, or is cabin air exhausted out the tail too?

[@RajGiandeep]

I'm curious about that too. Didn't see anything obvious in the patent referring to that.

[@richardryley3660]

I believe the belly pan is separate from the battery and the floor of the Aptera, leaving a channel between the air scoop and the tail.The air can carry away some of the heat from the battery, assisting the liquid coolant. And when the Aptera is stopped, the airflow over the top of the belly pan can carry heat away just like the air under the belly pan. I think that's the strategy anyway. If the belly pan is insulated on the inside that's just not possible. The vehicle's HVAC is part of the coolant system. Heat is probably pumped In or out as liquid, not air.

[@netscrooge]

@@richardryley3660 On a hot day, with cabin a/c added, there will be quite a lot of heat to remove from the vehicle. To move a lot of heat, you either need a wide flow of air moving slowly or a narrow flow of air moving quickly. Given the narrow intake slot, narrow exhaust vents, and the long route between the two, I'm guessing the air will have to be moved with a lot of force on a hot day. Sounds like they will need a powerful blower rather than a fan(s). If so, how much noise and battery drain are we talking about?

[@richardryley3660]

@@netscrooge The intake slot runs all the way across the windshield. I don't know what kind of fan will be used to drive the air, but the tunnel will be the width of the belly pan. Look at how the cooling channels are laid out in the panel. So I'm assuming the airflow does not have to be that fast. If the car is moving, air is flowing under the belly. So the fan is only needed when you are preconditioning the passenger compartment, or you are recharging at a fast DC charging station. A typical fan uses 0.2 to 1 kW of power. It only takes about 3-5 KW to get the temperature down from 95 F to 70 F. After that, the cost is only 1 kW. And due to the Aptera's small size, it might be able to maintain that temperature on only 700 Watts.

[@netscrooge]

@@richardryley3660 They will be using a conventional radiator rather than the belly pan for cooling in all the early models (for the first year or so?). Hopefully there will be enough air flowing by itself when the car is up to speed to avoid having to run a blower at all times.

[@reedjacksonmaccom]

do you have any cause for concern based on this design for getting into a traffic jam for extended periods during summer hot days say in the central valley of california or la area, imperial valley

[@RajGiandeep]

I think that's where the A/C comes into play to keep things cool. It mentioned the KW draw is 1 - 3 KW so wouldn't drain the battery to quickly.

[@johnwdowell]

Sadly, all of this is probably going to be changed. Elaphe motors aren't going to used after all.

[@billsmith5960]

Let's see if they can make this patent actually work. Getting a patent is easy, making it work is another. Also, air water heat exchangers are aerodynamic. A Model T has an aerodynamic thermal management system.

[@richardryley3660]

A radiator, as in a Model T, is disruptive to airflow, as Air Shaper mentioned in his video. This belly pan cooling system is designed for air to flow across the hot coolant channels, not through them. The design will definitely have to be tested to see if it can meet it's estimate of 20 kW of dissipation per loop. As far as I know there has never been a design similar to this.

[@billsmith5960]

@@richardryley3660 - Aero means air. Dynamic means moving. Aerodynamic is all about moving air. For example, there is a course you took when you got your degree as a mechanical engineer. It was called fluid dynamics. It was about fluid (which air is considered a fluid as you know then you took thermo 1 and 2) which is moving. Also when you got your degree, you took a course called statics and another called dynamics. First one was about things that do not move and the other one was. You and I know this, so why you are trying to in essence change the subject is discrediting the degree you got.

[@richardryley3660]

@@billsmith5960 Aerodynamic: of or having a shape which reduces the drag from air moving past. That is the context in which the word "aerodynamic" is used it this patent. Not just to be subject to the laws of aerodynamics, but to be more aerodynamic than other cooling options.

[@billsmith5960]

@@richardryley3660 - Next time when you go to the wind tunnel, then tell them that. Look up A2 wind tunnel and Aerodyn. Both are in Mooresville, NC. I was at Aerodyn two months ago.