Cooper Standard debuts integrated automotive switch pump

Northville, Michigan – US parts supplier Cooper Standard has developed a new automotive switch pump aimed at simplifying thermal management systems, particularly in electric vehicles.

Launched recently, the eCoFlow Switch Pump was created in partnership with Saleri Group, an Italian automotive thermal management systems supplier.

The product offers “both an electric water pump and electrically driven valve in a single integrated coolant control module,” said Cooper Standard 16 July.

Available for all powertrains, the fluid control technology is scalable and enables “fluid flow switching, splitting and regulating.”

Such features are particularly required to address the complex glycol thermal management needs of fully electrified or hybrid vehicles.

According to Cooper Standard, the combination of water pump and valve functions is a “gamechanger” here.

The product is claimed to provide car makers with “efficiency improvements, part consolidation, electrical wire harness reduction and reduced packaging space.”

Beyond “significant system savings”, the product is also expected to potentially reduce battery cell needs for target vehicle range, said Chris Couch, president, fluid handling systems and CTO.

This helps automotive OEMs improve their vehicle's overall carbon footprint, Couch added.

The system enhances the thermal management system's efficiencies by eliminating the pressure drop and waste encountered from traditional pumps and valves.

The design provides “smoother transitions” in flow to help avoid pressure pulsations and spikes that can lead to system noise.

Furthermore, one electrical connection manages the system's pumping and fluid control functions, eliminating the need for additional connectors, wire harnesses and vehicle input/output channels.

This, according to Cooper Standard, packages in half the space of the traditional components it replaces.