Cooling system for an electric device

• US 10,315,519 B2
• Filed: 04/08/2011
• Issued: 06/11/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Inventors: Sakata, Kazuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Jules, Frantz F
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tanenbaum, Steve S
• Application Number:
  US13/083,288
• Publication Number:
  US 20120102995A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,986 Days
• Field of Search: 62243, 62133
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/003 to auxiliary motors, e.g. for pumps, compressors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/36 Temperature of vehicle components or parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/425 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/525 Temperature of converter or components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/545 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/003 relating to inverters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0061 relating to electrical machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/26 by cooling
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations

Abstract

The cooling system includes a heat exchanger, the circulating pump, a first refrigerant channel in which an electric device and the circulating pump are provided, a second refrigerant channel connected to the first refrigerant channel so as to form a circulation channel of the refrigerant, in which the heat exchanger is provided, a bypass channel connected to the first refrigerant channel in parallel to the second refrigerant channel, in which a charger is provided, and a valve provided at a position where the first refrigerant channel and the bypass channel are connected to each other, for forming a circulation channel of the refrigerant, the circulation channel including the first refrigerant channel and the second refrigerant channel, to restrict a flow of the refrigerant through the bypass channel when the electric device is in operation.

Claims

1. A cooling system provided to an electric system including a battery, a charger for charging the battery with electric power received from outside, and an electric motor to be driven by the electric power of the battery, the cooling system comprising:

a radiator via which heat of a cooling fluid is dissipated to air outside of the cooling system;

a first circulating pump;

a first coolant channel in which the electric motor is provided;

a second coolant channel in which the radiator is provided, wherein the second coolant channel is connected to the first coolant channel;

a first bypass channel in which the charger is provided, wherein the first bypass channel and a first circulation channel for the cooling fluid are connected in parallel, the circulation channel for the cooling fluid including the first coolant channel and the second coolant channel;

a first valve provided at a position where the first coolant channel and the first bypass channel are connected to each other, and the first valve is configured to stop a flow of a cooling fluid through the first bypass channel, the first valve is configured to move to a first actuation position to form the first circulation channel of the cooling fluid including the first coolant channel and the second coolant channel when the electric motor is in operation, and the first valve is configured to move to a second actuation position to form a second circulation channel of the cooling fluid, the second circulation channel including the first coolant channel to supply cooling fluid to the electric motor and the first bypass channel, when the charger is in operation and a temperature of the cooling fluid is less than a predetermined temperature, and

the first valve is configured to move to a third actuation position to form a third circulation channel of the cooling fluid, the third circulation channel including the first coolant channel, the second coolant channel and the first bypass channel, to cause a part of the cooling fluid from the first coolant channel to flow through the second coolant channel when the charger is in operation and the temperature of the cooling fluid is equal to or higher than the predetermined temperature,

wherein the cooling system comprises only one radiator.

2. The cooling system according to claim 1, wherein the first circulating pump is provided in the first coolant channel.

3. The cooling system according to claim 2, wherein a second circulating pump is provided in the first bypass channel.

4. The cooling system according to claim 1, wherein the first circulating pump is provided in the second coolant channel.

5. The cooling system according to claim 4, wherein a second circulating pump is provided in the first bypass channel.

6. The cooling system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a second bypass channel connected to the first coolant channel in parallel to the first bypass channel; and

a second valve provided at a position where the first coolant channel and the second bypass channel are connected to each other, wherein the second valve in cooperation with the first valve forms different circulation channels at time of operation of the electric motor and at time of operation of the charger.

7. The cooling system according to claim 1, wherein a coolant heater for heating the cooling fluid and a second heater using the cooling fluid flowing from the coolant heater as a heat source are provided in the first coolant channel.